Wait! Don’t Pack That! Things You Should Not Take with You on Moving Day

You've set your moving date and have gathered boxes for packing. Before you go and start throwing everything into boxes, some household items can't be packed and loaded onto the moving truck. Some of these items are hazardous and need to be discarded before moving day. Other belongings like houseplants, antiques, photo albums, and food should either travel with you on the move or get thrown out on moving day.

Below is a partial list of items that you should avoid including in your move:

Close up of the tops of old, corroded batteries

Flammable Items

  • Acetone
  • Bleach
  • Charcoal briquettes
  • Cleaners
  • Gasoline
  • Insecticides
  • Kerosene
  • Motor oil
  • Paint and paint remover
  • Weed killer

Combustibles

  • Alcohols
  • Antifreeze
  • Acids
  • Batteries
  • Corrosive liquids
  • Disinfectants
  • Flame retardant

Explosive Material

  • Ammunition
  • Dynamite
  • Firearms
  • Fireworks
  • Matches
  • Propane tanks
  • Signal flares

Gasses

  • Aerosols
  • Car engine fluids
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Scuba diving tanks
  • Welding gasses

Perishables

  • Frozen and refrigerated food
  • Produce
  • Plants
  • Opened food containers

Miscellaneous

  • Antiques
  • Artwork
  • Cars
  • Contraband
  • Important documents
  • Pets
  • Photos and photo albums

How to Dispose of Hazardous Items

If you have any flammable, combustible, explosive materials, or combustible gas items, it is your responsibility to discard them before moving day. Unlike perishables, hazardous items cannot get thrown in the trash. Below is a list of places that will take and discard your hazardous household items:

1. Drop off supplies at a local hazardous waste center. Most counties in Texas have a location where you can drop off your hazardous waste items. Call the hazardous waste collection center in advance to be sure your items will be accepted.

Multiple drop-off locations around the area collect the following items:

  • Automotive fluids
  • Batteries
  • Cleaners & chemicals
  • Cooking oil
  • Fire extinguishers
  • Lawn/garden/pool chemicals
  • Light bulbs
  • Paint & painting supplies

These hazardous waste drop-off locations don’t take flammable,  combustible, or explosive items. For ammunition or explosive disposal, the Fort Worth Environmental Collection Center recommends you call 817-392-4222. Ask your local waste disposal center about when and where you can dispose of your items. Many facilities have set days and times that you can drop off your materials. Tarrant County, for example, requires you to obtain a voucher before arriving at the disposal site.

2. At-Home Pick Up. Your hazardous waste disposal center may offer at-home pick up of items not accepted at the disposal site. If this service is unavailable, they may know local companies who will send professionals to your home to pick up your hazardous household items.

3. Contact Your Local Fire and Police Departments. For the disposal of fire extinguishers and fireworks, call your local fire department. For firearms and ammunition disposal, call your local police department. Used firearms and unused ammunition can also be donated to your local shooting range. The copper pieces of shell casings can be recycled if there is no corrosion.

4. Give away or donate materials. You can give away items like paint, weed killer, lacquer, cleaners, and bleach to friends, neighbors, or nonprofit organizations that help those in need. If planning to donate unused items, call the organization beforehand to see if they will accept the items.

DFW Fireman Movers are Here to Help

While we can't dispose of your hazardous household materials, we can make your move efficient and stress-free with packing and unpacking, loading and unloading, furniture reassembly, and storage services. DFW Fireman Movers have been moving families in Tarrant County for over 12 years. Every one of our fireman movers has at least a year and a half of professional moving experience and will make your move as smooth as possible.

What sets us apart is our dedication to customer service and satisfaction. We build our business model around customer referrals. We strive to exceed expectations on every move and go to great lengths to ensure possessions are safely packed, loaded, and transported to their destination.

Properly disposing of hazardous household items and separating priceless items will make packing easier. For a complete list of hazardous materials you should get rid of before your move, contact us at DFW Fireman Movers.

What Our Clients Are Saying

  • Gary and Kay P

    Aaron and his crew did a great job. Thank you,

  • Loren

    Thanks for your efforts and getting us moved out of our apartment. The team out there worked super hard to get our stuff moved safely and as quick as possible to minimize cost to the customer. Definitely appreciate it.

  • Charlotte C

    As you stated, your men were wonderful, hard working young men, whom I easily trusted. They worked in a timely manner, trying to save time where they could by working diligently. I will highly recommend your company to anyone.

    Thank you

  • Thx!

    The guys did a super job! I’ll definitely pass on my recommendation to anyone I know.

    Thx!

  • Chris E

    I just want to say thank you! Your guys are awesome! I’ve had this crew on one of our previous moves and they are great. They’re careful and respectful. Honestly, I hope this is my last move for a long time, but if we move again you are my go to guys.

    Blessings

  • Mike Z

    I wanted to reach out and thank you and your crew for the help and work they did in my move. Your guys were professional and very positive throughout the whole move. They really put me at ease and what I thought would be very frustrating day was a good experience. They were very careful and treated my stuff with great care. When they arrived I felt we were maybe not as packed and organized as we should have been but they helped get it together and packed on the truck. I was so glad it went so smooth. Please thank the crew and please use us as a reference as we are a happy customer. My daughter had used you and we were glad she gave us your number.

  • Melissa

    Anthony,

    I wanted to let you know what a great job the guys did today! I will definitely be recommending you guys to everyone they were so quick and professional. Thanks!

  • Alma

    Anthony,

    Thanks again for the move. Everything went well and the guys were very friendly and quick !!

  • Brian

    Thank You. Your guys were great.

  • Marcia M.

    Thanks for making our moving day easy!!!

  • David

    The team introduced themselves to my wife and me. They were very careful with the items and the house. They worked very fast and carefully, Take care & be safe.

  • Brad H.

    Thank you for the response. The guys on the crew were awesome both times we used them to move. Will highly recommend to anyone.

  • Dana K

    Thanks for your services……we were very pleased with the movers that you sent.

  • Lisa

    Your guys did a fine job today! They were very courteous and respectful young men. Thanks for a smooth move!

  • Angela S.

    Great job on our move, by the way. Everyone was very courteous and hardworking.

  • Mike T.

    Anthony,

    I wanted to take the time to let you know that your men today who moved my wife from Weatherford to Ft. Worth were the BEST MOVERS I have ever had in my 55 years of life. They were genuinely nice, polite, fun, and did an incredible job moving all of my stuff on a very humid day! You have 3 great workers and I would heartily recommend your company to anyone!

    Thank you!

  • Thanks S.

    Things went great this weekend with Marcelo, Victor and Rick. Got everything done in a timely manner.

  • COURTNEY JOHNSON

    SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS

    We hired fireman movers to help us move into our new home. They showed up and were very professional as well as courteous to moving items that were very important to us. In the future I will defnitely be using these guys again and I recomend them to all of our friends who are looking for an upstanding approach on moving.

  • KATHY LUCAS

    ALLEN, TEXAS

    We hired fireman movers to help us move into our new home. They showed up and were very proffesional as well as courteous to moving items that were very important to us. In the future I will defnitely be using these guys again and I recomend them to all of our friends who are looking for an upstanding approach on moving.

  • ROBERT JENNINGS

    ARLINGTON, TEXAS

    We hired fireman movers to help us move into our new home. They showed up and were very proffesional as well as courteous to moving items that were very important to us. In the future I will defnitely be using these guys again and I recomend them to all of our friends who are looking for an upstanding approach on moving.