What Can (and Can't) Go Into Full-Service Storage?
You are packing a box for storage, and halfway through you pause. Can I even store this? Is the propane tank from the grill allowed? What about the paint cans in the closet, or your grandmother's leather chair? It is a fair question, and a good one to ask before anything leaves your apartment.
Here is the reassuring part: almost everything you own is welcome in full-service storage. The list of what can't go in is short, and it is all real safety stuff. If the whole comes-to-you idea is new to you, start with full-service storage explained. This guide covers what is fine to store, the few things that aren't, and how to check anything you are unsure about.
What can (and can't) go into storage
Almost everything you own can go into full-service storage: furniture, clothing, electronics, and seasonal gear are welcome. The main exceptions are safety items, mostly flammable liquids, fuels, and propane, which OSHA and the NYC Fire Code keep out. Your things are kept in a secure, climate-controlled Long Island City warehouse, with basic insurance included.
Key takeaways
- Almost everything you own is welcome. Furniture, clothing, books, electronics, and seasonal gear are all fine to store.
- Your things are kept somewhere built for it. Summer stores everything in a secure, climate-controlled warehouse.
- Basic insurance is included. Summer includes basic insurance on the goods it stores.
- Flammables and fuels stay out. Federal OSHA rules define a flammable liquid by its flash point and cap how much can be kept in an enclosed space.
- So does propane. Under the NYC Fire Code, propane and LPG can't be kept in most indoor residential storage.
- Not sure about an item? Just ask. List anything you are unsure about in a free quote, and Summer will confirm what it can take.
What's in this guide
- What you can store: almost everything you own
- What you can't store: the short safety list
- How your climate-sensitive things stay protected
- Not sure about something? Your inventory answers it
- Welcome in vs. stays out: a quick at-a-glance
- Is full-service storage the right home for your things?
- Frequently asked questions
What you can store: almost everything you own
What goes into full-service storage is, honestly, most of what fills a New York apartment: furniture, clothing, books, electronics, kitchen gear, seasonal things, and the everyday overflow you want out of the way. The ordinary contents of a home are exactly what the service is built to hold.
Your things go into a secure, climate-controlled warehouse, and Summer includes basic insurance on your stored goods while they are there. That is coverage at a basic level rather than a full replacement policy, so it is worth knowing what it does and does not include for anything especially valuable. Still, it means your belongings are not simply sitting there uncovered.
If there are fragile or valuable pieces you would rather not wrap yourself, packing is available as a paid add-on, so the delicate things get boxed with care before they travel. Everything else is the easy part: if it lives in your apartment, it can almost certainly live in storage for a while.
What you can't store: the short safety list
What you can't put into storage is a short list, and it comes down to fire safety: flammable liquids and fuels that OSHA limits, and the propane or LPG that the NYC Fire Code keeps out of indoor storage.
Start with flammable liquids and fuels. Federal safety rules from OSHA define a flammable liquid by its flash point, the temperature at which it can catch, and cap how much may be kept in an enclosed space. That is the safety basis for keeping fuels, propane, and similar items out of storage. In practice, that means the gasoline, kerosene, lighter fluid, spare fuel cans, and the half-used can of paint thinner in the back of a closet are things to keep out.
Propane and LPG get their own rule, and it is a New York one. Under the NYC Fire Code, propane and LPG can't be stored below grade, on rooftops, or in most indoor residential storage, and only a few small containers are allowed per unit. In plain terms, the tank off your backyard or balcony grill is not something a storage warehouse can take.
Here is how that plays out on pickup day. When Summer's crew is loading and something on the no-go list turns up, a half-full fuel can tucked into a garage box, a propane tank still attached to the grill, it gets flagged and set aside rather than loaded. That is because OSHA caps flammable liquids by flash point and quantity, and the NYC Fire Code keeps propane and LPG out of indoor residential storage.
