With Christmas peeking around the corner, many of us will be looking for ways to make more room in our homes to deal with the onslaught of gifts soon to be upon us. While using your attic for temporary storage may seem like a good idea, there are some items you shouldn't store there according to storage expert Scott Evans of Pink Self Storage.
If you have been packing bits and bobs into your attic without much thought, you may want to check you haven't put any of the following items up there or you risk damaging them.
Children's toys
Getting your children to part with their toys can be a tough job for any parent and we often come to a compromise where old toys aren't thrown out but stored. Black bags or cardboard boxes are often used to store old toys before putting them in the attic but this is a bad idea.
Scott said: "Your attic is dark and the temperature can fluctuate all year round making it easy for mould to grow on your children's toys. Mould can cause serious respiratory issues in children so if you do need to store their toys in the attic, use an airtight plastic container that is free of moisture instead."
Old computers and technology
Christmas is a time when many of us will buy new technology. Electronic items such as widescreen TVs, laptops, computer consoles or headphones are at the top of many Christmas lists.
If you are a hoarder you could find yourself putting your old tech equipment into the attic. Scott said: "Storing delicate electronics in the attic isn't a good idea, as the change in temperature in the winter makes it easy for moisture to develop and damage your devices.
"Either keep your tech in rooms with good circulation and a controlled temperature. Or consider selling them online or donating to your local charity shop."
Do not store your wedding dress in the attic
Your attic will change in temperature and humidity all year round making it one of the worst places to store wedding dresses and other delicate items of clothing. It is not just the temperature and humidity that can damage your dress.
You also have to contend with dust, dirt, dust mites, mice and mould. If you want to keep your wedding dress in pristine condition, avoid the attic.
Scott said: "Wedding dresses are both sentimental and expensive items of clothing so knowing how to store them correctly will save a lot of heartache in the future. To store your wedding dress, wrap it in acid-free tissue paper or unbleached muslin.
"You should also place the same paper between the dress folds to avoid permanent creasing. Next you will need to place your dress into an acid-free container and then store it in a dry closet or under your bed."
If you don't have room to store your dress under the bed you can hang it in the closet but due to the weight of the dress, this can cause the fabric to stretch and distort. Scott said: "If you have to hang your wedding dress, put it into an acid-free garment bag.
"Then hang your dress on a padded hanger. This will minimise the chance of your dress stretching."
Photographs and artwork
Most of us now use our phones to take photos which are backed up to the cloud. Old family photo albums are often packed away and stored somewhere in the house, usually in the attic.
Photos, photo albums and artwork should never be stored in the attic because the fluctuating heat and moisture levels will deteriorate them. You also have to worry about pests chewing on them too.
Scott said: "Your family photos should be kept in an area that you are comfortable in too. This area should not be too hot, cold, wet or dry.
"This could be a storage location in your living room or an upstairs closet. If you are handling old photos you should also wear gloves as this stops oils in your fingers damaging them over time."
Cans of paint
With winter being one of the best times to paint your home, you may have leftover cans of paint that are either unopened or opened. If you store either in your attic then the composition of your paint can change, rendering it unusable.
Scott said: "Don't store paint cans in your attic, garage or basement. Instead opt for a temperature-controlled room.
"This will help keep the composition of the paint as it's supposed to be, otherwise, you will have to throw your paint out and buy new cans."
