Yes, your mower, garden tools and barbecue can all come into storage, as long as there’s no fuel or gas in them. A petrol mower is fine once it’s been run completely dry, and a gas barbecue is fine with its bottle taken off, but the gas bottles, fuel cans and charcoal themselves need to stay out.
The reason is simple: fuel and gas are what start fires, so keeping them out of every unit protects everyone’s belongings, yours included.
At a glance
Welcome in your unit:
- hand tools, rakes, shears and push mowers;
- corded electric mowers and hedge trimmers;
- petrol mowers, strimmers and leaf blowers, run completely dry;
- gas barbecues, pizza ovens and patio heaters, with the bottle removed;
- charcoal barbecues and fire pits, with the ash and grease cleaned out;
- cordless tools, within our battery limits.
Please keep at home:
- petrol, engine oil, two-stroke mix and chain oil;
- fuel cans, even empty ones, because they still hold vapour;
- gas bottles and camping gas cartridges, full or empty;
- charcoal, firelighters and lighter fluid;
- paint, creosote, weedkiller, garden chemicals and aerosol sprays.
Getting a petrol mower ready
Empty the fuel tank, then run the engine until it stops so the carburettor is dry, and drain the engine oil. If it still smells of fuel, it isn’t ready yet, so keep it out until the smell has gone. The same goes for a strimmer, chainsaw or leaf blower. For a petrol generator, please call us before you bring it. The easiest way to deal with leftover petrol is to use it up before moving day; for fuel and oil you no longer need, check your local council’s website for how it takes them.
Barbecues and gas bottles
Disconnect the bottle and keep it at home, or return it to the supplier or retailer you got it from (Calor, for example, takes unwanted bottles back through its retailers). If you’re keeping it, Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service advises storing gas bottles upright, outdoors, and away from drains and heat. Then clean the grill and empty any ash, so nothing in the unit smells or attracts pests.
Cordless tools
Cordless tools are welcome within our battery limit. A removable lithium-ion battery can be stored if it’s 160 watt-hours (Wh) or less. If your battery shows only volts and amp-hours, multiply them: an 18V 5.0Ah battery is 90Wh, so it can come in. Power banks and portable power stations need to stay at home. Our e-bike and battery guide has the details.
Clearing a garage
If you’re emptying a garage for a move, or clearing a relative’s home into household storage, sort out the fuel, gas and chemicals before anything is boxed. It saves a second trip later. Our guide to packing your garage for a move helps with the rest.
Not sure about an item? Call us on 0800 2545585 and we’ll tell you straight away. When you’re ready, get a price online.
Related questions
- What goods are prohibited from being stored at Wigwam?
- Can I store paint in a storage unit?
- Can I store an electric bike, e-scooter or lithium batteries in a storage unit?
Further reading
- Health and Safety Executive: Storing petrol at home