8 Things You Should Toss From Your Attic, Experts Warn

Your attic may seem like the ultimate storage space for items you don't want to deal with or organize—keeping them out of sight and out of mind. While it can be a convenient place to store some things, you shouldn't keep everything in your attic. It's one of the harshest environments in your home, featuring extreme temperature swings, limited airflow, and humidity that can create a breeding ground for mold, mildew, and pests.

Before adding more belongings to your attic, experts recommend taking a look at what's already up there. Many items that shouldn't be stored in the attic often end up there—and they're better off tossed or stored safely elsewhere. Here, experts share insights on what to remove and throw out from your attic to help protect your home and belongings.

Damaged Memorabilia

Over time, it's easy to accumulate pictures, scrapbooks, and special video footage, but storing these memories in the attic can expose them to mildew, mold, and irreversible heat damage, says Darla DeMorrow, owner of HeartWork Organizing and author of Organizing Your Home with SORT and Succeed. If you find that your precious memorabilia shows signs of mold and mildew, it's best to toss them.

"Get these goodies organized and digitized by a professional photo organizer (like us) so a beautiful, smaller physical collection can live in your family room, and the digital copies are safely preserved and shareable," suggests DeMorrow.

Some Seasonal Décor

Is your seasonal décor left boxed in a plastic-sealed container? If not, it's time to toss it. Seasonal décor is often stored in the attic during the off-season, but if it's not kept properly, it can lead to major pest issues. Decorations that include feathers—such as wreaths or costume boas—can attract bugs and rodents looking for nesting materials, says DeMorrow.

Wreaths can also be damaged by heat when stored in the attic. The high temperature melts the hot glue that holds the decorations in place, says DeMorrow.

Infested Clothes and Bedding Linens

Clothes, linens, bedding, or mattresses should never be stored in the attic—even if they're kept in plastic bags. "Mice think these soft materials are great for nesting," says DeMorrow. "If there's clutter all over the floor, it's hard to even see if mice are hanging out in your heirlooms."

If you have these materials stored in your attic, it's time to throw them out if rodents or bugs have made them their home.

Old Toys and Electronics

Many toys and electronics that have been stored in the attic are a must-toss. If your kids have grown out of their favorite toys, donate them instead of storing them in the attic. "Plastic toys can become warped due to the heat, batteries can corrode inside of electric toys, and stuffed animals can get a musty moldy smell," says Nikki Bell, professional organizer and owner of Just Us Organizing.

Electronics, such as old cellphones, also pose a fire hazard when stored in the attic. Batteries can expand or overheat, increasing the risk of explosion. If you have old cellphones, donate them or dispose of them properly instead of keeping them in the attic.

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Loose Papers and Books

The humidity and extreme temperatures in the attic wreak havoc on delicate materials like papers and books. They're vulnerable to mildew growth and heat damage, says Bell. Over time, moisture warps pages, fades ink, and causes mold to spread. These materials also attract pests and rodents, leading to infestations that can spread beyond your attic. Items in good shape can be stored properly (archival boxes for precious items; plastic bins for the rest); damaged items should be tossed before they become a mildew and/or pest nightmare.

How to Properly Store Items In the Attic

After tossing out the items in your attic that have been damaged or affected by pests and rodents, you won't want to make the same mistake again. For storing items in your attic going forward, make sure they are safely stored in plastic, sealed bins. Keeping your attic-safe items in bins prevents pest and rodent infestation, in addition to keeping them safe from the inevitable temperature swings that can lead to the growth of mold and mildew.

Before storing items in your attic, declutter what you haven't used in a year. Throwing away or donating items you haven't used in the past year is a good way to decide what should ultimately find a home in your attic.