14 Of The Worst Things To Store In Your Outdoor Shed

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You know the drill — clean, declutter, organize, and toss off anything extra that you can't seem to part with to the outdoor shed. Those four sturdy walls will keep your items protected while you continue enjoying your indoor space blissfully, right? Unfortunately, that's not how things always transpire. Granted, there are many common items you can safely store in your backyard storage shed — like your lawn care equipment, bikes, and camping gear — but there are plenty of others that you can't, or rather should not store in your outdoor shed, even if you have the space to spare.

Unlike our homes, most outdoor units aren't climate-controlled. So, the temperature inside fluctuates with the season, turning them into a baked oven or an igloo, depending on how extreme your climate gets. Moisture buildup leads to mold and mildew, while gaps in construction enable vermin to secure a heavenly abode with miscellaneous items to shop around for entertainment. This is why you shouldn't store some household and gardening items in an uninsulated shed. Fertilizers, seeds, canned food, paint, chemicals, paper products, textiles, and other such items fall in this non-qualified category and have been discussed below, along with the conditions necessary for proper storage.

You might store garden chemicals, like pesticides, fertilizers, biological agents, or soil amendments, in the outdoor shed to easily grab and put away as desired. But reconsider your decision if your shed is uninsulated. Any extreme temperature changes, from heat build-up to freezes, can change the composition or degrade the chemicals even when stored in containers. Take pesticides, for example. Their ideal storage range is between 40 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit, which is easily outstripped during hot summers. In contrast, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) products, used to control pests, must be stored where temperatures consistently remain between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit, or the bacteria will deteriorate. Worse, temperature swings can degrade the containers themselves, causing leaks and environmental harm if water pools in your shed after a rainstorm, or make a product useless if it freezes over (RIP your liquid fertilizer).

Given that, it's best to determine the amount of product you'll require in a season and buy accordingly. If you have extras, consider sharing them with a gardening friend grappling with similar pests. Otherwise, follow the guidelines listed on the product labels, stowing them in a dry, well-ventilated space, like the garage or the basement. Biochemicals require refrigeration. Store fertilizers and pesticides separately to limit the risk of combustion.

One of the biggest seed storage mistakes everyone makes and doesn't realize is squirreling the seeds away in the outdoor shed. Flower or vegetable seeds freshly harvested from your garden, leftovers in your grass seed packets, or bird seed bundles can become unviable or deteriorate if exposed to temperature and humidity changes. Any time the temperature breaches the 70-degree Fahrenheit mark, the seeds will most likely spoil. Similarly, humidity levels reaching past 60%, especially during the summer, will lower their germination rates and may even turn them moldy. And that's assuming the rodents frolicking around your shed spare them in the first place.

Thus, the best places to store seeds are not the outdoor shed. Instead, it's your refrigerator. It maintains the ideal temperature range of 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Although the humidity levels are a tad high, you can deal with that by saving the seed packets with a food-grade silica gel packet, like Vbeijll's Color-Indicating Silica Gel Packets, in an air-tight glass container. Birdseeds may be stored in a dry, cool place, in rodent-proof containers. However, aim to store no more than a fortnight's supply during the summer, though you may increase it to a month's worth of birdseed during winter.

Can't wait to plant dahlias come spring? You might not have much to plant if you store them in the outdoor shed. Bulbous plants, which include bulbs, rhizomes, corms, tubers, and roots, are sensitive to moisture, humidity, and temperature changes. They turn black if they're exposed to freezing temperatures inside your vaulted shed, and become unusable. On the flip side, if the area gets warm, they may take it as a cue for growth.

So, unless you want to spend time figuring out whether your flower bulbs have gone bad, skip storing them in your outdoor shed. Instead, look for a dark spot, away from direct sunlight and possibly where temperatures remain in the range of 35 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit. This could be an unfinished basement, a root cellar, a storage room, or a garage that doesn't freeze over. Even there, add vermiculite in their box to keep them dry. If you have the space to store them in the refrigerator, keep their packs separate from fruits, or the off-gassing chemicals may stimulate growth.

Once you're done coating your walls in a color of your choosing, you may be tempted to secure the box and put it away in the shed so you can easily retrieve it for touch ups. However, this is a big mistake. Although leftover paint can last over two years after being opened, this may not be the case if the can freezes over or gets cooked through in the heat — a huge likelihood in outdoor units. Either way, the paint will separate, leading to textural inconsistencies and will give you an uneven coat if you use it. Moreover, the metal cans may rust if damp is present in your shed. Supplementary items, such as adhesives, similarly deteriorate from temperature fluctuations, becoming glued in their containers in the cold, while paint thinners risk catching fire from excessive heat.