Everything else goes on the truck and into the secure, climate-controlled warehouse. It is a quick call at the curb, and it is there to keep the warehouse, and everyone's things in it, safe.
A few other things are common sense to leave out even without a specific rule: perishable food, plants and anything alive, and truly irreplaceable items like cash or vital documents are better kept with you than sent to storage. When you are unsure whether something belongs, the simplest move is to list it in your quote and ask, which is exactly what the last section is about.
How your climate-sensitive things stay protected
The things most sensitive to temperature and humidity, wood, leather, electronics, paper and photos, and instruments, are exactly the belongings a climate-controlled space helps protect. At Summer, they go into the same secure, climate-controlled warehouse as everything else, so they are not riding out a humid July or a radiator-dry January in an ordinary closet.
As a general rule of thumb, the U.S. EPA recommends keeping indoor humidity between 30% and 50%, and below 60%, to prevent mold. That is useful guidance for anywhere you keep things you care about, from a bedroom closet to a warehouse, not a setting unique to any one place.
Why steady temperature and humidity actually protect your things, and what benefits most, is a longer story than this guide needs. For the full picture, see climate-controlled storage.
Not sure about something? Your inventory answers it
For anything the safety list doesn't clearly settle, the simplest move is to list it in your quote, and Summer will confirm what it can take. Every storage quote is free, and it starts with a quick rundown of what you want stored. So an odd item, a wine collection, a mini-fridge, a box you are not sure about, gets a real answer before pickup day rather than a guess.
That is the whole point of asking up front: no guessing about what is and isn't allowed, just a clear yes or a heads-up, before anything leaves your place.
Welcome in vs. stays out: a quick at-a-glance
A fast way to picture it before your pickup:
- Welcome in (a sample, not a full list): furniture and mattresses, clothing and off-season gear, books, electronics, kitchen and household items, sports and hobby gear, and the everyday overflow crowding your rooms.
- Stays out (the real no-go list): flammable liquids and fuels like gasoline, kerosene, and lighter fluid, which OSHA limits, and propane or LPG tanks, which the NYC Fire Code keeps out of indoor storage.
- Better kept with you: perishable food, plants or anything alive, and irreplaceable valuables or important documents.
Not sure where something falls? List it in your free quote and ask.
Is full-service storage the right home for your things?
Full-service storage is the right home for almost everything you own, and an easy call if a few of these sound like you:
- ☐ You are storing everyday belongings, furniture, clothing, electronics, and seasonal gear, and want them in a secure, climate-controlled warehouse.
- ☐ You have temperature-sensitive things, wood, leather, photos, or electronics, that a climate-controlled space helps protect.
- ☐ You would like basic insurance included on your stored goods while they are in storage.
- ☐ You would rather have fragile pieces boxed with care, and adding packing as a paid extra suits you.
- ☐ You are unsure about an odd item and want a clear yes before pickup day.
One honest note. A short safety list stays out no matter which storage you choose, flammable liquids and fuels, and propane or LPG, so those belong at home rather than in any warehouse. For everything else that fills a New York apartment, full-service storage is usually the easiest home for it, and a free quote confirms any item you are unsure about.
Frequently asked questions
What can I put into storage?
Almost everything you own can go into full-service storage: furniture, clothing, books, electronics, and seasonal gear are all welcome. They are kept in a secure, climate-controlled warehouse, with basic insurance included on your stored goods.
What can't go into storage?
The main things that can't go into storage are flammable liquids and fuels. Federal OSHA rules define a flammable liquid by its flash point and cap how much may be kept in an enclosed space, which is the safety basis for keeping fuels, propane, and similar items out. Everyday household belongings are fine; it is the fire hazards that stay behind.
Can I store propane tanks or the fuel from my grill?
No, propane tanks and the fuel from your grill can't go into storage. Under the NYC Fire Code, propane and LPG can't be stored below grade, on rooftops, or in most indoor residential storage, and only a few small containers are allowed per unit. A propane tank is one to keep at home rather than send to storage.
