What Removal Companies Won’t Move, and How to Plan for It
Most removal companies will not carry anything flammable, explosive or hazardous, which means gas bottles, petrol, paint thinners, garden chemicals and fireworks stay off the van. Pets and houseplants travel with you, and so should cash, jewellery, passports and the documents you need on the day. Then there is a second list of things a crew will move only with notice and the right kit, such as pianos, fridges, gym equipment and hot tubs. Kruze’s own terms say we can refuse hazardous chemicals, explosives and flammable substances unless agreed in advance, and ask you to tell us about heavy or unusual items before the booking. Moves start at £100 for the first hour with two men and a van, then £55 an hour, and a 2 bed home is from £320. This guide lists what gets left behind, why, and what to do with each item before moving day in Leeds.
Why won’t a removal van carry gas bottles and chemicals?
A removal van is a closed box full of cardboard, fabric and furniture, driven through traffic. A leaking gas cylinder or a split tin of thinners in that space is a fire risk to the crew and to everything you own.
Kruze’s terms and conditions list hazardous chemicals, explosives, flammable substances, medical or biological waste, illegal goods and anything prohibited under UK law as items we can refuse, unless agreed in advance. Other removal firms publish similar lists in their own terms.
| Item | Will a removal crew take it? | What to do instead |
|---|---|---|
| Gas bottles and cylinders | No | Return to the supplier or carry yourself if safe |
| Petrol, diesel, paraffin | No | Use up, or a licensed waste fuel company |
| Petrol mower or generator with fuel | Only once drained | Run the tank dry before the day |
| Paint, varnish, white spirit | Ask first, open or leaking tins no | Donate usable paint, see below |
| Garden chemicals, pesticides, bleach | No | Use up or take to the tip |
| Fireworks, ammunition | No | Use up or dispose of properly |
| Aerosols in bulk | Ask first | Pack upright in a sealed box you carry |
| Pets | No | Travel with you or a pet transport firm |
| Houseplants | Sometimes, at your risk | Carry in your car |
| Cash, jewellery, passports | Not advised | Keep on you |
What should I do with gas bottles before moving?
Leeds City Council does not accept gas cylinders at any of its recycling centres, and asks you not to put them in your black bin. The council explains that most gas bottles remain the property of the supplier, whose name is printed on them. It says Calor bottles can be returned to any Calor stockist, and that Calor, BOC and Flogas will collect their own cylinders free of charge. For unbranded cylinders it lists a national cylinder recovery service. Source: Leeds A to Z of reusing, recycling and waste disposal, checked 27/10/2026.
If you want to keep a patio heater or barbecue bottle, disconnect it, check the valve is closed and take it in your own car, upright and secured, with a window open. Better still, return it and buy a full one near the new house.
What about paint, fuel and garden chemicals?
The council’s guidance, checked on 27/10/2026, gives a route for each:
- Paint and varnish that is still usable can go in the pink Seagulls container at any Leeds recycling centre, where it is passed on for reuse.
- Petrol and diesel are classed as hazardous waste and are not accepted at Leeds recycling centres. The council says to contact a specialised licensed waste fuel collection company.
- Engine oil, garden chemicals and household chemicals are accepted at recycling centres, up to 5 litres at the Kirkstall site.
Start a fortnight before the move by using up what you can. Paint left in a shed is one of the most common things found on clear out day. Our guide to paint and chemical disposal in Leeds covers each type.
Should pets, plants and valuables go in the van?
No to pets, ever. A van’s load area has no airflow or temperature control, and the doors open and shut all day. Book a pet sitter or ask a friend to take them for the day, and move them last, once the new place is quiet.
Plants can technically ride in a van, but they get knocked, they get cold in winter, and a crew packing to a schedule cannot water them. Big pots also fill space you are paying for. Carry the ones you love in your car.
Valuables are about who is responsible. Kruze’s terms ask customers to disclose valuable or fragile items before transport, and say we are not responsible for improperly packed items. Keep these with you in a single bag:
- Cash, cards, jewellery and watches.
- Passports, driving licences and birth certificates.
- Keys to both properties, plus the meter readings.
- Laptop, phone chargers and any medication.
- Tenancy, mortgage or completion paperwork.
Which items need special handling?
These are moved by most firms, Kruze included, but only if you warn us when you ask for a quote. They change the crew, the kit and the time.
- Pianos. Uprights weigh upwards of 150kg and need straps, a piano trolley and a plan for stairs. See our piano removals page.
- Fridges and freezers. Defrost and dry them 24 hours before, and leave them standing for a few hours at the new house before switching on.
- Washing machines. The drum should be secured with transit bolts if you still have them, and the hoses drained.
- Gym equipment and safes. Weight matters more than size. Tell us the make and model.
- Hot tubs. A working hot tub has to be drained, disconnected by an electrician and moved on its side, often over a fence. Many people decide to leave it or have it taken away instead. Our guide to getting rid of a hot tub explains the options, and Kruze hot tub removal is from £130.
- Sheds and greenhouses. These need dismantling first, and glass greenhouse panes travel badly.
How do I plan a move around the things that can’t go?
Work backwards from moving day.
| When | Job |
|---|---|
| 3 weeks before | List the items on the table above that you own |
| 2 weeks before | Return gas bottles, donate paint, use up fuel and chemicals |
| 1 week before | Book pet care, tell the removal firm about heavy items |
| 2 days before | Run mowers and generators dry, defrost the fridge |
| Moving day | Valuables bag and plants in your own car |
Anything you decide is not worth moving can go before you leave. Kruze is a licensed waste carrier, CBDU597687, so the same team that moves you can take unwanted furniture and junk in the same visit, from £24.99 for a single item. Full move prices are on our removals cost in Leeds guide, and the service is described on removals in Leeds.
FAQs
Will removal companies move a fridge with food in it?
No. Empty, defrost and dry it the day before, or water will leak through the van. Keep chilled food in a cool bag in your car.
Can removal men move a petrol lawnmower?
Yes, once the fuel tank is empty. Run it until it stops, and tell the crew it is a petrol machine so it travels upright away from soft furnishings.
Do removal companies move plants?
Some do at your own risk, but most advise you to carry them. Plants take space, get damaged easily and cannot be watered on a busy day.
Will you move a piano upstairs?
Usually yes, with notice. Tell us the type, the number of steps and any tight turns, and we plan the crew and kit before the day.
Kruze is a licensed waste carrier (CBDU597687) based in Leeds, serving Leeds, Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield, Wakefield, Harrogate and Barnsley. Updated 27/10/2026.
Send a list or photos of anything unusual on WhatsApp for a moving quote, or call 07436 120271. We answer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
