Candles
Pre-melted candles probably aren’t what you have in mind, but that’s what you could end up with if they’re stored in the attic. Candles will melt in the heat, and the wax can potentially get on anything else in the storage container with them.
Cleaning Products
You might be looking for somewhere to keep extra cleaning products out of the hands and mouths of pets and children, but the attic isn’t the right place. Heat can damage the products’ containers, leading to leaks. Cleaners can also be a fire hazard if exposed to high temperatures. They’re best stored where temperatures stay in a safe range.
Store Carefully
An attic’s empty space just screams, “Store stuff here!” However, no matter how tempting it might be to toss a little of everything into the rafters, this less-than-hospitable environment can be disastrous for some of your greatest treasures. Many items that commonly find themselves in storage are susceptible to damage from humidity, pests, and extreme temperature fluctuations. This list will help make sure your important documents and keepsakes stay whole and safe—as long as you never store them in your attic.
Leather
Leather jackets, furniture, and gloves don’t belong in the attic. Extreme temperatures and temperature fluctuations can cause leather to dry, get brittle, and crack. Moisture is a no-go, too. Leather easily stains unless you clean it right away. In the attic, chances are the damage will be done long before you can do anything about it.
Wool and Delicate Fabric
Moths love wool blankets and clothing, and it can be hard to keep bugs away even in the home’s main living area. In an unfinished attic, the chances of bug problems increase significantly. However, wool isn’t the only fabric with special storage requirements. Moths and other insects love linen, cotton, and other natural fabrics, too. Vintage and sentimental clothing store best in a temperature-controlled environment, with deterrents like cedar nearby.
Holiday Decorations
Your holidays might just be a lot less merry this year if you’ve been storing your decorations in the attic. “Holiday decorations can be damaged by the extreme heat in attics,” says Santoro. “Delicate fabrics and items that are painted are particularly prone to damage when stored in the attic,” and plastic decorations, like ornaments, may melt or warp in the heat.
Fire Extinguishers
Hoping to keep your home safe with a fire extinguisher? You might want to find a more climate-controlled space than your attic to store it in. According to fire safety company Kidde, storing one in a space hotter than 120 degrees Fahrenheit can reduce the lifespan of a fire extinguisher—and may even shorten the discharge time.
Electronics
Old televisions, smartphones, tablets, and most other electronic devices have a safe temperature use range between 50 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything above or below that can damage components. Attics can reach well over 150 degrees in the peak of summer. Your electronics may be less than functional after a few hot (or cold) days.
Instruments
The clarinet from junior high band and violin from high school orchestra need consistent room temperatures to survive storage. Wood instruments in particular are in danger of damage when stored in temperature extremes. The adhesives in the body of a violin, for example, can melt, and mold poses a risk for anything made of wood. The fabrics in the instrument cases are also at risk for mold and bug infestations.
Wood Furniture
Mirrors, dressers, and extra chairs easily find a home in the attic. However, heat can warp wood. To keep your furniture pieces in shape (literally), they need a milder, temperature-controlled environment. Humidity takes its toll in the form of mold, too. Sometimes you can clean mold off of wood, but other times there’s no removing the staining it causes.
Important Documents
Boxes of tax returns, receipts, and other papers frequently make their way to the attic. However, all of them, including birth certificates, medical records, passports, and other valuable information, could easily get ruined in extreme attic temperatures and humidity. In some cases, the paper itself may survive, but humidity and heat can also damage inks and fade pencil marks, creating an illegible mess.
Batteries
Those spare batteries may not be long for this world if you’re keeping them in a hot, humid attic. According to Duracell, the prime environment for batteries is somewhere dry and room temperature. At high temperatures, like the ones you might find in your attic, batteries can rapidly lose power or may even start leaking, potentially setting you up for a chemical burn.
Paint
Temperature fluctuations in your attic might mean that your next paint job is more of a disaster than a masterpiece. Both heat and cold can change the consistency of paint. And, if the can isn’t tightly sealed, high temperatures may cause it to dry out quickly.
Art Supplies
If you’re thinking of storing your kids’ crayons and craft glue in the attic for future use, think again. Those high temperatures in your attic have the potential to melt those crayons, dry out that glue, and send you on a mad dash to the craft store.
