Packing for a move is already a big job without the need for last-minute surprises, which is why it helps to know what is not allowed on a moving truck before you accidentally pack a prohibited item. Some banned moving items are restricted for safety or legal reasons, while others just aren’t covered under insurance if something goes wrong.
Below, we’ve explained what can’t go on a moving truck and why, along with a few smart tips to help you pack with confidence, avoid last-minute delays, and keep your belongings safe from start to finish.
Perishables: Items That Can Spoil on the Truck
These banned moving items mainly include food and houseplants:
Houseplants fall in this category, too, since they don’t hold up well in the extreme temperatures often found in the back of a moving truck.
Aside from the risk of spoiled food or wilted plants, transporting perishables, especially plants in soil, can attract pests. This is why movers typically won’t allow them.
Combustibles and Other Dangerous Items
Transporting a gallon of ice cream in the back of a moving truck is a bad idea, but it is legal. Transporting a gallon of gasoline is not. Thankfully, it’s entirely safe and lawful to put that lawn mower on your moving truck, provided you drain all the oil and gasoline out of it first.
There are plenty of other items that fall into this category, some of which might surprise you:
Generally, if it’s explosive or combustible, it’s not going.
To be clear, some items may or may not be forbidden, depending on the moving company or the rental truck you’re using. U-Haul allows loading propane tanks onto their trucks, but Budget does not. Meanwhile, U-Pack’s list of prohibited items includes spear guns having charged heads. So it’s always best to ask for the rules and policies when you’re renting your truck.
If you’re moving with a major van line, check the company website for what is and isn’t allowed. Here is the United Van Lines list, which best reflects the industry standards.
Plants, Pistols, and Alcohol
Crossing state lines with certain plants or guns can be illegal. Even when you’re just driving through, every state’s laws apply. To protect yourself and avoid having anything confiscated, check these U.S. state laws for plants and firearms before your move to ensure compliance.
“[Movers] can, and they should, [refuse to move an item] if something isn’t safe to load. Movers have to follow strict policies when it comes to what goes in the truck, especially with anything hazardous or restricted.”
Laws prohibiting the interstate transport of alcohol tend to be less restrictive, provided it’s for personal consumption. Still, double-check with the states you’ll be entering.
Valuables, Antiques, and Irreplaceable Items
This category includes items that either have incredible sentimental value or are difficult and time-consuming to replace if lost during the move.
So, it’s best to keep the following items with you at all times during your move:
Shoeboxes full of cash (don’t label them “CASH”!)
Checkbooks, credit cards, ATM cards, insurance cards, and policies
Official documents, like birth/marriage certificates, social security cards, passports, visas, residence cards
Sentimental valuables and family heirlooms
Bank statements, financial records, mortgages, stocks/bonds
Tax returns
Medical/dental records and any medications/prescriptions
Works of art
Laptops, PCs, and any work-related documents and research papers
Final Thoughts
The list of what’s not allowed seems pretty long. But getting your packing list right the first time could save time in the long run. Take the steps necessary to ensure that you, your stuff, and your truck all make it there safely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pack cleaning supplies in a moving truck?
It depends. Some basic supplies like sponges or unopened soaps are fine, but liquids like bleach or anything flammable (like aerosol sprays or ammonia) usually aren’t allowed. If you’re unsure, check the label or ask your mover before loading day rolls around.
What happens if movers find prohibited items?
Most movers will set the item aside and let you know right away. It’s not meant to slow you down; they’re just following safety and insurance rules. You’ll need to make another plan for that item, whether that means tossing it or taking it in your own vehicle.
Can movers refuse to transport items?
They can, and they should, if something isn’t safe to load. Movers have to follow strict policies when it comes to what goes in the truck, especially with anything hazardous or restricted. A quick heads-up before the move can save everyone time and trouble.
Most people who move have to pack and transport belongings and memories from just their homes. If you have a greenhouse on your property, you need to decide what to do with a whole other structure.
Should you move your greenhouse with you, or should you build a new one? Can you even move a greenhouse to begin with?
Yes, you can move it, and there are many reasons why that might be a better option than building a new one from scratch.
It’ll save you money: Greenhouse materials can be expensive, and you’ll have to buy new high-quality parts when you already have them literally right in your backyard. Moving your conservatory can save you the cost of these materials.
It’s sustainable: Reusing material you already own minimizes waste and reduces consumption. It’s good for the environment!