So, you shouldn't store paint in a shed. The same goes for other associated items, including thinners and glues. Eke out a cool, dark space where temperatures don't soar beyond 80 degrees Fahrenheit or fall under 60 degrees Fahrenheit. An indoor cabinet (perhaps screw one in your entryway for convenience), the laundry room, or the basement are ideal contenders.

Avoid treating your garden shed as the catch-all for the pantry overflow — the temperatures there aren't stable enough to ensure food safety. Canned food items may brave a fall or two, but they can't tolerate high heat for long. If the mercury soars past 75 degrees Fahrenheit for an extended period of time, the nutrient profile starts to break down, and it's a complete mess once it hits the 100-degree Fahrenheit mark. On the other hand, if your area experiences freezes, expect the cans to ice up and explode. Additionally, holes may develop in their seals and lids, becoming entryways for pathogens that spoil the food. Expect the rotting smell to call in hungry rodents, who'll make hay with the food and won't shy from butting heads with your tools. Moisture build-up can also lead to rust, which can eventually lower food quality.

Considering these reasons, outdoor sheds are no place for edibles — canned or otherwise. Give them a home in tightly-sealed containers, possibly metal or plastic, because glass may allow in light, which can alter nutritional profile and food color over prolonged exposures. Place these in a cool, dry place, possibly cabinets where the mercury doesn't breach 85 degrees Fahrenheit or dips to freezing levels.

Although packing away a few beer bottles or Coke cans in the outdoor shed will make it easier to grab them, along with the pruners for your shrubs, give it a thought. Carbonated drinks don't do well in uninsulated sheds. The freeze-thaw cycles may cause the carbon dioxide to separate, marring the taste. Prolonged exposure can cause the gas to build up pressure, leading to the can bursting. Your wine bottles face something similar when placed outside. Heat causes maderization, a chemical reaction that turns them into vinegar (ugh!), while freezing temperatures will make the wine expand, with the cork potentially exploding. If the summer air gets too dry? That cork will shrivel and breathe in the not-so-enticing smells of your shed.

All in all, outdoor sheds don't make great places to store carbonated drinks or your precious wine. Give these cans and bottles a place inside your home — your kitchen counters or cabinets work just fine, as long as they're protected from direct sunlight and will be consumed shortly. Basements make good alternatives, too. Or, really, just store them in the fridge or invest in a cooler.

Swimming pool chemicals shouldn't be stored in a cramped shed that you barely air out. The reason? Several of them, like the chlorine-based products that keep your pools clean, are oxidizers. If exposed to summer humidity (say after rain), water leaking through the roof, or wet floors, they may gas up and explode, causing fire. Before you go, "but they're literally mixed into the water," the difference is pools are large bodies of water, which can easily absorb the overall impact.

Even if the chlorine products don't oxidize, they may still lump together, reducing their efficacy. If your shed is poorly ventilated, the overtime gas buildup may eventually get to your other stored tools and equipment, corroding them. Not to mention, it may cause breathing problems or irritation when you enter your shed. If you store paint, propane tanks, or dirty oil rags in your shed, that's all the more reason to move the pool products elsewhere to minimize accidental fires.

In light of these risks, it's ideal to carve out a space in a dry and cool area that's frequently aired out and where pool chemicals aren't laid bare to sunlight, moisture, or wild temperature swings. If a cool spot is hard to annex, make sure the storage location temperatures don't swing past 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Wherever possible, store these items in weatherproof and waterproof packaging.

Paper-based items, including newspaper clippings, books, photographs, or valuable documents, shouldn't be housed in an outdoor shed. When it's hot and dry outside, the paper, binding layers, and the book leather will quickly disintegrate and be difficult to use. And if it gets damp and humid, the clippings, book pages, and photos will fuse together, effectively laying down a welcome mat for mold, mildew, and a plethora of pests, such as booklice, silverfish, cockroaches, and mice. Also, if you don't have a hard lock on the shed, it's not worth keeping your birth certificate, marriage license, or tax documnts in there, even temporarily.

To avoid losing out on your memories, be sure to give paper products their due in a dry, dark environment where light won't fade the pages, temperatures don't exceed 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and moisture doesn't play havoc (use a dehumidifier if necessary). Maintaining 4 inches from the walls, keep them in polyester film sleeves, like Performore's Clear Sheet Protectors. Or, opt for a lignin-free packaging. Other possible options include a storage cabinet or a dedicated filing system. Want a decorative option? Consider employing these creative ways to store books that actually enhance your home decor.

In theory, it seems quite obvious to deposit all outdoor cushions inside the shed to save them from the natural elements until you're ready to entertain again. You may follow a similar approach for your seasonal clothing, bedding, Halloween costumes, or fabric-based décor. However, this can become problematic if your shed tends to remain damp and humid. Such conditions are perfect for mold and mildew development and can infuse your clothing with a musty smell. Clothes moths and carpet beetles also find such a state hospitable and can make meals of your fabrics. In case sunlight streams through the windows, expect the fabrics to discolor if the exposure is long enough.

