Protect your precious holding ( and stay more organized ) by avoiding composition board storage option .
Getty Images / Oscar Wong
boxing items aside in cardboard box is one of the worststorage mistakesyou can make . Whether you ’re repurposing Amazon box for attic storage or left boxed unpacked after a move , you could be unwittingly order your token at hazard . Even if boxful are seal ( seemingly ) well and correctly labeled , cardboard simply does n’t sheer it as a wise way to stash your stuff from a prophylactic , cleanliness , and organisational viewpoint .
Credit:Getty Images / Oscar Wong
If you have stack of cardboard boxesin your basementor attic , we ’re sharing the significant risks they pose , as well as the most significant thing you should never store in cardboard if you want to keep them secure for years to occur .
Why Cardboard Boxes Shouldn’t Be Used for Storage
As a professional personal organiser , I wish cardboard box did n’t subsist as a storage pick at all — that ’s how impractical they are ! But I can understand why they ’re used so often . They ’re considerably more cost - effective than alternate boxes , like plastic carryall , and they can be break down to be saved for other uses , such as packing for your next move .
However , salt away point in cardboard boxes as a long - term storage resolution is a recipe for disaster . In addition to being a ardor chance , these are some of the reasons why composition board box are problematic .
If you have any boxes lying around the house , this is your polarity to carefully sort through them , declutter what you may or toss what ’s unsalvageable , and rehome what you want to hold onto into higher - quality binful .
Things You Should Never Store in Cardboard Boxes
If you do need to store items in cardboard boxwood ( even temporarily ! ) , these are the point you should avoid keeping in cardboard .
1. Clothing and Linens
Since cardboard boxes are prone to pests , it should n’t be a surprise that packing sweaters or rag in them is a bad idea . moth can jaw through fabric , plus materials ( particularly leather and suede ) will be susceptible to mildew . or else , stack away off - time of year clothesand linens invacuum stamp bagsor plastic tote to substantially protect them .
2. Food (Yes, Even Non-Perishables)
guide clearly of using cardboard box to hold buttery items . Bagged or boxed packages are not impervious to pesterer , so if they make their way into the cardboard corner , they can also get into the food . And if moisture is present , canned goods will rust . If you need to lay in overstock non - perishable somewhere other than in the kitchen , keep them in trash or plasticairtight container .
3. Liquids
Perhaps you have backstock bathroom production , such as shampoo or shave ointment , sitting in a box that has n’t been unpacked since your last move . Bottles contain liquid , gels , blood serum , oils , and sprays can leak when jostled around , progress to a muss and causing the cardboard to decay . It ’s good tostore bulk itemsin charge card bins so clean - up will be easier when accidents inevitably happen .
4. Paperwork and Books
text file ( specially important ones needed for recordkeeping ) should never be stored in a cardboard box . Yes , that include erstwhile revenue enhancement files that you hope you wo n’t need to get at before the seven - twelvemonth boundary is up . Because in the off probability you do , the cardboard can stimulate them to be illegible . The acidity in composition board fabric will cause newspaper to fade , yellow , or fall apart . They can also become stain with mildew and mold or chewed through by bugs . Silverfish love to banquet on newspaper and cellulose , which bind books together , so they should stay far away from cardboard , too . Work ondecluttering your book collectionso you have elbow room on shelves andorganize essential paperworkinto file locker , benches , or Zen - gratuitous boxes .
5. Photos and Mementos
If maintain in composition board box , your photo memories will tolerate the same fate as paper document . Photos , newspaper clippings , letters , and exchangeable sentimental items will also become discolored and brittle over time . Again , battery-acid - free storage will always be the good solution to keep memento for generations to come . Look for keepsake loge orphoto organizersthat specifically state they ’re made with back breaker - gratis , or archival , materials .
6. Valuables
Never bear in mind the potential for damage ; Valuable items are at a heightened risk of being stolen if forget in easily approachable composition board boxes . Keep prized possessions , like jewelry , artwork , and collectibles , in afire and rainproof safeso you know they ’re as protect as potential . While you ’re at it , tally original ( and difficult to replace ) documents like birth certificates and passports to the safe as well .
7. Electronics
Cardboard box provide no protection for electronics , no matter of if they ’re old or new . Whether you put a gambling system in a box because you ’re taking a shift from using it or use one to stack old laptops until you clear their hard movement , every gadget is in danger of being damaged permanently . Dust can settle into vent or scratch screen , excess moisture may rust metal parts or cause wires to inadequate circuit , and fluctuating temperatures could lead to overheating , among other issues . By any means possible , organise electronicsin a clime - controlled part of the house until they ’re ready to be used or reprocess .
8. Chemicals
Cardboard is a extremely flammable material , so store inflammable chemical substance in a box is involve for trouble . Not only can they spill and create a toxic pile to cleanse , the combination of chemical sitting in cardboard stupefy a fire hazard . Safely store cleanup supplies , pesticides , paint cans , and other household chemicals in ventilated areas and chemical - resistive plastic ABA transit number , like those made of Polypropylene ( PP ) or High - Density Polyethylene ( HDPE ) .
9. Heavy, Sharp, or Breakable Items
composition board box full of heavy things not only make them challenging to head , but they ’re also potential to collapse under the free weight . Fragile items can shatter , and anything that ’s innately sharp will put whoever is sifting through the boxful in jeopardy . Do yourself and anyone who has to handle the boxes ( such aswhite - glove movers ) a favour and leave these items out of them . Instead , habituate heavy - duty totes with handles for the hefty hooey and cautiously wrap breakable or pointy affair in cushiony paper .
How to Store Cardboard Boxes
Recycling composition board boxes after a move may seem like a waste material , especially if you fuck you might need to backpack up again in the nigh future . It ’s also airy to buy reusable bin for all your belongings , especially if storage blank or your budget is limited . So , it ’s OK to string up onto ones that are in good circumstance but do so smartly .
First , insure they ’re empty , juiceless , and devoid of loose tape . Then , bankrupt them down and screen out them by size of it . Use roach or string to tie group of flatted boxes together so they ’re easy to orchestrate . Then , choose a space in your home where pests and humidity or moisture are unlikely to be present . stomach them up and be given them against a wall ( so they stay out of the manner ) in a climate - see to it basement , the back of a spare water closet , orthe corner under a staircase . scrutinise them before using them again to ensure they ’re still usable for your next move . If that meter does n’t arrive , look at donate loge to someone who needs them for their move orusing cardboard for craft projects .
