What Not to Store in Your Attic (and Where to Keep It Instead)
Electronics
If you're living in a hot climate, your attic can quickly become a no-go zone for electronics. High temperatures can melt plastic parts and damage internal components. Take a look through any old gadgets up there and decide what’s worth keeping or discarding.
Still hanging on to that old VCR and cherished home videos? It might be time to rethink your preservation plan. Professional organizer Lisa Dooley of Your Organized Life says, “Those tapes were meant to last about 10 years, but I’ve seen some from as far back as the 1980s. If possible, digitize them ASAP.”
Food
If you've stashed food in the attic, you're in for an unpleasant surprise. Not only can the extreme temperature swings—hot summers and cold winters—degrade sealed items like canned goods or wine, but pests are likely to be attracted to even well-sealed containers.
Professional organizer Lauren Saltman of Living. Simplified. advises, “Edibles of any kind are a bad idea in the attic. Out of sight really is out of mind—will you remember what’s up there? Probably not.”
Chemicals
Out of space in your laundry room or garage? Don’t make the attic your chemical dumping ground. The intense heat can alter the chemical composition of cleaners and solvents, causing leaks or even explosions if they’re stored in aerosol cans. Keep your cleaning supplies stored near where you’ll use them—in climate-controlled, safe spaces.
Photos
We all know how tempting it is to shove an old photo album into the attic and call it a day. But heat and humidity are not friends to your treasured memories. Over time, the sticky glue and plastic page protectors in albums can become acidic, causing the photos to yellow or worse.
“Get those photos out of the attic—and the albums—and store them in a cool, dry place,” Dooley advises. “A closet or under the bed works.”
Wooden Decor
That stack of unused wooden frames or shelves sitting in your attic? It’s more than just a space waster—it’s a buffet for pests. Wood is highly sensitive to weather changes, expanding and cracking with moisture or drying out in the heat, even if it’s treated.
Before storing, consider donating items like photo frames that no longer match your style—what you’re done with might be just what someone else is looking for.
Fabrics
From sentimental clothing to that old family heirloom rug, fabrics—especially natural ones—should stay out of the attic. Pests love to snack on fabric, and the weather will eventually degrade the fibers, whether it’s a beloved stuffed animal or a pricey mattress.
Instead, keep these items safe by having them professionally cleaned and stored in your home, away from the elements.
The good news? Not everything is off-limits in your attic. Dishware, pots and pans, holiday decorations, and suitcases are all generally safe to store up there—just use your common sense. Your attic is meant to store, not destroy, your belongings.
Want more home organization tips? Check back regularly for expert advice on keeping your Portland home in tip-top shape!