It’ll save you time: You won’t have to start from scratch with a new blueprint, new plants, and new materials. You’ll have most of your greenhouse items with you and can recreate its current layout in your new home.
It’ll preserve its sentimental value: You’ve spent months, maybe even years, giving your beloved plants some TLC — it’s only natural you don’t want to leave them behind. Moving your greenhouse means you don’t have to.
Read on for the lowdown on all things greenhouse, from the supplies you need when taking it down to the permits you need at its final destination.
Prepare the Greenhouse for Moving
Collect the tools and supplies you’ll need
There are different parts to moving a greenhouse, and you’ll need different tools to carefully take them apart and pack them for your move. Here’s a checklist of the basic items you need:
For the greenhouse structure
Pair of pliers
Flat and crosshead screwdrivers
Adjustable wrench
Short ladder to reach the roof
Containers to gather brackets, clips, nuts, and bolts
Masking tape
Marker
For the plants
Hand shovel
Burlap bags, plant pots, buckets, or trash bags
Extra potting soil
Personal protective equipment
Thick gloves
Safety glasses
Sturdy shoes or boots
Packaging materials
Bubble wrap, foam padding, and foam corners to safeguard fragile components, especially glass panes
Rope to secure them
Document what your greenhouse structure looks like
Make detailed notes of your greenhouse before removing anything to make reassembling it easier. You can draw a rough sketch of the floor plan that maps out where each plant goes.
Take photos of the general shape of the greenhouse from different angles to document what the final structure looks like. Then zoom in and photograph the joints so you know where the nuts and bolts fit together.
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Clear out everything from inside
Start with items that are easy to remove and work your way to heftier things. Remove any small, unsecured items like tools, heaters, and fertilizer bags. Next, move out the heavier mobile items like pots, shelves, and benches. Then comes the turn of secured items like lightning and shades.
Once you have the accessories out of the way, it’s time to focus on the plants.
Remove and prep your plants for moving
Changing a plant’s environment — even temporarily during transport — can cause distress. To make the journey easier on them, trim dying or surplus stems from any plants that need it before you dig them up.
When digging up plants, take special care not to damage the roots — use a hand shovel to dig a ring around the plant’s main stem, following the roots’ position in the drip line. Keep the soil around the roots intact.
“…most moving companies won’t transport potted plants with soil. They’re delicate and messy, and if you’re moving interstate, there are multiple state laws to take into account.”
Place the plant in a bucket, pot plant, or burlap bag for transport. You can then place the relocated plant in a trash bag so that loose soil doesn’t spill all over your vehicle.
You’ve cleared out the movable items, and now it’s time for the heavy lifting. It’s possible to do this yourself, but it’s not the best idea. Having someone to hand off panes to will make your job much easier and safer.
First, remove the glass or polycarbonate panes from the roof and then tackle one wall at a time. As you remove the panes, use masking tape and marker to label where they came from — north, south, east, or west walls, and roof.
Clips, brackets, nuts and bolts are easy to lose, so put them in a bucket or trash bag immediately.
Clear moss off any panes before taking them out. The last thing you want is to lose your grip and drop them! You can scrape off dead moss using your screwdriver or a plastic spatula. Fresh moss needs to be sprayed with moss killer first and scraped off after 15 minutes. If you’d rather not use harsh chemicals from a store-bought product, a dish soap and warm water mix will also help, though it might take longer.
Next, take the door off its hinges (or brackets, if it’s a sliding door) and then move on to the roof vents.
When you’re left with just the greenhouse frame, try to keep as much of it intact as you can. Instead of detaching each beam, keep each wall or roof frame in one piece if your greenhouse is small enough to do so. This will make reassembling it easier in your new home. Don’t forget to use masking tape and mark each frame too!
Protect and pack the different components for transport
While this video shows a glass tabletop, the same process applies to glass panes in a greenhouse.
It’s not just bumps on the road during transport that can break glass — prolonged vibrations between panes of glass can also damage them if there’s direct contact. You can place bubble wrap or foam padding between the glass sheets and use foam corners to protect them.
You could add an extra layer of protection and wrap each pane and padding item with packing paper. Label each one with ‘Fragile – Glass’ to prepare for loading onto the truck.
“You should also check if your Homeowners Association has any specific rules or requirements for greenhouses and comply with those. You don’t want to get into a scuffle with your new neighbors!”
