We’ve been in the business of self-storage in Staffordshire for a long time, and over the years we’ve accumulated some pretty interesting stories of items people have wanted to keep in our storage units or things we’ve heard happening in other storage unit facilities.
While a storage unit is the perfect solution for almost any item and can mean extra space for families and businesses alike, there are a few definite ‘no-nos’ when it comes to what not to store in your unit.

FOOD & PERISHABLE GOODS

First up is perhaps the most common misconception. You cannot store food items in your unit.
From small business owners who trade in food items to individuals wanting extra room in the kitchen cupboards, we’ve been asked about the possibility of putting items storage. Unfortunately, the answer always has to be the same and it is that you simply can’t store perishable goods in your unit. This includes pet food as well!
Why? The simple answer is health and safety. Food will perish and decay and this, in turn, can attract rodents or other insects. While this is undesirable enough on its own, it also means any other items in your storage are opened up to the possibility of damage (not to mention the other storage units surrounding yours).

PETS & PLANTS

You cannot put pets into your self-store! While you may be reading this thinking “Surely no one has ever tried to do this?” Believe us – it has happened before!
We’ve heard of customers attempting to kennel their furry friends in a storage unit for the day to save money on a pet-sitter, or people trying to pop a fish aquarium or even a snake tank in overnight or while they’re away on holiday.
For obvious reasons, this is completely not okay for the safety of the animal involved. It’s actually illegal to store any living thing in a unit (including yourself!), and you could face animal cruelty charges if you try to ignore the rule!
While plants may not be as important as your pets, you can’t store your plants in a storage unit either. The reason being that they need light, food, and water.
Plants will die faster in a storage unit than they will at your home or office as they don’t have access to what they need to survive. However, gardeners are allowed to keep their gardening tools in their storage unit (just as long as any plant that is alive is stored elsewhere).

MONEY

Our storage units do have 24-hour CCTV and are very secure, but this still doesn’t make them the ideal place for your cash.
Insurance policies will not cover cash in your unit, and so you will be much safer keeping it safely in the bank. Safe deposit boxes can be a great alternative solution and mean greater peace of mind for you.

TOXIC OR HAZARDOUS GOODS

This one might seem pretty obvious, but you can’t keep any toxic or hazardous goods inside a self-storage unit. We thought it would be useful to clear up what counts as toxic or dangerous so you know what you can and can’t keep in your storage unit in Staffordshire.
Examples of banned items include:

  • Paint
  • Paint thinners
  • Petrol
  • Lamp or motor oils
  • Yard equipment which contains fuel*
  • Firearms
  • Fireworks
  • Chemicals
  • Acids
  • Gases
  • Propane Tanks
  • Pesticides
  • Weed killers
  • Car batteries

*You can store a lawnmower in your unit but only after you have drained all the fuel and oil from the machine.

SO, AFTER ALL THAT – WHAT CAN YOU STORE IN YOUR SELF-STORAGE UNIT?

Almost anything else! Storage units are very versatile, and with us, we offer space of varying sizes to suit your needs. If you are ever in doubt about what you can or can’t pop in your unit, you can ring our team at any time to ask the question.
When you decide to hire a storage unit from SureStore you can expect the following benefits:

  • No hidden charges
  • Modern, dry and secure units.
  • Short & long term storage (from just 7 days)
  • Ability to upsize or downsize at any time
  • Free unlimited access
  • Free van hire
  • Unrivalled customer service

If you live in Stafford and want to declutter, store essential items, free up space in your home or have a private place to work on your projects, then we can help.
Get in touch today on 01785 249990 or visit our website for more details.