Do You Know What NOT To Pack On Moving Day?
There are “No, No’s”, “Unmentionables” of the Moving Trade – otherwise known as Non-Allowables.
There are some items prohibited either by Federal law, State law or by the movers themselves. Take special note of this if for instance you are moving into the State of California as they have strict rules as to even what plants and food you can bring into the state. Additionally, you will want to keep items of personal importance or sentimental value with you rather than packing it for the moving van.
While the following checklist will keep you well informed, you’ll want to verify the specific regulations of each individual moving company.
Hazardous materials
- Aerosal cans
- Ammonia
- Ammunition
- Car batteries
- Charcoal/lighter fluid
- Chemistry sets
- Cleaning solvents
- Darkroom chemicals
- Fertilizer
- Fire extinguishers
- Fireworks
- Fuels/oils
- Household batteries
- Kerosene
- Liquid bleach
- Loaded guns
- Matches
- Nail polish
- Paint thinners
- Paints/varnishes
- Pesticides
- Poisons
- Pool chemicals
- Propane tanks
- Scuba tanks
- Sterno fuel
- Weed killer
- NOTE: Drain fuel from your power mower and other machinery. Discard partly used cans of any substances that may be flammable or combustible or those stored in containers that may leak.
Ordinarily moving companies will not transport items on the Perishables list. However, if you are moving less than 150 miles and your items will be delivered within 24 hours of from time of original pickup, movers may agree to transport these items provided they properly packed and require no servicing in transit.
Perishables
- Food without adequate preservation
- Frozen food
- Open or half-used foods
- Plants
- Produce
- Refrigerated foods
NOTE: You should empty refrigerators and freezers and keep appliance doors open for at least 24 hours in advance of loading to allow appliances to dry out and prevent mold.
Personal importance/sentimental value
- Address books
- Airline tickets
- Car titles
- Cash
- Cell phones
- Checkbooks
- Computer data files/backups
- Family photographs/photo albums
- Financial documents (stocks, bonds, CDs, IRAs, deeds, tax records
- Home videos
- Insurance policies
- Jewelry and furs
- Keys (car, furniture, new home)
- Laptop computers
- Medical/dental records
- New home documents
- Prescription medicine
- Professional files/research projects
- School records
And for the “must have’s on the Non-Allowables list, consider shipping via USPS.
