5 Things to Never Pack in a Portable Storage Container

Updated February 17, 2025

Furniture, kitchen appliances, hobby equipment, clothes, toys, books—the options are endless for the types of items you can pack or store in a portable moving container rental. While most things can be stored or transported to your new home, it is vital to remember that not all your belongings should be packed.

Some things are never good to pack or store in a moving container, so you must set them aside well before your move. You will want to handle some of these items personally, and some you may want to sell, dispose of, or gift to a friend.

Knowing what is and isn't allowed in your portable storage container can also keep you from being liable for damages or having an insurance policy voided, as many companies will do so if such items are being transported against company policy. Zippy Shell is here to help you figure out what you can and cannot transport or store in your container. Please note that this isn't an exhaustive list, and that you should contact one of Zippy Shell's helpful customer service representatives if you have any questions or want a full list of prohibited items.

Why Is It Not Recommended to Pack Certain Items in a Portable Storage Container?

Certain items, such as perishable foods, flammable materials, and hazardous chemicals, can pose safety risks in a portable storage container. They could attract pests, cause leaks or spills, or even create a fire hazard. Avoid packing these items to ensure a safe storage environment and allow any portable moving container company to complete your move without incident.

Here are some of the more sensitive and prohibited items you should keep out of your Zippy Shell portable storage unit rental when moving to your new home. Remember that these tips apply whether you are moving locally, long distance, or cross country or need to store your stuff for the short or long term.

Important Personal Documents and Valuables

Birth certificates, social security information, passports, wills, tax returns, financial statements, health insurance, medical records, employment documents, mortgage or rental contracts, and other personal documents should stay with you throughout your move.

Of course, this isn't an indictment of the quality of the services and people you would be working with to make your move happen, but accidents can occur. If you need immediate access to a social security card or tax return for residency purposes, you don't want to have to wait until you can access your container to get that.

Keeping these items with you at all times will give you peace of mind. This also includes small valuables such as jewelry or expensive collectibles.

Take inventory of your belongings and determine before you start packing your container which valuables you want to keep with you and which you might be comfortable leaving securely stored in your container until you access it again.

Hazardous Materials and Combustible Items

Certain items in your home or garage are considered hazardous when moving and should not be placed in a portable storage container. These include aerosol cans, fertilizer, pesticides, charcoal, disinfectants, ammunition, fireworks, pool cleaning chemicals, paint thinner, kerosene, fire extinguishers, car batteries, and gas cans.

Essentially, you must keep out of your container anything that is corrosive, poisonous, causes dangerous fumes, or is combustible or flammable.

This also includes anything that is considered an illegal substance. If you wouldn't be comfortable carrying an item in the backseat of your vehicle, it shouldn't be in your container, either.

As always, you can consult with the experts at Zippy Shell if you are unsure about a particular item or need help figuring out an alternative way to move hazardous or combustible items. If necessary, you can also sell lawnmowers or give charcoal briquettes to neighbors.

Perishable Items

Keeping foodstuffs in your container is something you should avoid for a variety of reasons. This includes frozen and refrigerated foods, which will quickly spoil inside a moving container, leaving smelly odors and mold behind. Even packing pantry items or pet food in a moving container is a bad idea if it will be stored for any length of time.

These items will all inevitably spoil, which will attract rodents and insects to your container if exposed to the outside. It will also cause mold and mildew to form inside your container, quickly damaging all the items stored within.

Our containers are designed to allow airflow within them and resist the outside elements. However, leaving something inside your container that causes mold and mildew to grow can cause serious issues for your belongings. Be sure to clean out your fridge entirely before storing it in your container—that means removing and cleaning all food, disinfecting it, and allowing it to drain any excess water that may have built up inside.

Keep your container clean, dry, and void of any foodstuffs that can spoil!

Plants and Flowers

Many people have a number of house plants and flowers they would like to move. However, storing them in a portable container can present several issues. First, your delicate, leafy friends will almost certainly not survive the trip without sunlight, leaving you with dead house plants when you arrive at your new home.

On the other hand, if you store your plants in a portable container, they could develop mold and mildew inside, damaging your belongings. We suggest moving your plants yourself or gifting them to a friend before moving, as this will keep them alive and prevent damage to your stuff while your portable moving container is in our care.

Dirty or Wet Items

Anything that goes into your container will not come out until you unpack it at your new home, including any moisture locked inside. If you pack anything wet inside your container, it is likely to cause issues for you and your stuff.

That is why packing in the rain is inadvisable. You have up to three days to pack at your pace to prevent the rain from getting into your pod container as you pack it. If anything gets wet, be sure to dry it completely and have plenty of towels on hand.

Any appliances such as washing machines or fridges should be completely drained of any water on the inside. Be sure to locate your owner's manual to see what the manufacturer suggests for moving the appliance. Anything that is wet will start producing and spreading mold and mildew while in storage.

As stated above, our containers are good at resisting the outside elements and keeping them from getting in. If you pack something wet inside the container, it will cause problems during storage or transit that won’t be evident until you finally unpack your container. Be sure everything is dry before packing it away - especially if you plan on placing it into long- or even short-term storage!

Use Zippy Shell for Your Moving and Storage Needs

Zippy Shell is here to simplify your moving and storage needs without the hassle of traditional methods. We have been helping customers like you for nearly 20 years and have seen every kind of move and storage type.

Here is how portable moving and storage works with Zippy Shell: you schedule your preferred delivery date, and we will bring a portable container to your location. You then take up to three days to pack it at your own pace, ensuring you have the necessary time loading to load it effectively. When done, we will come out, pick it up, and deliver it to your new home. And if you aren't ready to move your stuff just yet, we will store it in one of our over 70 nationwide secure warehouse locations until you need it again. It is that simple.

Let us help make moving and storage solutions safe and simple for you. Call or request a free quote online today, and see how easy Zippy Shell can make moving and storage!