Perishable and even dangerous: what things should not be stored in the attic

Your own attic is a very convenient room where you can store a lot of bulky items without cluttering up your living area. However, not all items can be moved upstairs.

The reason is that the space under the roof heats up the most in the summer months, and is the coldest in the winter. In addition, the humidity level there is always slightly higher. Because of this, mold and fungus develop, and attics are also favored by rodents and other household pests. OBOZ.UA tells you what things can be severely damaged by such storage.

Wax products, such as candles or pencils

The wax that makes up candles and some types of pencils begins to melt at high temperatures. And after a summer under the roof, you may find a pile of wax that has lost its shape instead of a supply of candles. Wax products will be better off in the pantry.

Books, magazines, albums, documents

A child's favorite collection of magazines or old documents and photo albums should never be stored in the attic for several reasons. The high level of humidity can lead to rapid mold growth on the pages. It's also a great environment for the scale insect, and this insect will be happy to eat your paper. It will not disdain book glue either. Your archive will deteriorate very quickly in the attic.

Musical instruments

Whatever musical instrument you play in your life, you should not store it in the attic. Mold can get inside them, putting your health at risk, especially if it's a wind instrument. At the same time, wood products such as guitars deform at high temperatures, and their bodies, especially those with fabric interiors, become susceptible to mold, fungus, and insects. Musical instruments need a dry and cool environment.

Fabric

It is undesirable to store any fabrics in the attic, and natural fabrics (wool, linen, silk, cotton) are even more so. These materials attract a variety of pests from mice to moths. And in the presence of moisture, mold settles in natural fibers. Leather clothes or furniture can start to crack and take on a musty odor in the attic. Also, avoid using it to store extra rugs and bedding.

Festive and home decor

The space under the roof is often considered a good place to store holiday decorations. They are easy to find and do not take up living space. However, a significant part of the decor consists of materials such as fabric and paper, so it is better to choose another place for them. The same goes for home accessories, especially paintings, which can fade, become moldy, or fall prey to pests.

Souvenirs

Anything that is irreplaceable and, therefore, priceless to you should not be put in the attic either. This includes sentimental souvenirs, family heirlooms or antiques, as well as memories captured on film. The temperature and humidity fluctuations in this room make it an unreliable place to store such items.

Electronics and batteries

Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can cause irreversible damage to electronics and render them inoperable. Heat can also shorten the life of batteries or cause them to corrode quickly. And in the worst case, they can even explode. Therefore, keep working electronics at home and properly dispose of those that are out of order.

Toxic or flammable substances

In principle, such substances have no place in living quarters, but attics pose a particular danger for their storage. The chemicals can evaporate into the air and seep into walls, ventilation and heating systems, penetrate rooms and cause poisoning. In the event of an outbreak, it will be very difficult to stop such a fire, because you will not notice it immediately, and when you do, it will have already spread too far. Even relatively harmless paint in an attic can cause a fire. Or it can simply lose its properties due to unstable storage conditions.

Fire extinguishers

If there is nothing to catch fire in your attic, then you shouldn't keep a fire extinguisher there. This equipment cannot withstand temperatures above 50 degrees. And at the peak of the heat, such conditions occur in the attic all the time. At best, your fire extinguisher will simply break down. At worst, it can explode. Although this is a rare occurrence.

Heavy objects

Bringing heavy objects into the attic is very difficult. It can be even more difficult to take them out. So just don't do it. Moreover, overloading can threaten the ceiling, especially if they are old and no longer so reliable.

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