10 things to never store in the attic, garage or basement
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10 things to never store in the attic, garage or basement

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If you’re lucky enough to have a spacious attic, garage or basement, they can offer plenty of storage space. However, due to weather, animals and location, these areas of your home are not ideal storage options for everything. Even if you are the one most organized and careful homeowner, you should never store certain items in these areas of the home if you want them to stay in quality shape. Here’s what you shouldn’t store there and the best uses for those spaces.

Potential for injury

The main reason you should not store items in these locations is the risk of water or weather damage. Not only are attics, garages and basements easy targets for flooding and accidents such as fallen trees during storms, but the climate plays a big role in this aspect as well. If you live in the south, you understand humidity. Most areas in the south experience stuffy conditions for most of the year, which can cause water damage. But it’s not just water damage that can occur. Heat can also cause significant damage and even destroy some items.

It is also obvious that animals can get into the attic, garage or basement. Whether it’s birds or moths in the attic, a raccoon in the garage or mice in the basement, animals aren’t interested in taking care of your belongings.

Smarter storage

As a general rule of thumb, nothing in the wind, garageor basements should be left in the open. All that is certain to store in these rooms should still be stored in an airtight plastic container with a lid to keep out environmental factors. Cardboard boxes will deteriorate from heat and water, and animals and insects will snack on them or possibly use them for nesting material in the meantime.

A few more universal storage rules: Don’t keep away anything that is very important to you. Put everything you store on shelves a few feet off the ground in case of flooding in the basement or garage. Garages are prone to break-ins, so you don’t want any valuables in there anyway, and due to environmental factors that can degrade special items, you don’t want to keep cherished belongings in the basement or attic either. Here are some things you should never keep in the garageattic or basement.

Photos, documents, reading material and artwork

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Old photos, documents, books, newspapers, magazines, artwork and paintings are all off limits to the attic, garage or basement. These items are adversely affected by heat, humidity, insects and even light. Heat can cause paint to crack and expand or contract on paintings. Light, moisture and heat can cause serious discoloration and even mold on photos, documents and reading materials of all kinds. You know those little silverfish you see poking around your drains and other dark, wet areas of the house? They, like moths, will chew up these items. Remember that nothing of real value should be stored in these spaces, so everyone old photographsofficial documents such as passports, sentimental works of art, newspaper clippings or educational qualifications should not end up in the attic, garage or basement.

Things made of fabric, including leather

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Meaningful fabrics like old wedding dressesvintage quilts and baby clothes should never be stored in these rooms, as water damage, heat and moths will destroy them. Stuffed animals, extra bedding, sleeping bags and mattresses also fall into this category. Leather furniture or clothing will crack and discolor due to environmental reasons, and carpets of any fabric will deteriorate and fall victim to moths, insects and birds looking for a dark, cool space. Anything made of fabric, whether furniture, clothing, decor or novelties, should be cleaned and stored to professional standards. It is best to store these items in the house in plastic containers if you want to avoid mold, mildew, discoloration and moth holes.

Wooden furniture

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Nowhere to put Mama’s antique mahogany side tables, but love them so much you can’t let go? Do not store them in the attic, garage or basement. Moisture and heat can cause the wood to mold, mildew, expand and crack. Yuk.

Old electronics

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You wouldn’t leave your current iPhone in a place that gets too hot or humid, and the same goes for older, less advanced technology. If you save the TV with the VCR to watch old home videos, heat and moisture can destroy them. Store obsolete electronics indoors or donate or recycle them.

Anything flammable or dangerous

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We don’t always consider all possible outcomes when we store something out of sight and out of mind, so it can be easy to accidentally store flammable items near heat sources in the garage, attic or basement. Paint, cleaning productsgas, propane, and garden chemicals should not be stored outdoors in these areas, and especially not near water heater or oven. Even if you are storage of extra paint away from a gas related source, temperature changes can change the color of your paint and water damage can rust the can. If you chip a wall and need touch-ups, you want the paint you saved to match the wall, so do yourself a favor and store paint indoors in a cool place away from gas-related sources (including those in the kitchen and laundry room). Southern Living‘s Grumpy Gardener has his own cautionary tale of finding old, extremely dangerous gardening chemicals in his mother’s basement. If you have hazardous or toxic materials like Grumpy’s Mama, find a local organization that disposes of them safely, rather than trying to do it yourself.

Food (for you and your pets)

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This one is only relevant to the basement or garage, but it deserves to be said. Keeping any kind of food, including your pets’, in these areas is basically asking pests to come over for a dinner party. Also canned food is not safe in the garage or basement. Temperature changes and humidity can spoil canned goods more easily than you might think. Stay safe, healthy and free of pests and keep everything indoors.

Light

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This one is relevant to the wind. Avoid storing extra candles in the attic with other seasonal decor. During the summer months, they can melt or be damaged by the extreme heat of the wind. Store these in a cupboard or pantry.

Piles of paper goods

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The garage or basement may seem like a good place to store recyclables and boxes you think you might need again, but pests love to make nests in these open piles of paper or cardboard. Move them to covered recycling bins and dispose of them regularly. Store piles of paper napkins, cups and plates that have been opened in a pantry.

China

photography: HECTOR MANUEL SANCHEZ; STYLING: MARY BETH WETZEL

You only get to use your holiday or everyday china once a year, but it needs climate-controlled storage the rest of the time. Temperature fluctuations can cause discoloration, cracked glaze or other damage. If there is room, an indoor cabinet is a safe place for this tableware. For china that isn’t used often, try putting it on display so you can enjoy it every day.

Wine

Caitlin Benzel


Since wine must be stored where the temperature is regulated, the garage is not an ideal place to keep it. Store wine indoors away from light in a wine rack or refrigerator. A closet or cool basement where the temperature remains constant are also good locations.

While there are tons of things to avoid storing in these areas, you can still make the most of the space. The garage is perfect for things that are made to withstand the outdoors, such as garden supplies, outdoor furniture and furnishings, outdoor toys, camping equipment, tools, bicycles and sports equipment. The basement and attic make great, secluded spots for luggage, holiday and seasonal decorations, wreaths, metal and plastic items, and kitchen items like pots and pans. Any of these places is a great place to store ceramic vases, dishes and knick-knacks that you can’t part with or that you only display once a year.

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