What should you not pack in a container?

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Renting a moving container

Renting a moving container may be more cost-efficient than if you were to hire a full-service moving company. However, the same packing rules still apply regardless. For example, loaded guns and flammable goods should be obvious and off-limits for packing inside a moving pod. You want to make sure you request a copy of the moving pod company’s non-allowable items before renting. Continue reading further below for a list of items that are not allowed inside a moving pod.

A moving pod is a container that you rent with the intention of use for relocation. A moving pod company will actually move the pod once you have packed it up and deliver it to your new destination. The process of renting a moving pod is fairly easy and quick. All you have to do is hire a company.

They will deliver the pod to your current destination. You pack up all your belongings and the company picks up the pod and either delivers it to your new home or business or secures it in a storage center. Either way, you have easy access to your rented moving pod.

Items to keep out of your POD

Some moving pod companies may have certain guidelines when it comes to valuable and sentimental belongings. When you are in the process of moving, your best bet is to keep these items with you in a separate box.

Moving pods are safe and secure, nonetheless, there is still a chance that something could break or become damaged. For this reason, it is important to eliminate the risks of an accident by keeping valuables with you at all times. Some of the most common valuable items are:

• Money
• Jewelry
• Furs
• Firearms
• Computer software or programs
• Credit cards
• Medicine
• Financial documents
• Sentimental items
• Family heirlooms
• Electronics
• Medical and/or dental records
• School records
• Laptops
• Collections
• Keys
• Car titles
• Cell phones
• Checkbooks
• Photo albums

If you still decide to pack these items in a moving pod, you still want to make sure you read the company’s liability options. Particular companies require customers to have coverage for their moving pod and its contents. The two most common levels of liability are the contents protection option and the container-only option. As these options offer a certain degree of protection, overall, that will not provide total compensation for the loss of damaged items.

Avoid packing perishables in the POD

Perishables are foods or unopened food that can go bad. Packing these items in a moving pod is far from a good idea. It has every bit of potential to attract bugs or rats while also leaving you with some seriously spoiled foods at the end of the move.

Before you plan on moving, it is highly recommended that you discard or donate opened or perishable foods. The nonperishable items that you can place in a moving pod are canned goods, soups, rice, unopened sauces, and pasta. The perishable items that should not be packed in a moving pod are:

• Milk
• Butter
• Yogurt
• Ice cream
• Frozen treats
• Fresh produce
• Refrigerated food
• Opened pantry items
• Opened beverages

No hazardous items

Regarding unsafe or dangerous materials, both moving companies and moving pod companies refuse to transport these items. Ahead of your move, you must adequately dispose, of course, of these items as soon as possible. On the plus side, most hazardous items can be easily replaced after relocating to a new home.

These items will be labeled as such with a hazardous note directly on them. Hazardous items are chemical-containing materials that are highly combustible and may even be explosive most of the time. Look out for these other hazardous items as well:

• Fertilizer
• Paints
• Paint thinner
• Aerosols
• Cleaning solvents
• Propane tanks
• Poisons
• Motor oil
• Charcoal
• Pool chemical
• Scuba tanks
• Batteries
• Acids
• Charcoal lighter fluid
• Fire extinguisher
• Gasoline
• Loaded guns
• Nail polis remover
• Ammonia
• Matches

The most important thing to remember is not to throw away hazardous materials in the trash. You are putting the trash pick-up service at risk of danger if you do. The safest way to dispose of hazardous materials before moving is to visit your local hazardous waste facility drop off-center. All the centers have clearly labeled bins to make disposal quick and straightforward.

Packing plants

You also want to be aware that moving pod companies will most likely not allow indoor or outdoor plants inside the pod. The reason being is that many states have certain laws about which kind of plants can and cannot be imported.

The purpose of this is to prevent the spread of pests, harmful insects, and diseases. In addition, plants won’t survive without sunshine anyway, which is more reason to carry them with you during the move. Before you pack up your plants, be sure to check out your State Plant Regulatory Official first.

Be careful with weapons

The short answer to this circles back to safety. Moving day safety is key, mainly when all different household belongings are transported hundreds or thousands of miles away. Weapons pose a serious threat to safety, so you want to get in touch with a licensed firearms dealer if you own guns and ammunition.

The only exception will be that movers would agree to transport pieces of the equipment if all weapons are drained of fuel and well packed for the road. Anything that can explode poses a real threat to safety, so weapons are not permitted to be stored in moving pods.

Additional tips for packing a moving pod include the following:

• Lining the bottom of the unit with blankets for extra protection and cushioning
• Placing all furniture along the sides of the pods to keep them upright and to optimize space
• Avoiding placing heavy items on top of furniture
• Keeping the load level even

By adhering to moving pod guidelines and putting safety at the forefront of the moving process, you are well on your way to a successful move.