Polycarbonate is 250 times stronger than glass, so you don’t have to worry about breakage en route. You can place thinner sheets of packing paper between polycarbonate panes to shield them from scratches.
The frame, thankfully, is less prone to breakage. Use the bubble wrap or foam padding on the corners of your frames to protect other items they might come into contact with on the journey.
How To Transport a Greenhouse
Consider hiring professional movers
Here’s the not-so-great news — most moving companies won’t transport potted plants with soil. They’re delicate and messy, and if you’re moving interstate, there are multiple state laws to take into account. You can always ask, but be prepared to make your own arrangements. Check out our blog post to know your options for how to move your plants long distance.
The actual components of your conservatory? Those are fair game. You can hire professional movers to transport the panes and frames. They’ll have the equipment you need to secure the parts in the truck and transport them safely.
Safely load and secure greenhouse parts
You’ve already packed your greenhouse glass (or polycarbonate) panes safely. Now it’s time to load them onto the moving truck.
Stack them vertically or diagonally in the truck so that each pane is only bearing its own weight. Use rope to secure the panes to the truck so that they don’t shift or bounce during transport. Secure the frames to the truck as well to avoid them tipping over and breaking the glass.
Keep road regulations in mind and plan your route
If you’re bringing any plants with you in your car or rental truck, you’ll need to carefully map out your route to ensure you’re allowed to take those plants through a state you’ll be driving through.
Check the Department of Agriculture website for each state on your route or the National Plant Board website before you hit the road. If you have any prohibited plants that are allowed at your final destination, you’ll either have to go around that state or ship those plants by mail through UPS, USPS, or FedEx. Check the guidelines for these companies too before you pack up the plant and send it on its way.
Set Up Your Greenhouse in Your New Home
Find a spot with ideal sunlight exposure
If it’s possible, observe the sun’s movement across your garden throughout the day to find a spot that gets plenty of sunlight for a long time. Make sure you place it a safe distance away from the shade of tall trees — not only do they block direct sunlight, their branches pose a risk to the glass if they fall right on the greenhouse.
Check local climate and weather
Unless you’re moving a short distance away, you might have questions about which plants will survive the move with you. The answer lies in their hardiness, or what cold weather and low temperatures they can withstand. This is not an abstract concept — the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map can help you figure out whether your plants will thrive in their new environment.
“As you remove the panes [from your greenhouse], use masking tape and marker to label where they came from — north, south, east, or west walls, and roof.”
Your plant tags should state their hardiness zones. If you don’t still have the tags, you can look up your zone by zip code to find plants that will survive in that zone.
And the plants that don’t make the cut? You’ll have to find them a new home locally.
Donate them to friends, family, or neighbors who’d like to take care of them
You can grow your plants directly in the ground, or using pots or raised plant beds, or a combination of the two.
For pots and plant beds, head to your nearest home goods or gardening store and buy the potting soil and fertilizer your plants need.
For plants that will grow directly in the ground, the soil in your garden will need to be suitable for them to flourish. Your local extension office is an excellent resource to help with all things gardening, including answering your burning questions about specific soil, drainage, weeds, and landscaping. Ask them about soil testing to discover your garden soil’s nutrient levels and how acidic it is.
Your greenhouse needs to be on level ground to avoid drainage problems like water pooling after watering your yard or heavy rain. If the ideal spot is on uneven ground, you’ll have to level the land before you build.
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Comply with legal and regulatory requirements
Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all checklist as to what regulations, permits, and codes you need to have in place before building a greenhouse in your new home. These vary from state to state, and you’ll need to check with the local authorities in your region for what’s applicable to you.
Zoning permit: Your local zoning department will issue this permit that regulates how many accessory buildings, such as greenhouses or conservatories, storage sheds, swimming pools, gazebos, detached garages, etc. you can build and where on the property you can build them.
Building permit: Your local building department will issue this permit to ensure your greenhouse complies with safety standards. It assesses the structural integrity of your greenhouse and how it looks, including its size and height.
You should also check if your Homeowners Association has any specific rules or requirements for greenhouses and comply with those. You don’t want to get into a scuffle with your new neighbors!
Lastly, don’t forget about the Environmental Protection Agency. You don’t need a permit from them, but keep in mind the EPA’s best practices to prevent pollution.
Store fuel, wood waste, fertilizer, or pesticides contained and far away from streams, springs, creeks, lakes, ponds, etc. on your property.
