The Top 10 Most Unusual Questions About Using Self Storage in Oklahoma

Here at Storage ‘R’ Us, we’ve been providing self-storage in Oklahoma since 1972, when our first location opened on E. Gore Blvd. in Lawton. Over the decades, we’ve pretty much seen and heard it all. There are very few questions that you could possibly ask about how to use your Oklahoma self-storage unit that we haven’t encountered—or so we thought.

A recent search for some of the most unusual questions that self-storage facilities receive turned up some pretty strange requests, and some of them are ones that we’ve never heard ourselves. If any of our readers had similar questions and were afraid to ask, we thought we would go ahead and address some of the most unusual questions about using self-storage. Ready?

1. Can I keep my pet lizard in a self-storage unit? We’re sorry to tell you that this is not a good idea at all. In fact, it’s probably illegal. Animals, including reptiles, need sunlight to live, so keeping any pet (lizard or otherwise) in a dark, closed-up storage unit all day is just plain cruel. Storage units are great for lots of things, but they aren’t made for anyone to live in, whether they’re people or animals. Boarding pets, even temporarily, in your self-storage unit is not allowed at Storage ‘R’ Us.

2. Can I use a self-storage unit as a temporary living space? Sorry, no. For all the same reasons your pet lizard isn’t allowed to make a home here—and plenty more besides—you also can’t live in your storage unit, even temporarily. We’ve actually written a whole article about the reasons you wouldn’t want to live in a self-storage unit, so click the link and read up on the subject. A storage unit is really not a place you would want to live, and it’s against the law as well.

3. Can I store my wedding cake in a self-storage unit before the wedding? Not recommended. For one thing, baked goods are particularly susceptible to odor absorption. While we like to think that our Oklahoma self-storage units are pretty clean, we don’t think your wedding guests would appreciate a self-storage-flavored wedding cake. It’s probably best to leave your cake with the baker until your big day or find space in a commercial refrigerator somewhere until the wedding. Also, congratulations!

4. Can I store my wine collection in self-storage and use my unit as a wine cellar? Here’s the thing: Wine needs to be stored at a consistent temperature and humidity, and even a climate-controlled storage unit isn’t ideal for your wine collection. There are other reasons to keep your favorite wines out of self-storage, too. Sure, at Storage ‘R’ Us, you have 24/7 access to your storage unit, which is pretty convenient, but you probably won’t want to run out to your storage unit if you’re hosting a dinner party and need a couple more bottles of Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

5. Can I use a self-storage unit as a recording studio? This isn’t a great idea for several reasons, but let’s start with the most obvious. A self-storage unit is a relatively small metal box that isn’t soundproofed, meaning that the acoustics are terrible for recording. Also, while your storage unit probably has electricity for lights and such, it isn’t exactly wired for the kind of equipment you’d want for a recording studio.

6. Can I store my collection of antique weapons in a self-storage unit? It depends a bit on the weapons, but in general the answer is no. Definitely nothing that goes “bang” should go into your self-storage unit. That includes firearms, fireworks, munitions, and explosives. If you have those kinds of things, it’s probably a better idea to buy a gun safe that you can keep in your home. If your weapons are even more antique and you’re talking swords, axes, or those spiky balls on the end of a chain, you might be able to put them into climate-controlled self-storage. Anything that old is probably susceptible to changes in temperature and humidity, after all.

7. Can I use a self-storage unit as a secret hideaway for my personal belongings? Sure, we suppose. Nix the “secret” and that’s kind of what all self-storage units are, right? It really depends on the type of belongings you’re wanting to store and why you want them to be secret. We wrote an article about the types of things you should never put in a self-storage unit, so you might want to click the link and read up on things you can’t legally keep there. If your “secret personal belongings” are on the list, it’s probably a good idea to keep those at home.

8. Can I use a self-storage unit to host a small event or party? Not unless we’re invited! No, seriously, a self-storage unit is not a good spot for a party. Even the biggest self-storage unit is not that spacious when you start packing it with a crowd of people, and as we mentioned above when discouraging its use as a recording studio, the acoustics are less than ideal. Plus, your self-storage unit is surrounded by other units, meaning other renters will be around, and it’s not polite to have a party without inviting the neighbors, is it?

9. Can I store my food products in a self-storage unit and use it as a commercial kitchen? Again, no. Food items and self-storage don’t go together. While you can successfully run plenty of small businesses from your self-storage unit, a commercial kitchen is not one of them. As we mentioned, the unit doesn’t have good wiring for a bunch of kitchen appliances and, more to the point, it doesn’t have any real ventilation or fire suppression systems of the kind you’d want in a kitchen.

10. Can I store my collection of live venomous snakes in a self-storage unit? Seriously? No, absolutely not! For the same reason you can’t store your pet lizard in a self-storage unit, you definitely can’t store your collection of live venomous snakes. Although we can only speak for ourselves and not the other fine self-storage facilities around the great state of Oklahoma, we would honestly rather not have your collection of live venomous snakes anywhere near the property. Your snakes may be very nice, but we would prefer to admire them from afar. And another thing: What ever happened to collecting stamps or baseball cards or rare coins? Venomous, snakes? Just wow.

These unusual questions about self-storage in Oklahoma were pretty fun, but they also show that some folks may not quite understand the limits of a self-storage unit. Luckily, the staff and managers at any of the eight Storage ‘R’ Us locations in Oklahoma are happy to answer any questions you may have about how to get the most out of your storage unit. If you feel self-conscious about asking, remember that it’s almost certainly not the weirdest question we’ve ever gotten.

No matter how you want to use your Oklahoma self-storage unit, chances are Storage ‘R’ Us has the solution that’s perfect for you. We’re here to help you find it at any of our convenient self-storage locations.