What NOT to Pack: Dangerous Goods and Ineligible Items When Moving House

• October 27, 2020
• Bill Chen

Last updated on October 30, 2023

Moving house is full of hazards, banana skins, and potential pitfalls. From costs to potential damage to items or injury to self. Furthermore, there are some items we need to be incredibly careful about when moving. Top-level removalists at Maroubra, or the Inner West, or wherever you are has to offer, can also help with plans if some items must be included in the move. These usually fall into 3 categories: 

1. Items removalists are unable to move
2. Items removalists will not move in certain circumstances
3. Items that you should move yourself

Hazardous Materials or Dangerous Goods

Generally defined as materials that can pose a threat to your household goods and to human safety. Keeping these items together with other items whilst moving can be dangerous. The best removalists Sydney has to offer will more than likely ask you to handle these items yourself or to dispose of them safely. Items include, but are not limited to ammunition(rare in Australia but not impossible), car batteries, charcoal, cleaning solvents, fire extinguishers, fireworks, liquid bleach, matches, nail polish, paints, pesticides, pool chemicals, and weed killer. 

If you have decided to dispose of these kinds of items before moving, consider whether you can give them to friends, family, or neighbours. If you are disposing of them in another way, remember, you can NEVER dump them or burn them. 

Perishable Items

Make sure you do not pack anything that can spoil, rot or mould during the move. 90% of this category will feature food items, and generally food that needs to be kept chilled. However, it can also include some kinds of plants, both indoors and outdoors. Try to plan in advance and use up the food in your fridge the week leading up to the move. I find it’s often a good excuse to have takeaway food the night before the big move. 

Try to leave 24 hours before the move to switch off the fridge and open up the doors. This will help to dry it out and avoid growths of bacteria and mould, or insects. On the fridge note too, remember that the liquid coolant in the fridge is quite a hazardous material itself and so when the fridge arrives in your new place, ensure that you do not turn it back on again for a few hours, just in case. 

If you need to transport perishable goods like plants, it’s important to inform your removalists. They may be able to provide a solution for plant removals, which can be discussed and planned accordingly.

Items with Sentimental Value

Removalists generally won’t have any particular issue with moving these kinds of items, however, it is usually recommended that you pack and move them yourself. That way you can be in control of what happens to it, and if the worst does happen, you know why and don’t need to point a finger. This can cover items such as sentimental ornaments or furniture, expensive clothes, or even personal files or documents such as passports, birth certificates, etc. As you prepare for your move, feel free to check out our other post about house moving myths, and remember to always communicate in advance and plan out your move to avoid endangering your other items, or worse, human health. Other than that, happy hunting!