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What can and can't you put into storage?
Almost anything can go into storage — but not everything. Hazardous materials, perishables and irreplaceable valuables don't belong there. This guide shows exactly what's allowed, what isn't, and how to prepare your things so they stay safe and insured.
Moving tipsSorting belongingsDecluttering
Packing & protecting
June 23, 2026
Luuk Kamman
6 min
What can and can't you put into storage?
Almost anything can go into storage — but not everything. Hazardous materials, perishables and irreplaceable valuables don't belong there. This guide shows exactly what's allowed, what isn't, and how to prepare your things so they stay safe and insured.
Moving tips
Sorting belongings
Decluttering
Packing & protecting
June 23, 2026Luuk Kamman
WHAT CAN YOU STORE?
The vast majority of household, garden and office items are perfectly fine for storage: furniture, clothing, books, white goods, seasonal items, sports and hobby gear, and business archives or stock. Rule of thumb: anything clean, dry, well-packed and risk-free can go in. The better you pack, the safer — and at Inbox, only items packed according to our packing instructions qualify for cover.
🛋️ Furniture, cabinets and beds — disassembled and protected
👕 Clothing, bedding and seasonal items in boxes or covers
📦 Books, crockery and household goods in sturdy, labelled boxes
🚲 Bikes, sports and hobby gear (e-bike: remove the battery)
HOUSEHOLD & FURNITURE
Sofas, cabinets, tables, beds, lamps, boxes of household goods: all welcome. For fragile furniture we have a dedicated guide.
- Large furniture: disassemble as far as possible
- Protect with blankets/wrap — no scratches + less space
- Everything clean and dry — otherwise musty smells or mould
- Screws + small parts in labelled bags
CLOTHING & SEASONAL ITEMS
Winter coats, bedding, garden furniture, Christmas items, skis — ideal to store temporarily. See our detailed guide on seasonal storage.
- Textiles + garden furniture: clean and completely dry before storage
- Clothes in breathable covers (no sealed plastic → mould)
- Vacuum bags for bulky blankets/winter coats
BUSINESS: ARCHIVE & STOCK
Businesses are welcome too: archive boxes, documents, stock, seasonal or event materials. See our detailed guide on business storage for the details — including retention rules and GDPR.
WELL PREPARED = INSURED
The condition items arrive in determines whether they're covered. Only items packed according to our packing instructions qualify for cover — poorly packed or not-disconnected: refused at pickup. Pack fragile items well and disconnect appliances.
UNSURE ABOUT AN ITEM?
Not sure whether something is allowed or how to prepare it? Let our customer service know in advance. Particularly large, heavy or valuable pieces should always be reported beforehand, so we can plan and insure them properly.
By Bram Jansen — Lead Storage Advisor at Inbox Storage. Updated: June 2026.
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Enter your postcode and see in 60 seconds what storage for your items costs.
Throughout NL & Belgium.
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Climate-controlled & secured
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WHAT'S NOT ALLOWED IN STORAGE?
A number of things aren't allowed in storage for safety, hygiene or insurance reasons. Some can be refused at pickup, and prohibited items that cause damage carry an immediately payable €500 penalty. Below are the four main groups.
🔥 Hazardous materials: paint, fuel, gas bottles, fireworks, batteries, chemicals
🍎 Perishables, food and waste
🐾 Live animals or plants
💎 Irreplaceable or valuable: cash, jewellery, art — keep those yourself
HAZARDOUS & FLAMMABLE MATERIALS
Fire and environmental risk — never in storage.
- Paint, petrol, other fuels, gas bottles
- Fireworks, chemicals, asbestos
- Loose batteries: remove e-bike/tool battery — keep at home
- Camping gas + butane: prohibited
Tip: residual paint, chemicals and batteries can be handed in free at the recycling centre (see Dutch Milieu Centraal). Keeps them out of storage and out of regular waste.
PERISHABLES, FOOD & WASTE
Attract pests + cause mould and odours.
- Food and perishables
- Waste of any kind
- Live animals or plants
- Empty fridge/freezer completely + discard food scraps before storage
VALUABLE & IRREPLACEABLE
Irreplaceable or uninsurable — keep somewhere safe yourself.
- Cash, securities, precious metals
- Jewellery, art, collectibles
- Items with great sentimental value
- Rule of thumb: uninsurable? Then not for storage
POORLY PACKED OR NOT READY
Poorly packed or not-disconnected: refused at pickup. Not safe to transport and outside the insurance. Disconnect appliances, disassemble large furniture and pack fragile things firmly — then pickup goes smoothly and everything stays covered.
HOW IT WORKS AT INBOX
Our driver checks at pickup whether everything can travel safely; if in doubt, report an item to customer service beforehand. The rest of your belongings we collect at your door and keep climate-controlled in our secure hub in Gouda — from one month, throughout the Netherlands and Belgium. Calculate via how much storage you need for a price indication.
Unsure about an item? Just ask us — then you know for sure before we arrive.
Ready to store? Calculate your price at Inbox Storage.
Store safely, without the hassle
We pick up your belongings at your door and keep them safe and climate-controlled — you just pack them well.
- Throughout NL and Belgium
- Picked up & returned to your door
- Climate-controlled, secure storage
- From 1 month onwards