Are you thinking about renting a storage unit? Maybe you just need to store some items temporarily, until you get moved into a bigger place. Or, maybe you're looking for long-term storage for those items you can't bear to part with but also don't have room for. Whatever the case may be, it is important that you understand how to properly use your storage unit and how to get the most out of it.

No Dangerous Materials Allowed!

First things first, you will want to make sure that you do not store any dangerous or hazardous materials in your storage space. Doing so could lead to your items being damaged or ruined,as well as to damages to the entire rental property.

When you sign  a rental agreement for the storage space, there will likely be a list of items and materials you may not store in your unit, so read over those carefully. Some general materials you should never store, however, include:

• Gasoline
• Chemicals
• Compressed gas
• Fireworks
• Products containing asbestos
• Kerosene
• Acid
• Corrosives
• Grease
• Propane

While you may not purposefully set out to store any of these items, be mindful of areas where they might be hiding. If you store a grill and leave the propane tank in it, for example, this could prove dangerous, or if you store your lawn mower and it's full of gas, that could be dangerous. Just be sure to think of any and all places where potentially hazardous materials might be hiding and to get rid of these materials before you store.

The Floor is Not Your Friend

Another thing you will want to remember as you capitalize on storage unit rentals, is to avoid placing any items directly on the floor of the storage unit. Invest in some air-tight plastic containers and/or some pallets that will keep your items from touching the floor directly.

If moisture gets in or if a spill happens, it's going to affect the storage unit flooring, and if your items are on the floor, they may get damaged. Keep your stuff safe by keeping it off the floor, plain and simple.

Label Everything

As a final word of advice, label every single box that you put into storage. Sure, it might seem tedious, and sure, you might THINK you can easily remember what's in each box, but you'd be surprised at how quickly you forget what you put where.

Do yourself a favor by carefully labeling each box and, if you have the time, listing out its contents. This can save you a lot of trouble when you want to locate a particular item!

As you can see, there's definitely a smart way to use your storage unit, and you always want to do things the smart way. Follow these tips to get the most out of your unit!