Here’s What Your Movers Won’t Move

Think your movers will move anything and everything? Think again. If you’re planning to hire a professional moving company to do the job, you should be aware that there are items that even the best professional moving companies won’t allow on the truck. While some are obvious (hello, loaded guns and propane tanks), some can be a bit surprising! Here are 15 items your movers won’t move.

1. Food

Moving soon? Our best advice is to open that fridge and start eating those leftovers!

Unfortunately, movers won’t be able to keep perishable food items cool during a move. So unless you plan on packing everything into a large cooler and driving it to your new home, you’re better off ditching items, such as milk, butter, yogurts, ice cream, frozen treats and fresh produce before moving day. Anything that’s already opened should be tossed as well. https://www.themoveme.com

The good news: Your movers will be able to move unopened non-perishable items, such as canned goods, soups, rice, pasta – and basically anything else left in your pantry. If you decide that packing up all that canned corn isn’t worth the trouble, consider donating the food to your local food bank. If you’re using a Move for Hunger relocation company partner, then your movers can pick up the unwanted food items and deliver them to the local food bank for you. The non-profit works with hundreds of relocation companies across the U.S. and Canada, so you should have no problem finding a mover to meet your needs.

2. Scuba gear

Calling all avid divers: Your moving company will almost certainly not allow all of that scuba gear onto their truck, so you’ll need to think of an alternate way to get it to your destination.

Scuba tanks are composed of highly pressurized oxygen and can contain specialized gas mixtures as well. Unfortunately, given that pressurized air can explode, scuba tanks can be a danger to those nearby when not taken care of or handled correctly. On a moving truck, scuba tanks would most certainly be bumped around on the back of a trip, so it’s easy to see why this could be dangerous. Worse yet, an auto accident can cause a pressurized scuba tank explosion during the collision. If you’re moving the scuba tanks yourself, make sure to empty them completely first.

3. Family heirlooms

Whether it’s monetarily expensive or sentimentally valuable, you’ll want to make sure to pack and bring all family heirlooms with you, personally, when you move to a new home. That’s because some moving companies have policies regarding valuables and sentimental items.

Many moving companies may also tell you that they simply prefer not to transport these items because of the risk of losing or damaging the belongings. After all, when movers are placing and shuffling numerous moving boxes onto and off of a truck, there’s always the risk that something could break. And if it does (or becomes lost), keep in mind that movers’ liability coverage for these items may only cover the item’s current market value – not the amount of money you originally paid. If the item is sentimentally valuable, such as a family heirloom, then no amount of money can ever replace it.

4. High-value items

In addition to family heirlooms, many moving companies will not move high-value items such as money, checkbooks, expensive jewelry and collectible art. Depending on how much you spent on your electronics, the company may not move those either. And that valuable baseball card collection? Forget it. That’s because if you decide to purchase full-value protection, your moversdubai will be on the hook for the actual cash value of any non-repairable or lost items. So, your 1969 Reggie Jackson card worth more than $115,000 is not something they want to be responsible for.

High-value items are not limited to those that are worth a lot of money. Your movers should not move your important documents, including medical records, and anything with sentimental value. Plan to bring photo albums and other irreplaceable items with you.

5. Plants

Planning on bringing your plants with you on an interstate move? Be aware that the movers may not be allowed to move certain plants to your new state.

According to the National Plant Board, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and plant health agencies in each of the 50 states “regulate the shipment of nursery and greenhouse stock in an effort to minimize the spread of harmful insects, diseases, and other pests.” So before you start packing those plants for the move, make sure to check with your State Plant Regulatory Official first.

For a local move, we suggest packing and bringing the plants yourself. Just ensure that all potted plants are wrapped and secured in plastic wrap to avoid any unwanted plant destruction in the car. If you’re moving long-distance or just don’t want to hassle with moving your plants, ask the new homeowners if they’d like the plants. Or, you can gift them to friends and neighbors. Local schools, nursing homes and hospitals may welcome them as well.

6. Nail polish and nail polish remover

Thinking of throwing all that nail polish in a box? Think again. Movers won’t move your nail polish remover or your Ruby Red polish. That’s because both products are extremely flammable under certain conditions (such as exposure to an open flame or even heat). These toxic products (and all chemicals) should be handled with care when moving to a new home. If you’re moving far away, we strongly suggest tossing them and replacing them once you arrive at your new home.

7. Outdoor equipment

You may not be able to move your lawn and pool equipment either. Acids and treatment chemicals qualify as hazardous materials and should be disposed of before moving day or left behind for the new owners. The same is true for weed killers, fertilizers and pesticides. If you’re unsure whether you can move a product, be sure to ask your moving company.

Generally, you can move your lawn and outdoor equipment, such as a generator. Just remove as much gas and oil as you can from the system several days before loading it onto the moving truck. AlliedDubaiMovers should allow you plenty of time to dispose of the gas and oil properly following local environmental regulations.

