When it comes to moving, there’s a lot more to consider than just packing your boxes. While your furniture, appliances, and personal belongings may seem like obvious items to transport, there are certain things you *should never* pack in a moving truck. These items could be dangerous, illegal, or simply not worth the risk of being damaged. In this blog, we’ll cover the 20 things you should avoid packing in your moving truck and give you some helpful alternatives for getting them to your new home safely.
1. Hazardous Materials
Some items are simply too dangerous to transport in a moving truck. These include:
- Flammable liquids (gasoline, paint thinner, lighter fluid)
- Aerosol cans (paint spray, hairspray, deodorant)
- Cleaning products (bleach, ammonia, oven cleaner)
- Fireworks
- Propane tanks (used for grills or camping)
These items can pose a fire hazard, explosion risk, or toxic exposure. Instead, you can dispose of them properly or transport them yourself in your car (if allowed).
2. Perishable Food
You don’t want your moving truck filled with spoiled food. Most moving companies will not transport perishable items, as they can lead to unpleasant odors, mess, and pest problems.
Alternatives: Eat what you can, donate unopened non-perishables to charity, or pack perishable foods in a cooler for a car ride.
3. Plants
While plants might seem like an easy thing to move, many states have laws about transporting plants due to agricultural concerns (pests, diseases, etc.). Additionally, they can easily be damaged during transit.
Alternatives: Carry your plants with you in your car or arrange for professional plant movers if needed.
Items like jewelry, passports, birth certificates, bank records, and important legal documents are too valuable and essential to risk losing or damaging in a move.
Alternatives: Keep these items with you in a secure bag or container, ideally in your car, during the move.
5. Money
While it’s unlikely to get damaged in the same way as furniture or appliances, cash and other forms of currency (e.g., coins, rare collections) are best kept in a safe place.
Alternatives: Store your money in a bank or carry it on your person.
6. Prescription Medications
Medications, especially those that are vital to your health, should never go in a moving truck. Extreme temperatures or rough handling could compromise their integrity.
Alternatives: Keep medications in your car, and make sure to pack them in an easily accessible bag.
7. Pets
Pets should never be transported in a moving truck. The conditions inside the truck can be unsafe, and the stress of the journey can be harmful.
Alternatives: Plan ahead for pet travel, such as arranging for a pet transport service or traveling with them in your own car.
8. Alcohol
Alcohol can be easily damaged, and moving companies often have specific policies against transporting liquor due to its potential for leakage or breakage.
Alternatives: Transport alcohol in your car or arrange for its delivery ahead of time.
9. Firearms and Ammunition
Due to various local, state, and federal regulations, firearms and ammunition cannot be moved by most professional moving companies.
Alternatives: Pack firearms and ammunition yourself and transport them securely in your car.
10. Electronics with Lithium Batteries
Items like laptops, phones, and other electronics with lithium-ion batteries pose a fire hazard when stored in a moving truck, especially if they are exposed to extreme heat or pressure.
Alternatives: Carry your electronics with you in your car, especially high-value items.
11. Hazardous Tools and Equipment
Certain tools, such as chainsaws, lawn mowers with gas, or heavy machinery, can be hazardous to move due to fuel or sharp edges.
Alternatives: Drain any fuel from these tools, then pack them safely in your car, or consult a professional moving company about their transport.
12. Personal Hygiene Products with Aerosols
Aerosol sprays (like deodorants, bug sprays, and hairsprays) can explode in a moving truck due to changes in temperature or pressure.
Alternatives: Pack these items in your car or use non-aerosol alternatives.
13. Cleaning Products with Chemicals
While most cleaning supplies are harmless, certain products—like drain cleaners and bleaches—contain chemicals that can be dangerous if spilled.
Alternatives: Transport these in your car, or check with local disposal centers for safe disposal options.
14. Paints and Paint Thinners
Paints and thinners are flammable and can create health risks if they spill during transit.
Alternatives: Pack them in your car, or plan to dispose of them before the move.
15. Perishable Beauty Products
Items like perfumes, nail polish, or hair dyes can break easily or spoil under the hot, fluctuating temperatures in a moving truck.
Alternatives: Store these in your car or pack them with extra care in a well-protected box.
16. Petroleum-Based Products
Motor oil, fuel, and other petroleum-based products are highly flammable and should not be moved in a truck for safety reasons.
Alternatives: Transport them in your car or dispose of them properly before your move.
17. Batteries (Non-Lithium)
While lithium-ion batteries should always be transported in your car, regular batteries (like AA, AAA, and D batteries) can leak acid and cause damage if left unchecked in a moving truck.
Alternatives: Keep these in a bag and bring them along in your car.
18. Food That Needs Refrigeration
Frozen food, refrigerated items, and dairy products will spoil quickly if not stored properly.
Alternatives: Pack a cooler with ice packs and bring them along for the ride.
19. Fragile Antiques and Fine Art
Items such as fine art, delicate antiques, or high-value collectibles may require special handling that a moving truck cannot provide.
Alternatives: Hire a specialized moving service for delicate items, or transport them in your vehicle.
20. Cleaning Supplies
Bottles of dish soap, window cleaner, or laundry detergent may leak and cause a mess in your moving truck, and some could even damage other items. If you pack them in the truck, ensure they are very tightly sealed and safely secured into a proper box.
Alternatives: Store these items in a sealed bag or box in your car.
Moving is stressful enough without worrying about damaged or lost items. By keeping these 20 things out of your moving truck, you’ll ensure a safer and smoother move for everyone involved. Remember, some items are better off transported by you personally or disposed of before your big day. If you have any questions about what you can and can’t pack in a moving truck, don’t hesitate to ask your moving company. At Kratos Moving, we're always here to help make your move as easy and stress-free as possible!