With all the reasons stated above, you shouldn't store textiles in uninsulated sheds. Instead, look for black tote bins with plastic lids to keep these items safe and critter-free. Rubbermaid's Roughneck 6 Pack Stackable Totes are a good option. Alternatively, set aside a dedicated dry chest to store off-season items. Put these bins in rooms where temperatures reliably remain under 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

When your mini flirtation with becoming a YouTuber comes to an end, or when you retire your old gaming equipment for its latest version, you may feel tempted to move it to the outdoor shed for safekeeping. But that's far from ideal. Not only will their safety be compromised, since burglaries can happen anytime, but also because of the damage they may be dealt by the not-so-kind environment. Temperature fluctuations can ruin batteries, cutting their life short, necessitating expensive replacements. In case you store too many together, in rare instances, they may short-circuit from the humidity and present a fire risk. The batteries installed in power tools fall in this category, too. Additionally, sub-freezing temperatures can irreversibly damage LCDs in monitors and screens. Gaps in walls or cracks in the door may allow rodents in, who may chew through the electronic wires, causing more damage.

The best call would be to cart off old electronics to the recycling facility, rather than hoarding them. However, if you feel you'll be needing them shortly, store them in waterproof bins with gasket seals, like Sterilite's Weather Resistant Storage Bins. If sheds are your only option, outfit them with a dehumidifier to lower moisture and seal any cracks to prevent pests from homing inside.

​​Relegating your musical instruments to the outdoor shed for safekeeping until you decide whether your high school band will get back together or not isn't a good call. Any moisture build-up or mercurial variations is sure to damage these soulful implements. Metal components, including the strings, could rust and pull free, while the wood and joints can become warped and disintegrate when they repeatedly endure hot-cold cycles.

Considering these risks, the right call is to safely stow away your instruments no longer in use in hard-shell cases. We like the Gator Hard Shell Wood Case for Standard Electric Guitars. Or, wrap the wooden instruments in polyurethane bags for scratch protection. These can then be put away in a storage cabinet where the temperatures don't vary significantly (should approximate about 70 degrees Fahrenheit). Alternatively, suspend them from walls, away from drafts and vents. In case the air is too dry — you want the humidity levels between 40% and 60%, as you would for your houseplants — use a humidifier in the storage area.

Let's be honest. You wouldn't, under any circumstances, keep your pricey leather handbags in the shed. So, how could leather furniture be any different? Temperatures veering toward extremely hot or near-freezing levels are sure to cause the leather to fissure and splinter apart, with the furniture cutting a sorry picture. Plus, high humidity or moisture seeping through the floors can encourage mold spores and mildew to take hold, discoloring the façade and turning it musty. Good luck restoring it when you're in the mood to bring it back inside.

So, how should you prepare your leather couch for storage? After you've cleaned and towel-dried it, wrap it in a breathable fabric. Pick out a dry, well-ventilated space in a spare room for safe storage. Avoid direct contact with sunlight (push away from windows), as it can discolor the furniture. When that's difficult, consider keeping the drapes drawn for the duration and place a dehumidifier or a moisture-absorbent pack in damp areas. If your budget allows, consider investing in climate-controlled storage units.

Hoarding away spare tires in your outdoor shed might not bode well for you or them when it's time to put them to use. Whether you live in a hot climate where the summer heat can make the shed interiors stifling, or a cold region where the ground freezes over, either of these outcomes holds the potential to destroy the rubber quality. In case the shed remains damp, the tire's metal parts may corrode, and sometimes the frame may even pull apart from the rubber.

Rather than an outdoor shed, put your spare tires away in the basement, where they're away from direct sunlight and experience steadier conditions. You may keep them in a well-ventilated garage if the temperatures don't oscillate beyond 32 or 77 degrees Fahrenheit in either direction. Be sure to cover them with heavy-duty plastic bags, such as Ultrasac's 42 Gallon Contractor Bags, to keep dust out and lift them away from floors, otherwise they'll become wet.

Avoid retiring your paintings to the shed when you grow bored of their appearance. The temperature vagaries won't play nice with the paint, causing it to fade, crack, or break apart. Similarly, the canvas may not hold up well, sometimes stretching too far out if overexposed to heat, leading to permanent damage. Damp conditions also pose problems, often encouraging mold and mildew to take over the space. Sometimes, the frame may warp or curl over from high humidity.

Since an indoor environment offers stable temperature and humidity ranges, consider laying your paintings in mirror boxes — Uboxes offers many options in varying sizes — and hoisting them off the floor. Smaller art pieces can be stored in portfolio folders, like EOOUT's Art Portfolio Bags, and moved into a filing cabinet or a storage rack.