What Not to Pack

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Federal law bans moving companies from transporting hazardous materials.

Hazardous Household Items Not to Pack During A Move

These items aren’t just cumbersome, they could be dangerous. Don’t pack these when you prep for your move:
  1. Aerosol cans (regardless of content)
  2. Heating agents (such as Sterno)
  3. Nail polish and nail polish remover. If you have quite the collection and need to take your polish with you, here’s how to pack nail polish for moving:
  1. Start by getting rid of any empty or old bottles.
  2. Add a layer of bubble wrap to the bottom of the box in which you’ll put the nail polish.
  3. Roll up each bottle in bubble wrap.
  4. Add tape to keep the bubble wrap closed.
  5. Place the nail polish in the box.
  6. Ensure there’s not a lot of wiggle room in the box. You can add more bubble wrap, towels, or something else soft to pad the empty space.
  1. Fire extinguisher
  2. Any type of gas in bottles or tanks including propane or oxygen
  3. Paints, varnishes, solvents, thinners and oils
  4. Ammonia, bleach and other household cleaning agents
  5. Chlorine granules or powder
  6. Muriatic acid (also called hydrochloric acid)
  7. Auto batteries
  8. Charcoal or lighter fluid
  9. Matches and lighters
  10. Ammunition
  11. Other combustible product
It is unsafe for moving companies (or you) to move these items. It is better just to replace them at your new home—we promise, it is not worth the risk of transporting them.

Delicate and Important Household Items

Along with hazardous items, there are delicate items you may want to consider packing in your vehicle rather than the moving truck. These items include:
  • Family photos
  • Jewelry
  • Heirlooms
  • Collections (coins, stamps, etc.)
  • Cash
  • Plants
  • Documents like deeds, medical records and wills for example
Sound Moving and Storage has an exceptional track record, however, accidents can happen. We do offer value protection plans for your move just in case anything is lost or damaged. However, it is important to keep those priceless, sentimental items that can’t be replaced with you in your own vehicle.