Organizing a smooth relocation is not an easy job. Whether you choose to do it yourself or you hire Elizabeth movers, you need to plan ahead and devise a proper moving checklist. One of the main items on that list will probably be packing. However, you will soon learn that you can’t pack everything and that you will need to store some items away. After all of your belongings are secure in boxes and in storage units, there are still a few non-storable items. Now you probably think “What am I going to do with those items?”. Read on and learn a few tips on how to handle the rest of your belongings.
What are non-storable items?
As we already mentioned, there are a few things that you simply cannot store in a regular storage unit- non-storable items. They are either too dangerous to store, or they are perishable. Most storage companies have a list of things that they won’t allow in a unit. Perishable food items can’t go into long-term storage simply because of their expiration date. Here are a few things that most companies label as dangerous for storage:
- Dangerous items include fireworks, ammunition, and weapons.
- Any items that can easily erupt into flames, such as gasoline, propane, and kerosene.
- Aerosols, pesticides, fertilizers, medicine, plants and so on.
How to handle medicine?
Most of the time, you will end up bringing the medicine with you on your move. An average household does not have an exceeding amount of it anyway. It’s mostly over-the-counter drugs and regular medicine that one may need to take daily. On the other hand, many people often overlook their medicine cabinet and some of it expires before it is used. While this is usually a good thing, it becomes a problem when you have to relocate. You cannot simply throw it away in the trash. There are special drop-off boxes in most pharmacies where you can dispose of medical waste. It is dangerous to leave medicine among the rest of the trash because stray animals may get to it and if they do, it can be fatal.
Dealing with perishable items
When we think of perishable non-storable items, we usually think of food in our fridge. It’s simply the first thing that comes to mind. There are also plants and seeds, and animal food if you’ve got pets. You won’t be able to store any of these items in a storage unit. Our advice is the following: a week or two before your relocation, plan ahead your meals. In this way, try to use up as much food as you can, cooking with ingredients that you have at home. Using this food prep technique, you will waste less food. With the remaining items, there are a few things you can do. If you are moving short distances, you can easily bring them with you. If you’re moving long distances, you can either gift them to your neighbors or donate them to a local homeless shelter.
Handling non-storable items when relocating
When you realize you cannot bring it all with you when moving, there are a few options for the things you are leaving behind. The safest one is to rent a storage unit. There are plenty of safe storage units in NJ and most moving companies have some kind of option for storing your belongings. If you decide to go with this solution, you will see that you might need to do some downsizing. This is a great opportunity to get rid of all the items you are no longer using and save money on renting smaller units. Donate or gift what is still in good condition and throw away the rest. Non-storable items will probably end up in that second pile that will go to the trash.
Are there food items that can be stored away?
The answer to this question is absolutely yes! While you can’t store most food items in storage units, people usually consume them or throw them away. Canned goods are the only type of food that you can store for longer periods of time. There shouldn’t be direct sun exposure in the unit, and the cans must be completely closed, and you are good to go. Some cans can last for years and years before going bad. So, if you have a large stash of canned food that you got on a sale, don’t worry! Store them safely in a storage unit before you need to use them.
Valuables are also non-storable items
Even though most storage units are quite safe and secure, if you wish to store away your valuables, you should think twice. A normal storage unit would most definitely be a bad choice for any precious artwork or antique furniture. We have a solution for this as well! There are special storage units for these types of items. They are air-controlled units, where temperatures and humidity are carefully monitored. They also have more security cameras, both inside and outside the units, securing them better.
Plan ahead before relocating and think about everything
Now that we have listed the usual non-storable items, you know what to expect. Once you start packing for your move, you will know what can and what cannot go into your cardboard boxes. Of course, if you’re only relocating to the next neighborhood within the same city, most of these non-storable items can go with you. Even if you aren’t traveling to the other side of the world, you may still want to store some things away. Whether it’s due to downsizing or some other reason, now you know what you can put away in most storage units. There is a solution to everything, it’s just important to start on time and be well-prepared!
