It’s time to start packing for your long distance move, but before you start wrapping and boxing your belongings, make sure you understand what items are allowed or restricted.
Moving companies – like United Nationwide – that are experts in ensuring a professional move experience for its clients, can provide you with an important checklist of items they will not move.
Many of these restricted items are likely to be found in your garage or with your household cleaning supplies. Other items could be around your house in bathrooms and storage rooms. Items such as gasoline and ammunition may seem obvious, but others are not so apparent, such as nail polish remover and indoor plants.
Many people are surprised to find out that a smart move experience should begin before the packing phase — and oftentimes, that’s with you — the customer. That’s why we’ve put together this summary list of United Nationwide’s restricted items to ensure your packing process is efficient and hassle-free. (Be sure you view a complete list before starting your move with United Nationwide.)
Safe Moving Guidelines
United Nationwide suggests you view our complete Non-allowable List prior to packing so that you can separate these prohibited items from the rest of your belongings. If you have questions about a particular item, please reach out to your United Nationwide Move Coordinator for clarification.
Moving Chemicals
United Nationwide will not transport hazardous items, including explosives, flammable gases and toxic substances, or other items on United Nationwide’s Non-allowable List. Keep in mind that these hazardous items must be disposed of properly to comply with federal, state and local laws and to protect the environment. Contact your city or county for where to dispose of these items:
- Aerosol cans
- Ammonia
- Ammunition
- Car batteries
- Charcoal and lighter fluid
- Charged scuba tanks
- Chemistry sets
- Cleaning solvents
- Darkroom chemicals
- Fertilizer
- Fire extinguishers
- Fireworks
- Fuels/oils
- Household batteries
- Kerosene
- Liquid bleach
- Loaded guns
- Matches
- Nail polish and remover
- Paint thinners
- Paints/varnishes
- Pesticides
- Poisons
- Pool chemicals
- Propane tanks
- Sterno fuel
- Weed killer
Moving Tip: You may find you no longer need these materials or consider replacing these items once you’ve moved into your new house.
Moving Guns & Ammunition
United Nationwide is unable to transport loaded guns or loose ammunition. Please contact your Move Coordinator to learn where to find specific instructions about moving these items. You may also want to be sure you know the rules about transporting these types of items across state lines yourself.
Moving Perishable Items
In most cases, United Nationwide is unable to transport perishable items. Some limited exceptions may be made if your move is less than 150 miles and items will be delivered within 24 hours of loading with no in-transit servicing. These exceptions are made at our sole discretion and require the permitted perishable items to be properly packed.
Here’s a list of perishables that United Nationwide may not be allowed to move:
- Food without adequate preservation
- Frozen food
- Open or half-used foods
- Plants (indoor and outdoor)
- Produce
- Refrigerated foods
Moving Tip: You should empty your refrigerators and freezers and keep appliance doors open for at least 24 hours in advance of loading. This will allow appliances to dry out and prevent the growth of mold.