Cardboard boxes: 12 things you should never store in them

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• Clothing: Skip cardboard for seasonal wardrobes
• Cleaning chemicals: Keep hazardous liquids out of cardboard
• Fertilizer and garden chemicals: Avoid moisture and combustion risks
• Artwork and prints: Protect canvases and paper from moisture
  • How to protect art
• Batteries: Don’t let them tangle in cardboard
• Glassware and dishware: Use reinforced packing for breakables
• Holiday decorations: Keep fragile and sentimental décor dry
• Vinyl records: Prevent warping and mold with vertical storage
• Stickers and stamps: Paper collectibles need airtight care
• Books: Protect paper from acid, moisture, and pests
• Camera gear: Use padding and dry storage for electronics
• Stuffed animals and soft toys: Prevent mildew and nesting pests

Packing feels simple until you open a damp, mildewed box months later. Cardboard helps you move. It rarely protects items for the long haul. Learn what to never leave in cardboard boxes and how to store those things safely instead.

Clothing: Skip cardboard for seasonal wardrobes

Cardboard attracts pests and traps moisture. Fabrics can grow mold or get chewed. That ruins sentimental or expensive garments.

• Risk: moth damage, musty smells, mildew stains.
• Better option: hard-sided plastic bins with lids or vacuum-seal bags.
• Store clean, dry clothes with cedar or silica packets to deter pests.

Cleaning chemicals: Keep hazardous liquids out of cardboard

Liquid cleaners can leak and soak into cardboard. That weakens the box and creates a fire risk. Mixed spills can also cause chemical reactions.

• Transport unopened bottles in cardboard only briefly.
• Store chemicals in a sturdy cabinet or plastic tub with upright dividers.
• Label items and keep incompatible products separated.

Fertilizer and garden chemicals: Avoid moisture and combustion risks

Granular fertilizer clumps when wet. Some types are flammable under certain conditions. Cardboard offers little protection from humidity.

• Risk: loss of potency, hardening, and fire hazard.
• Use sealed plastic containers or original heavy-duty bags in a dry shed.
• Store away from heat sources and chemicals that could react.

Artwork and prints: Protect canvases and paper from moisture

Paper and canvas warp when they get wet. Cardboard can let in humidity and light. Stacking frames can cause pressure marks and tears.

How to protect art

• Wrap each piece in acid-free paper.
• Use rigid, flat storage or padded crates for framed works.
• Keep art upright and out of direct sunlight.

Batteries: Don’t let them tangle in cardboard

Loose batteries can make contact and discharge. Corroded or leaking cells can soak into cardboard and cause damage.

• Leave batteries in original packaging when possible.
• Store in plastic cases or labeled compartments.
• Remove batteries from devices before long storage.

Glassware and dishware: Use reinforced packing for breakables

Thin cardboard offers poor shock protection. Boxes can be crushed under weight. That leads to chips and broken pieces.

• Use dish boxes or double-walled containers for plates and glasses.
• Wrap items individually and fill gaps with soft material.
• Avoid stacking heavy boxes on top of fragile ones.

Holiday decorations: Keep fragile and sentimental décor dry

Paper ornaments, fabric garlands, and electronics suffer in damp cardboard. Batteries left in lights can corrode and stain boxes.

• Store decorations in lidded plastic bins.
• Remove batteries and wrap delicate items in tissue.
• Label bins with season and fragility level for quick access.

Vinyl records: Prevent warping and mold with vertical storage

Records warp when exposed to heat and pressure. Cardboard absorbs moisture and can promote mold on sleeves and jackets.

• Store records vertically in a rigid plastic crate.
• Keep them in inner and outer protective sleeves.
• Maintain stable temperature and humidity.

Stickers and stamps: Paper collectibles need airtight care

Adhesives and paper degrade in humid environments. Cardboard does not seal out moisture or pests.

• Use archival sleeves and sealable plastic boxes.
• Include silica gel to control humidity.
• Handle items with clean hands or gloves.

Books: Protect paper from acid, moisture, and pests

Cardboard contains acids that can transfer to paper over time. Damp basements and attics are common trouble spots.

• Store books upright in waterproof plastic bins.
• Wrap rare books in acid-free paper for extra protection.
• Keep collections off the floor and away from exterior walls.

Camera gear: Use padding and dry storage for electronics

Delicate lenses and electronics are vulnerable to moisture and shock. Cardboard offers little padding and can allow condensation.

• Use padded camera cases for cameras and lenses.
• Store cords and tripods in lidded plastic tubs.
• Include desiccant packs to reduce humidity.

Stuffed animals and soft toys: Prevent mildew and nesting pests

Soft toys absorb moisture and attract pests looking for nesting material. Cardboard does not seal against these threats.

• Wash toys before storing and let them dry completely.
• Place them in plastic storage bins with lids.
• Wrap fragile or sentimental toys in tissue for added protection.