Do's and Don'ts for TV attic storage
 

What DON'T you store in your garage attic, due to summertime HEAT or other reasons? For example, I would assume it would not be wise to store your photo scrapbooks up there (but maybe that's not true).

"Attic advice" for movers-in?

Gene & Kathy

I wouldn't store anything up there that's affected by heat, and photos certainly are

Don't put candles up there. They melt and discolor. I have almost nothing in my attic for this reason. My son built me some shelving that holds those big tubs and that is all I keep. This way I get rid of stuff regularly, to charities and I participate in an annual garage sale.

My rule of thumb is if it can melt in a microwave w/in 3 minutes, it doesn't go into a hot attic. Worked in California, has worked here.

Regular cardboard boxes will deterioate over time...moisture from the heat and humidity...Heavier moving or storage boxes last longer. Better yet is to get the plastic storage containers with locking lids.

It is hot up there.....
 

I do not have a list per se. I have read that an attic here in TV can get to 125 to 140 degrees F. Best bet is to google an item for storage recommendations. For example:

• some type of wax begin to melt at 125 degree
• photos should be stored in a relatively dry place at room temperature or below (I am guessing room temperature is 82 degrees)
• LCD televisions should not be stored in a place that exceeds 120 degrees F
  

We recently pulled a beach/sand chair down from the attic ... some fabric straps and trim fabric areas practically disintegrated in our hands and a plastic bumper cracked off. Fortunately, these were all cosmetic and the chair was still usable.

Be careful about how many cardboard boxes you put up there. Roaches love the glue on the flaps.

Use attic minimally
 

We have the pull-down stairs and a few plywood pieces, pretty much just store Christmas items (I'm minimal there too - our tree hangs on the wall), and grandkid stuff - pack n play, kids' table & chairs, 2 bins of toys. Not much else.

If I were doing it again, I'd do the upgraded stairs. Still wouldn't store anything else. It's really awkward to get stuff in and out, and kind of dangerous as well, and we're still relatively young (62) and active. Still takes 2 of us to get things up and down. I would never recommend going up there when you are alone. If you live alone, good idea to ask a friend/neighbor to stand below to hand things to.

You will probably find that you devise ingenious ways to store other stuff in your garage. Our beach chairs hang on a hook, as do bikes and garden tools.

All great advice, thanks!

Kind of makes me wonder what you CAN safely store in the attic. How about luggage? Or will the outside suitcase fabric "melt" or throw off toxic fumes?

Gene

We both have home offices with lots of computer electronics. We store all of the empty electronic boxes in the attic.

My Christmas ornaments which were made of syrofoam and covered with ribbon or fabric, eaten. Yuck!!

When taking down heavy items be sure to have someone with you to help. I've heard of a couple of deaths and serious injuries when the person lost their balance and hit the concrete. The opening is narrow and awkward and as we age balance can be a problem. The rule in our home is to be together when going into the attic.

What are you reffering to by upgraded stairs? circular or regular stairs built going into garage. Later would take up much space.

Did you upgrade the vents to motorized?

Have pull down stairs in Apartment in Germany, put suitcase up there, when my parents lived, my father, some how, put a door up there. All holding up along with boxes and my mothers flower pots. Of course, not hot much over there.

On-line I see motorized elevators for carrying boxes, looking into getting one of those when we finally empty our house in MD. Got first, small POD almost full. Putting Christmas, Easter, Halloween decorations in it, then will have it delivered after I build shelves in garage.

Can't list the house till we empty it says the Realtor.

With suitcases how often are you going to use them?? Alot of people I know added extra shelves in the closets and place the suitcases on the thrid or higest shelf. In the attic, not sure its bad for suitcaes but me personally I would be afraid of mold and/or roaches in getting into the stuff. Easier in the closet up high. BTW we got rid of alot of old style luggage that simply were not practical in todays world of travel.

Plastic and cardboard do not like the heat. May also be aware of how much weight you put in the attic above ceilings that have no direct support beneath. You may find yourself fixing cracks in your ceiling drywall.