Delicate Fabrics Risk Permanent Damage
Fabrics like silk, wool, and leather need attention to maintain their quality and color. Storing these pieces in plastic bins can create moisture buildup, leading to the increase of mold and mildew. Professional organizers consistently warn against this common storage mistake. Delicate clothing and accessories made of silk, lace, cashmere or leather should not be stored in plastic bins. The plastic can trap moisture and eventually ruin these items. Instead of plastic, we love using a breathable bin that’s made out of a natural fabric.
Think about it this way – your favorite cashmere sweater is like a living material that needs to breathe. When you trap it in plastic, you’re essentially suffocating it. Trapped moisture encourages fabric decaying mold taking hold over time on stored clothing, leading to irreversible staining damage. When inadequately ventilated, plastics foster humidity buildup much like a mini-greenhouse that molds thrive within when unchecked. The damage can be so severe that even specialty cleaning won’t restore your treasured pieces.
Vintage Leather Items Turn Into Moldy Disasters
Similar to delicate items of clothing, leather is a type of fabric that should be well cared for. Initially, you may think it’s highly durable (which it can be) however you want to make sure you’re storing it correctly so it stands the test of time. The big no-no is leather goods, including purses, footwear, clothing. The problem with leather gets even worse than regular fabrics because leather is basically skin – and skin needs to breathe to stay healthy.
Leather items like handbags, boots, and jackets also shouldn’t be stored in plastic unless carefully managed. Leather is fine in plastic containers if they are kept in a cool, dry place. But any moisture can lead to mold or mildew, which can crack the leather. I’ve seen too many expensive handbags ruined because someone thought plastic would protect them. Instead of protection, owners ended up with cracked, moldy disasters that cost more to repair than replace.
Important Documents Face a Silent Threat
Paper is highly vulnerable to moisture damage and pests. Although plastic bins may seem protective, they can trap humidity, potentially compromising the integrity of your documents and photos. It’s better to choose archival-quality boxes and folders for these items. Additionally, store them in a place to prevent yellowing or deterioration. Your birth certificates, family photos, and important contracts deserve better than a plastic grave.
Important documents, valuables, and delicate items such as photos and artwork are all at risk of being damaged when stored in plastic containers. If any moisture gets into a plastic storage container before sealing it, it will be trapped. This can even lead to mold development if not allowed to dry out. Plastic bins may also not provide adequate protection against light exposure, temperature fluctuations, and humidity levels. Documents might look fine on the surface, but underneath they’re slowly deteriorating.
Electronics and Batteries Create Fire Hazards
Electronic devices and batteries are sensitive to temperature changes, but plastic bins offer little insulation. Extreme heat or cold can harm components and reduce battery life. What’s worse is that plastic can actually make the situation dangerous. It’s quite common to stash away old electronic devices or store unused batteries. However, plastic bins or storage containers are a no-no. This is because it can generate static electricity, which could damage sensitive electronic devices, or even cause batteries to leak.
Think of your old electronics like time bombs when stored improperly. Instead, opt for anti-static packaging or boxes specifically designed for electronics. In addition, store old electrical items in a cool environment that is well-ventilated. Better still, you can recycle, donate or sell old computers and devices. The static buildup from plastic can fry circuit boards worth hundreds of dollars.
Photographs Fade Into Nothing
While it might seem practical to store important documents or family photographs in plastic sleeves or a storage box, this is also a no-no. Potential moisture issues from fluctuating temperatures, would either fade or discolor the print/documents. Your precious memories deserve better protection than a plastic tomb where they’ll slowly fade away.
If you have physical photos, then stashing all those precious memories away in a plastic bin is not a good idea. The issue of excess moisture and heat buildup inside that plastic is still a factor. From fading to warping, your hardcopy photos are at a big risk of losing their quality over time. Experts suggest using paper boxes and/or acid-free archival sleeves, and keeping the photos away from glue and other adhesives. For safe-keeping, you may also want to consider digitally backing up all the photos you can.
Books and Media Warp Beyond Recognition
In regions like the South, people often store books in plastic containers in garages. Humidity can get trapped, leading to warped pages or mildew, which can ruin books. Books are like sponges for moisture – they’ll absorb every bit of humidity trapped in that plastic container.
