Storage can often be an afterthought. So long as everything is in a box and stashed out of sight, it is fine, right? According to professional organizers, this is a common winter storage mistake that results in precious items being damaged time and time again.
It isn’t just falls and breaks to blame. Moisture damage and winter pests can wreak havoc – not to mention that rushed storage is often unsightly and hard to navigate, too.
6 Most Common Winter Storage Mistakes and What to Do Instead
1. Storing Paper Goods in Cold Spots
You can also keep photos in albums on bookshelves.
Organizing paperwork can be tricky, with it feeling easier to stack it all together and shove it in attic storage. However, especially for those sentimental items, it is far better to keep them somewhere temperature-controlled.
Olivia Parks, owner and lead organizer at Nola Organizers, explains, ‘Cold temperatures can cause photos and important papers to stick together and mildew, and can potentially attract pests. Instead of storing them in your garage or attic, I'd recommend storing them inside your home in an archival box [available at Walmart] or an airtight bin [from the Container Store] in a closet to prevent moisture damage.’
For extra protection for photographs or delicate documents such as certificates, you can also add a moisture-absorbing pack from Walmart to keep them dry and intact for longer.
2. Leaving Batteries Unprotected
Keep batteries somewhere practical, such as a kitchen drawer.
Batteries are one of those annoying home categories that can be tricky to find the right spot for. Having a stash on hand is incredibly helpful, but it gets in the way easily. That being said, they are one of the many items you should not store in a basement, attic, or shed in winter – no matter if they are smaller, single-use, or rechargeable.
Olivia warns, ‘Cold weather shortens battery life, which can cause them to drain faster and potentially leak, even when plugged into a device. Instead of storing them somewhere cold, I like to keep them inside at room temperature in a drawer or a labeled bin in a closet.’
This Amazon Basics Battery Organizer holds up to 110 batteries, is foam-lined for protection, and can be wall-mounted to use vertical storage to save space, too.
3. Not Decluttering Holiday Decor
Declutter your decor as you use it.
We handle decor a lot over the winter period, from taking down Thanksgiving decor, decorating for Christmas, to sprucing up for New Year's, we riffle through our home storage ideas frequently. Not taking advantage of this and employing the best decluttering methods during this time is a common winter storage mistake, making your storage more difficult to use.
It is also harder when you add new decor to your collection each year, and have to source new expensive organizers to house them. The solution, Laura McHolm, chief of organized living and co-founder of NorthStar Moving Company, suggests, is to reuse your Christmas wrapping.
‘Homeowners often buy new packing materials instead of reusing what’s already in the house. Items like wrapping paper, bubble wrap, and packing peanuts can all be repurposed to cushion fragile holiday and winter pieces before they go into storage.’ This is a quick way to stop creating unnecessary trash at home, while saving money at the most expensive time of the year.
4. Keeping Candles In the Cold
Keep candles somewhere warm.
You can spend a lot of money on the best candles, picking seasonal scents to suit each moment of the year. To ensure they are still in top condition by the time spring or summer rolls around again, you must keep them in the right conditions over winter.
Olivia explains, ‘When candles are stored in cold places, they often crack, dent, and lose their shape or fragrance. Instead of storing them in cold places like an attic or garage, I'd recommend storing them inside your house at room temperature in a closet or in an upright bin.’
5. Relying on Cardboard
Plastic bins are more practical and safer than cardboard to avoid pests and mold
If you want to avoid winter storage mistakes and protect your belongings, you need to brush up on the things to never store in cardboard. While it is an affordable packing material, it is also the worst for areas with a lack of climate control.
‘Don’t rely on cardboard in damp attics, basements, or garages,’ Laura urges. ‘Cardboard breaks down in cold or humid spaces and attracts pests. Homeowners should choose reusable, weather-resistant plastic bins [such as the Iris USA Bins from Amazon], mark fragile items clearly, and place an itemized list on top of each bin.’
You can also use Smart Label QR Codes from Amazon to attach an easy-access digital label to your storage bins to quickly see what is inside each.
Pests like mice can also easily get into the cozy corner of a cardboard box and breed without you knowing there is an infestation over winter.
6. Neglecting Leather Goods
Keep delicate seasonal clothing in under-bed storage, rather than in the attic.
Whether you have leather-based home decor you are tucking away to fit in Christmas pieces, or are storing clothes long term, leaving leather in the cold could mean the item is ruined when you fish it out again. Luckily, it is a common winter storage mistake that is easy to fix.
Olivia explains, ‘Cold air and low temperatures can ruin leather, making it stiff and prone to cracking. Instead of storing leather items like handbags, jackets, belts, and boots in a garage or attic, I'd suggest keeping them stored in a closet (shelf or hung) where they stay safe from temperature changes and cold weather.’
If you are short on space, consider investing in under-bed storage. These underbed bags on wheels, from Walmart, are elevated for easy access and good ventilation, preventing musty odors.
What to Shop
These sturdy, weathertight totes are ideal for attics and basements, stacking to make use of vertical height to save space, and stopping pests and moisture from damaging your items.
Moisture-absorbing packs are must-haves for long-term storage, especially for delicate items such as paper or fabric, to protect against mold.
These handy QR labels make it easy to work out exactly what is inside each storage box without having to manually dig through them.
These extra large storage bins come with latch lids, and are made in the USA from premium materials.
Under-bed storage bags offer practical out-of-the-way storage that is still easy to access, saving space without hiding everything you own in your attic.
Vacuum storage bags are ideal for seasonal storage, keeping clothes and household linens safe from pests and moisture, without them taking up valuable storage real estate.
Meet the Experts
Based in New Orleans, Oliva is a home organizing enthusiast and founder of Professional Organizer, home organizers and blog.
It isn’t just your long-term storage that needs a spruce up in the cold season – these guest room storage mistakes are making the space less inviting for your guests, and need fixing before they arrive for the holidays.
