Storage sheds are great options for keeping outdoor equipment safe, but some items are best kept in your home instead. As the days start to heat up, there can be more temperature fluctuations and moisture buildup in your storage shed. An uninsulated shed is not as temperature-controlled as a house, and some items can be damaged if stored inside the shed. Here are the items that you should avoid storing in your shed.
Food
Any food, including pet food and birdseed, can attract pests to your shed. Space Makers Sheds builds structures with chemically-treated wood to keep pests away, but keeping food there will encourage them to break into your shed. The temperature fluctuations inside a shed can also cause food to spoil. Hot temperatures will cause the food to spoil too early, and cold temperatures can cause metal cans to corrode. Food should always be stored safely inside the house, especially to ward off unwanted guests.
Electronics
While the shed seems like a good place to store electronics you don’t use as much, it can cause them to be fully unusable, so you can’t donate or give them away. When exposed to extreme temperature changes and moisture, the electronics can be damaged, which can lead to dangerous problems. Moisture can damage the wires, and pests will eat them, which can make the devices short-circuit and start fires. In cold weather, liquids in the device’s screens can freeze, permanently damaging the display screen. Electronics are best stored inside the house, where the temperature is regulated and there is less moisture.
Batteries
All kinds of batteries, including household ones and ones for power tools, should not be kept in the shed. The extreme temperatures in the summer and winter can reduce their lifespan or cause them to corrode. Chemical reactions occur in the batteries when they are exposed to heat, which will shorten their lifespan and make them unusable. These temperatures and high moisture can cause them to swell and sometimes explode. Batteries should be stored in an indoor, dry place with regulated temperatures.
Fertilizer
Unless your shed is insulated, fertilizer should not be kept inside it. If temperatures and moisture levels in the shed reach a certain level, the fertilizer can heat up. The temperature fluctuations during Delaware summers can make the fertilizer too hot and spontaneously combust. Organic fertilizers are also often food for pests, which can attract them to your shed if you leave them in there. It is best to keep fertilizers in an insulated garage or basement, or insulate the shed to store them there.
Paper Products
Photos, documents, books, and newspapers can all be damaged if stored in the shed. They are often used as nesting materials for pests, and high moisture can cause them to deteriorate.
Photos
Weather elements can damage photos. They could warp, get stuck together, fade, or even grow mold from the moisture and high temperatures in the shed. Photos are irreplaceable, and you don’t want them to get permanently damaged. Store them in a photo album in a dry closet inside your house.
Documents
Your shed is at a higher risk of theft compared to your house, therefore you should avoid storing important papers and documents there. If you keep them in the shed, there is a higher chance they can get stolen. These papers should be stored and organized in a filing cabinet in your home office.
Books
Books can also be damaged by weather elements, they can grow mold and mildew if they get too moist. If stored in the shed, pests can get into the books and eat away at them or use them for their nest. Bugs, like silverfish and larvae, like to eat pages of books and the glue that binds them. Any old books you have should be stored in waterproof plastic containers inside your house.
Fabrics
Clothing and fabrics are also used as nesting materials for pests when stored in a shed. The pests can stain, create holes, and damage the clothes. Moths will use fabrics for their homes and eat away at the fibers. Damp air can cause mold and mildew to grow on your fabrics, even if they are stored in plastic containers. Fabrics should be stored in a cool and dry place inside. The only exception to this rule is outdoor furniture cushions and pillows. These fabrics are designed to withstand weather conditions, they’ll just need to be cleaned every once in a while.
Instruments
Instruments are an investment. Keeping them in the shed can cause the sound quality to deteriorate, and they will need expensive repairs or replacements. The heat and humidity in the shed can cause wood instruments to soften, deform, and even crack. Guitars, if stored in a shed, can bend and make their sound off. The strings can also snap if they are too hot. Brass and metal instruments can corrode or tarnish from moisture. Even the fabric cases that hold the instruments can grow mold and mildew. All your instruments should be stored safely indoors, a closet is a good place to store them.
Space Makers’ Portable Sheds
At Space Makers, we offer portable sheds that are meant for temporary storage. You can use these portable storage solutions to help you store your belongings when you’re moving homes. While they function as a normal storage shed, since these are temporary, you can store all your items here during a home move. The items above can be stored in these portable sheds for a short amount of time, just until you have moved into your new home. Then these items should be stored in their proper place indoors.
Space Makers Sheds builds storage sheds with unmatched quality, giving you a durable space to store your outdoor tools, equipment, and furniture. While there are many things that are better stored in a house, a storage shed is a great place to keep lawn equipment, sporting goods, and decorations safe from weather elements. Get a premium shed with Space Makers by viewing our current inventory, or build a custom shed with our 3D Builder. All of our sheds come with a 5-year warranty to protect your investment. Contact us today to get started.