Are my stored things insured?
Yes. Your stored belongings carry Summer's basic insurance from pickup onward: a baseline layer of coverage that is part of the service, not something you buy separately. Because it is basic rather than full-replacement coverage, it is worth confirming what it does and doesn't cover for anything especially valuable before you send it in.
Will my electronics, wood furniture, or photos be okay in storage?
Yes, electronics, wood furniture, and photos hold up well in a climate-controlled space, which is where Summer keeps everything: a secure, climate-controlled warehouse. As a general rule of thumb, the U.S. EPA recommends keeping indoor humidity between 30% and 50%, and below 60%, to prevent mold. For why steady conditions protect your things, see climate-controlled storage.
What if I'm not sure whether I can store something?
If you are not sure whether you can store something, list it in your free quote and Summer will confirm what it can take. That is the simplest way to settle any edge case the safety rules don't obviously answer, before anything is picked up.
The short of it: almost everything's welcome, and the no-go list is short
Almost everything you own can go into full-service storage, and it is kept in a secure, climate-controlled warehouse with basic insurance included. The short list of what can't go in is real safety stuff, flammable liquids and fuels and propane or LPG, that fire-safety rules keep out. For anything in between, a free quote gives you a clear answer before pickup day.
Still holding a box you are not sure about?
If you are staring at a shelf wondering what is allowed, the fastest way to know is to ask. Tell Summer what you would like to store, and you will get a clear answer on every item, along with a free quote built around your things.
Most of what is above is Summer's own service practice, stated plainly, so it needs no outside citation. Three points draw on public safety and health authorities:
- U.S. OSHA: Federal safety rules define a flammable liquid by its flash point and cap how much may be kept in an enclosed space, the basis for storage bans on fuels, propane, and similar items.
- NYC Fire Code / FDNY: Propane and LPG can't be stored below grade, on rooftops, or in most indoor residential storage, and only a few small containers are allowed per unit.
- U.S. EPA: Keeping indoor humidity between 30% and 50%, and below 60%, helps prevent mold, a useful rule of thumb for storing belongings.
Colby Ryder, Author. Colby Ryder is a copywriter with six years of experience creating content for home-service providers, moving and storage companies, and SaaS businesses. He specializes in research-driven, SEO-focused content and has written service pages, blog posts, guides, landing pages, and informational articles for businesses across these industries. His work combines thorough research with clear, practical writing designed to help readers find useful information and take action.
Otto Chek, Editor. Otto Chek is an AI content editor. Before a post reaches the human reviewer, he matches every claim to the source it was approved from, measures the draft against the editorial standards, scores it, and sends back a verdict. Rewriting the post and approving it for delivery are never his job: those stay with a human reviewer.
Reed Marks, Reviewer. Reed Marks is a senior editor with nine years of experience across editing, content review, fact-checking, and editorial quality assurance. His academic grounding is a Journalism bachelor's degree followed by a Professional Writing master's. His experience spans a wide range of industries and content types, giving him a broad perspective on accuracy, clarity, and editorial standards. He provides a final human review of each piece before publication, checking claims for accuracy, confirming that sources support the information presented, and ensuring the content meets standards for readability, SEO, and brand alignment.
Reviewed on this post: Reed Marks checked that the prohibited-item bans are attributed to OSHA and the NYC Fire Code and stay within those rules, with no Summer-specific do-not-store list invented. He confirmed that the EPA's humidity range reads as a general rule of thumb rather than Summer's warehouse setting, and that the warehouse is described only as secure and climate-controlled, with no security specifics. He also checked that the basic insurance is stated as basic and never overstated, and that no storage price appears anywhere on the page.
- Full-service storage explained: what valet storage is, how it differs from a self-storage unit, and how the comes-to-you model works.
- Climate-controlled storage: why steady temperature and humidity protect your things, and what benefits most.
- What storage costs: what really drives your price, and how a free quote builds your real number.
