Look, we’ve all been there. You’re standing in your garage, staring at a pile of “what-do-I-do-with-this,” and the siren song of a cheap storage unit starts calling. It feels like the answer to all your clutter problems. Just get a locker, toss it all in, and forget about it!
I’m here to tell you: pump the brakes. Not for my sake, but for yours.
I’m not just writing this from some corporate manual. I’ve worked on the ground at our family-run facility here at New Burton Storage for over a decade. I’ve personally pulled out mildewed wedding dresses (heartbreaking), called the fire department for a smoldering box of “just some old papers,” and once, had to very calmly deal with a guy who thought it was fine to keep his pet python in 17B. (It was not fine.)
So let’s have a real, human chat about what should never, ever cross the threshold of your storage unit. This isn’t about rules for rules’ sake. It’s about saving you money, heartache, and a potential disaster.
Category 1: The “This Could Literally Burn the Place Down” Stuff
This one seems obvious, but you’d be shocked.
- Gasoline, Propane Tanks, Lighter Fluid: I don’t care if it’s “just a little bit” in the lawnmower. Summer turns that metal unit into an oven. Those fumes build up. It’s not a question of if it becomes a problem, but when. I once saw a half-full gas can swell up like a balloon and rupture. Terrifying.
- Fireworks & Ammo: Come on. Seriously? This isn’t a bunker. It’s a building full of other people’s photo albums and grandma’s furniture.
- Paint & Chemicals: That can of oil-based primer from 2012? It’s separating and degrading. It will leak. It will smell horrific and toxic. The cleanup bill if it ruins the concrete floor? That’s on you, friend.
Category 2: The “You’re Inviting an Apocalypse of Pests” Stuff
This is the big one people mess up. You’re not just storing your stuff. You’re in a building.
- ANY Food. At All. I mean it. Not a single protein bar. Not a bag of rice. Not your emergency ramen stash. Not even sealed pet food. Rodents have teeth that can gnaw through plastic and even soft metal. They smell that food from a mile away. One person’s forgotten bag of dog food led to a mouse infestation that affected twelve other units. The angry phone calls? Not fun. Just don’t.
- Anything Living or That Was Living: This includes:
- People. (Yes, I’ve had to post an eviction notice. It was as awful as it sounds.)
- Pets. Inhumane, illegal, a disaster.
- Plants. They’ll die, then mold, then attract bugs.
- Your college fridge with leftovers. Clean it out first. That fuzzy science experiment needs to stay at home.
Category 3: The “It’ll Be Ruined in Six Months” Stuff
This is the silent killer. You think you’re being careful, but you’re not.
- Anything Damp. That tent from your rainy camping trip? Those beach towels you threw in a bag? Dry them. COMPLETELY. I cannot stress this enough. Mold in a dark, still unit doesn’t just grow; it throws a rave. It spreads spores to everything—your couch, your books, the box of your kid’s artwork. The smell is permanent.
- Super Sentimental & Truly Irreplaceable Items. Okay, hear me out. We have great security at New Burton Storage—gated access, cameras, the whole nine. But we’re not Fort Knox. Your storage unit is for things you need but don’t need daily. It is not for:
- The only existing copies of family photos or home videos.
- Your great-grandfather’s original war medals.
- The diamond necklace your husband gave you.
- Cash. (You laugh. I’ve found it.)
Keep that irreplaceable handful of things somewhere you can see and touch them. A storage unit, even a perfect one, is for stuff. Not for heirlooms that hold your heart.
Category 4: The “It’s Just a Bad Idea, Trust Me” Stuff
This is the wisdom you get from years of seeing weird outcomes.
- Batteries. Especially old car batteries or loose lithium batteries. They can corrode, leak acid, or worse, catch fire. It’s called thermal runaway. Google it. It’s scary.
- Anything Illegal or Stolen. Look, we do inventory checks. We cooperate with police. This isn’t a TV show hideout. It’s a business with our name on it. Don’t be that person.
So, What’s the Play?
Be smart. Use your storage unit for what it’s brilliant for: seasonal décor, furniture while you’re between places, business inventory, that kayak you only use in July.
At New Burton Storage, we’re not a faceless corporation. We’re your neighbors. We want your experience to be seamless and safe. That’s why we’ll always have a real human you can talk to if you’re unsure about something. “Hey, can I store my vintage wine collection?” (Answer: Only in our specific climate-controlled units, and even then, let’s talk).
Think of it this way: a good storage unit should give you peace of mind, not another thing to worry about. Pack it like you’re putting things in a clean, dry, secure attic. Not like you’re burying a time capsule of regrets.
When in doubt, just give us a shout. We’d rather you ask a “silly” question than make a costly mistake.
Now, go forth and declutter responsibly. Your future self, and your neighbors in Unit 24C, will thank you.
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