8. Grill and barbecue supplies

While your movers can transport your actual grill or smoker, some of the items associated with them can’t be moved. Since charcoal and lighter fluid are extremely flammable, you won’t be able to take them with you. And if you use a gas grill, your propane tanks will have to be empty before they can be loaded on the moving truck.

You’ll also need to let your grill or smoker cool for at least a day before your move so it’s cool enough to load. Despite the handles being cool to the touch, the rest of your grill may still be hot. By not using it for at least a few days before your move, you’ll also have a chance to clean it. A clean grill won’t get the other items being loaded on the truck dirty.

9. Pets

Most people realize moving companies won’t move their dog or cat. The trucks aren’t climate-controlled, there’s no fresh air, and there’s a risk of items falling and injuring your pet. But the same holds true for smaller animals like hamsters, gerbils, rabbits, birds, lizards and snakes. Moving companies won’t allow them on the truck either.

If you can’t take your pet with you by car or on the plane, reach out to a pet relocation service to discuss options. Many can transport animals other than just dogs and cats. It just may take more research to find an expert who can ship your pet turtle.

10. Firearms and ammunition

This may seem obvious, but movers will not transport firearms or ammunition. It doesn’t matter what type of gun it is, what size it is, and whether you’re just transporting the ammunition. Each state has its own regulations, complicating the matter even more. The best and easiest thing to do is to entrust your firearms and ammunition with a federally licensed firearm dealer who can ship them to you. It is well worth the price to avoid worrying about transporting the gun across state lines yourself. A handgun can be shipped for as little as $39 while a long gun or rifle can ship for just $29.

11. Fireworks

Here’s another one that should come as no surprise: fireworks. While they technically need a spark to ignite — the heat of being enclosed in a hot truck alone won’t set them off — fireworks contain black powder, which is 10 percent sulfur, 15 percent charcoal, and 75 percent potassium nitrate. Additionally, they contain coloring elements such as aluminum, magnesium, titanium and beryllium. Movers don’t like to transport chemicals like these, and they won’t transport charcoal.

But there’s another reason your mover won’t take your unused fireworks. Every state has its own regulations regarding fireworks, and many towns and cities further restrict their use. Your movers don’t have time to figure out whether the fireworks you own are allowed in your new home state and whether they can legally transport them there. And if you’re just moving to a new neighborhood in the same city, you can easily transport them yourself.

12. Cleaning supplies

Believe it or not, you can’t pack your Windex, bleach and other cleaning supplies when you move. This is in part due to some of these products containing flammable materials, but movers are also concerned about one of these items leaking and damaging other items on the truck.

Since you’ll need products to clean your home as you move in, you may want to set aside cleaning products to travel with you. Or donate them to friends or family and purchase replacements at your new home.

13. Liquor

Want another reason to throw yourself an epic going away party? Your movers may refuse to transport your alcohol. Liquor laws vary by state, and some states have restrictions on the amount of alcohol you can bring with you into the state for personal consumption. Not to mention alcohol is flammable. If you pack it without your movers knowing and it ignites, you could be liable for the damage.

Transporting alcohol in a moving truck is risky for another reason. Most moving trucks are not climate-controlled, and extreme temperatures, humidity and light can damage wine and expensive bottles of alcohol. Pay a little extra for a climate-controlled moving truck or, if you have an especially valuable wine collection, hire a wine relocation company to move it for you. These companies will expertly pack your wines, transport them in climate-controlled vehicles, and unpack them at your new home. https://servicebasketuae.com

14. Chemistry sets

If you have a budding scientist in your home, they’ll have to toss their chemistry set (or gift it to a friend or school) when you move. Chemistry sets come with components designed to create chemical reactions, chemical transformations, electric currents, combustion and, according to one package description, “explosions.” Not the sort of thing movers like to have loaded on their truck. Kits that create “volcanoes” or beauty products like bath bombs and perfumes fall into this category as well.

15. Other hazardous materials

Hazardous materials are absolutely out of the question when it comes to loading a moving truck. Fortunately, many of these items can be easily disposed of before the move. Hazardous materials include fertilizer, paints, aerosols, pesticides, motor oil, batteries and acids. Anything that is flammable or potentially explosive is considered a no-go for moving companies.

To dispose of these materials before the move, make a trip to your county’s local hazardous waste facility drop-off center. Most counties throughout the country have several places to drop off hazardous chemical-containing items to ensure that these materials are disposed of correctly. Do not under any circumstances drop hazardous materials in your garbage. This could present a danger to the public, the environment and those picking up your trash.

For a full list of moving non-allowables, check our guide to moving non-allowable items. And if you’re looking to get rid of these items before the move, check out our complete guide to the pre-move purge.

To find the best moving company to handle your upcoming move, check Moving.com’s extensive network of reputable and reliable movers. All relocation companies in our network are licensed and insured, so you can rest assured that your move will be in good hands. Good luck and happy moving!