Keeping books and physical media in plastic bins for extended stretches isn’t exactly advisable. Just like with photos and documents, there’s an increased chance of damage, warping, and rot to items, thanks to the added moisture inside a sealed container. Whether you’re stashing books, Blu-rays, CDs, or video games away, they could come out looking worse for wear after a long time in plastic storage. Treat your books and physical media better by sticking items in special rooms where both temperatures and humidity levels can be closely monitored.
Food Items Release Dangerous Chemicals
I don’t feel comfortable storing raw meats in plastic containers due to the risk of cross-contamination. She advises using glass containers instead for storing raw meat. But it’s not just about contamination – it’s about chemical leaching too. Though the human body is pretty good at eliminating bisphenols and phthalates from our systems, our constant exposure to them means that they enter our blood and tissue almost as quickly as they’re eliminated. And plasticizers in particular can easily leach out of plastic and other materials. In addition, the chemicals’ harmful effects may be cumulative.
If you’ve ever had a plastic container stained by spaghetti sauce, you’re not alone. Experts advise against storing tomato-based sauces and curries in plastic. Tomato sauces can break down the plastic over time and absorb odors. The acidity in these foods can cause the plastic to degrade and release chemicals. Your food becomes a chemical cocktail that you definitely don’t want to consume.
Artwork and Collectibles Suffer Irreversible Harm
When it comes to storing artwork or framed photographs, using plastic bins may lead to scratches or breakage. Opt for art storage boxes that provide padding and separators between items to avoid contact. To ensure your precious belongings stay safe and ready to be displayed on your walls whenever you want, it’s essential to take care of them. Your priceless collection needs museum-quality protection, not plastic prison cells.
When it comes to vintage or antique items like porcelain figurines or vintage leather-bound books, they require attention. Plastic bins can release gases over time that could damage materials. It’s best to opt for acid-free archival boxes to preserve their charm and prevent deterioration. Those toxic gases slowly eat away at your treasures like invisible termites.
Pet Food Turns Rancid and Toxic
The same thing applies to pet food or kibble, especially if you’re tempted to empty the contents of a bag straight into a plastic storage container. Since dog and cat food contains oils, the plastic easily absorbs the oils over time, turning the food rancid. What’s more, the box will end up smelling stale and unpleasant, if kept over a long period of time. Your furry friends deserve fresh food, not chemically contaminated kibble.
It’s always recommended to simply find a plastic container big enough to fit the bag of pet food inside. This way, food doesn’t come into direct contact with the plastic, affecting the overall quality of the food. The oils from pet food don’t just make the plastic stink – they create a breeding ground for bacteria that can make your pets seriously ill.
Strong-Scented Items Create Permanent Odors
When storing peeled garlic, onions, or fresh herbs, experts suggest avoiding plastic containers. Foods with strong odors, like garlic, onions, and some cheeses, can seep into plastic, leaving lingering smells and potentially affecting other foods you store later. Plastic containers can also cause herbs to wilt faster due to inadequate ventilation. That garlic smell will haunt every future use of that container like a persistent ghost.
Finally, anything that has a strong odor like shoes, pet food, or scented items can cause plastic bins to retain the smell over time. So, best to use more breathable storage for items with odors. Once plastic absorbs an odor, it becomes part of the molecular structure – washing won’t remove it completely.
Hot Foods Create Chemical Nightmares
Never put hot food or liquids in plastic containers, as high heat can cause harmful chemicals to be released from the plastic. This is where things get really dangerous for your health. Many plastic products claim to be microwave-safe but health experts warn that heating food in plastic containers can harm our health. When phthalates, PFAS, and BPA get into our bodies, they affect hormones like estrogen or testosterone. These types of chemicals have been linked to cancer, problems in the reproductive organs, and several other health problems.
The heat acts like a key that unlocks all the toxic chemicals hiding in plastic. BPA is a polymer, but degrades into its monomeric form over time, a process that can be accelerated by heat exposure. The monomeric form can leach from its source into adjacent materials such as into water or into the food products. You’re basically turning your dinner into a chemical experiment with your body as the test subject.