Attic Storage Tips
The attic is a great place for extra storage. Except when it’s not. To avoid damage to valued items, there are some things you should never store in the attic. Discover what should and should not be stored in your attic.
Why Attic Storage Can Be Bad for Valued Possessions
Because attics can vary between hot, cold, dry, and humid, your items may not hold up well between the drastic fluctuations in temperature. This is especially true if you don’t have the best insulation and ventilation up there. To make matters worse, if water is getting in from a leaky roof, windows or clogged gutters, there’s a good chance there is mold and mildew smell to contend with along with water damage and damage to your valuables.Avoid Storing these Items in Your Attic
Paint
Because it may get extremely hot in the attic, the intense heat can ruin the paint to the point where you won’t be able to use it for touch ups or anything else. Storing paint in a cooler and more evenly temperature-controlled area such as a main floor storage area closet is better. It’s also a good idea to label paint by the room it’s for, along with purchase date helps when pulling out the paint for refreshing walls in your home.Important Documents
Never store any kind of important document in an attic. Things like social security records or birth certificates, wills, tax documents or anything of importance should never be in an attic. The threat of stains, mold, water damage or just drying out like an old treasure map runs high. Move those documents to an office desk or fireproof storage container in a cooler location.Expensive Fabrics
The attic is not a good place to store family heirlooms like expensive linens, blankets, and even clothes. The risk of moths and other destructive insects that tend to be found in the attic can destroy these cherished items. Rather, store these items in a cedar chest or in plastic, airtight containers designed specifically for long-term storage.Candles
If you store candles in an attic that gets really hot, you’ll find a melted, waxy mess. Instead store your candles in a dry, cool place like a cabinet or main floor closet.Photographs
Prized old photographs will not hold up well in an attic once again due to extreme heat. Extremely hot conditions cause photos to fade. If there’s water or excessive humidity in the attic, it may cause permanent staining and spotting on the photos which you won’t be able to remove. It’s better to store your valuable old photos in a cooler place. A main floor closet or even stashed under a bed is a better spot to preserve those family photos. It also helps to preserve photos in plastic, waterproof sleeves and tuck away in watertight boxes.Attic Storage
Your attic can be used to store:- Extra or rarely used cookware
- Holiday decorations
- Suitcases
- Sports equipment
- Ceramics
- Glass items