Design your greenhouse to work well with efficient watering and drip irrigation systems. If you can, separate and disinfect wash water or wastewater for reuse.
With your greenhouse built to code and plants re-homed, it’s time to enjoy the fruits of your labor. You can replace any plants you couldn’t bring with you to have a full, flourishing greenhouse to enjoy once again.
The Year-Long Home Maintenance Checklist: When To Do Big Chores?
Every year you aim to start good habits with your health, your career, your relationships. But what about your home? The space you spend time in every.single.day should receive some TLC and attention, too.
Instead of vowing to get your body in shape, let’s get your home in shape! In 2018, you may have neglected your home and we’re not judging. (I mean, who really knows the last time they changed their air filter?)
Your 2022 Home Checklist
We’ve curated a handy-dandy checklist to map out the year ahead. If you accomplish each task every month, your home is going to be a well-oiled machine. Now let’s get to it!
Note: Tasks marked with * are recurring tasks you’ll complete multiple times over the course of the year.
Winter Tasks
When you’re stuck inside due to the cold, you might as well put your downtime to good use. We both love starting the year with a nice purge. And if you haven’t seen the new Marie Kondo show on Netflix (seriously, where have you been??), then it just may give you the kick in the pants to part with all of your stuff.
While there will always be recurring tasks to complete on the checklist, the winter time is all about purging and organizing every nook and cranny in your home.
Split it up over the next 3 months and it won’t be quite as overwhelming!
Compile tax documents; set up a time to complete taxes
Purge and donate kitchen gadgets
Purge and donate pantry foods
Wipe down fridge*
Clean garbage disposal*
Change furnace filter*
March
Purge and organize toiletries
Purge and organize the linen closet
Check caulking around bathtubs and showers
Clean car inside and out*
Spring Tasks
No duh: the springtime is all about spring cleaning! You spent the past few months purging and organizing spaces in your home, but now it’s time to give everything a nice deep clean. (And don’t forget to clean these 6 overlooked areas.)
Not to mention, the springtime is the start of all your big outdoor projects. Get your lawn and garden cleaned, manicured, and ready for new life to grow. These are especially crucial because you really can’t do anything about it once you miss your window!
Inspect home’s exterior and roof for necessary repairs
Prune overgrown bushes
Clear dead plants and shrubs (early May)
Plant flowers (late May)
Change furnace filter*
Change batteries in smoke & CO2 detectors*
June
Replace outdoor lights that have burned out
Clean grill and check propane tank
Clean deck and make necessary repairs
Power wash sidewalks and walkways
Clean car inside and out*
Summer Tasks
Oh, the sweet summertime. It can be easy to let your household chores slide during the summer months. We get it, summer is about vacations and relaxing. But these are worthwhile tasks to accomplish when the temps are warmer and you’re spending more time outside (hopefully).
Also, as you near Labor Day, school will be on the mind. That’s when you’ll want to make sure your home is still organized from your hard work earlier this year. Purge paper clutter and books so you can start the school year fresh!
Purge office and organize paperwork for the upcoming school year
Purge and donate books
Clean faucet and shower heads
Wipe down fridge*
Change furnace filter*
September
Service chimney
Empty out planters
Store lawn furniture
Clean car inside and out*
Wash windows and screens*
Fall Tasks
Keep that momentum going into the fall season! Fall is the time to prepare for the cold months ahead. Focus on prepping the exterior of your home to protect it against the snow and ice that will soon be here.
With the holidays approaching, this is also a time when you’re the most likely to host guests. Luckily, your home should be running smoothly with all of the work you’ve put in this year. We also encourage you to keep December a little light on the home projects, since you will most likely have limited free time.
October
Plant spring-blooming plants, shrubs, tall grasses, etc.
Purge pantry and donate (good timing for the holidays!)
Change furnace filter*
Change batteries in smoke & CO2 detectors*
December
Purge toys and books (good timing for the holidays!)
Purge and donate extra holiday decorations
Clean car inside and out*
Free Printable – Home Checklist
If you’re ready to make 2022 the best year yet for your home, then we encourage you to download or screenshot this free printable. That way, you can print it out and check things off as you go. (Trust us, there is no better feeling than checking off those little boxes!)
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When you’re stuck inside due to the cold, you might as well put your downtime to good use. We both love starting the year with a nice purge. And if you haven’t seen 
