Items that should not be in storage for a long time

Having a storage unit handy comes with a plethora of benefits. You will be able to free up your home from unnecessary clutter, and you will have space where you can temporarily leave your other belongings. However, what you need to pay attention to is what not to store for a prolonged period of time. There are several categories of items that should not be in storage for a long time, including plants, perishables, hazardous materials, etc. If you really need to be storing some of those, you might want to look into specialized moving and storage Columbus Ohio solutions. For example, it is legally forbidden to store hazardous items in anything but special storage units. In this article, we are going to go over each of the categories and explain why you should not be storing them in the first place.

What are the items that should not be in storage for a long time?

Here is the list of items that should never be in a storage unit over long periods of time:

• Do not store hazardous materials
• Items that should not be in storage for a long time – Plants
• Perishables
• Some of the items that should not be in the storage for a long time – Money and important documents
• Wet and scented items

All of these can pose a significant danger if left alone within a storage unit over the course of time. If you absolutely need to store some of them, you need to check up on these items regularly or you are putting both your items and the storage unit at risk. This is especially true if you are opting for one of the cheap storage units Columbus Ohio, as the security measures might not be at the highest standard. But if you follow the guidelines we will present, you have nothing to worry about.

Do not store hazardous materials

To start things off, we have to mention that you should not be storing any hazardous materials for any period of time, let alone a long time. There are special units that are suitable for these purposes, and you should be using them. Your average storage unit is simply not the place for them. Even short-term storage is out of the question, as it poses a significant risk. It is best to contact professionals and have them deal with any hazardous materials that you might have. You will be able to sleep better at night, knowing that everything is as safe as it can be.

Items that should not be in storage for a long time – Plants

You should also never store plants for long periods of time. While it may be acceptable to store them for a day or two, even that is not advisable. Your plants need the sun to survive, and if they are not within a special container that provides them with everything that they might need, they are going to wilt and deteriorate. Therefore, if you absolutely have to store them, make sure that you often check up on them and ensure that they have the nutrients that they need. Humidity can also be a huge factor, in which case you might want to consider renting a climate-controlled storage unit. But for the most part, if you can avoid storing plants altogether, do it. They are not fit to be inside a storage unit, after all.

Perishables

Any items that can easily perish, like fruits, vegetables, etc. are not fit to be within a storage unit as well. However, they are not that prone to degradation if they are left inside for a short time. If you plan on storing your fruit inside a storage unit for extended periods of time, think again. Not only will they rot and perish, but they might also attract pests. And you never want those critters and insects to think that there is food in your unit. They will find a way to get to it.

Some of the items that should not be in the storage for a long time – Money and important documents

Let’s move to another, not-so-obvious belongings. While you may consider your storage unit to be perfectly safe, the fact of the matter is that it is not. If you are storing something and checking up on it once a year, there is a probability that you might do so and find that some of your important items are missing. This is why you should never keep any important documents or money inside the storage unit. There are specialized storage units for this purpose, so you might want to take your valuables there.

Wet and scented items

You may think that storing scented items will improve the overall smell of the storage but the truth is that they can be quite dangerous over long periods of time. Numerous chemical reactions can occur, some of which can be particularly dangerous. Other than that, if you leave wet or scented items for a long time in your storage, you might create a completely opposite effect. And bad smell can be notoriously difficult to remove once it sets itself in. You may need to use creative solutions for removing the bad odor. It is always best to avoid doing so in the first place, however.

What are the items you can store in a storage unit for a long time?

Alright, we’ve talked a lot about what you can’t store in your unit. But what are the things that are safe to be stored for extended periods of time? The list includes:

• Seasonal items/clothes
• Office equipment
• Household items (furniture, books and magazines, kitchen items)
• Small or big appliances
• Electronics

But that does not mean that you can simply toss these items and forget about them. You are going to need to follow some basic packing precautions before you store any of your belongings. This is especially important when it comes to the items that should not be in storage for a long time. If you absolutely have to store them, make sure that you follow all the correct procedures.