This week on Organize and Cherish, we get specific about what your most-kept belongings actually need to stay protected, walk through a practical step-by-step plan for improving your storage environment, and reframe what it truly means to keep something with intention.
In This Episode We Talk About:
- What specific categories of belongings — photos, textiles, electronics, wood, instruments, and holiday items — actually need from a storage environment to stay safe
- Why keeping with intention means keeping with care, and how understanding your storage environment changes the decisions you make in that room
- Five concrete action steps you can take right now to start protecting what you've chosen to keep
Review full show notes and resources at https://theorganizedflamingo.com/podcast
Review Transcript:
 Welcome back to Organize and Cherish. Just a heads-up that this is part two of our two-part series on temperature, environment, and what's happening inside your storage rooms across the seasons. And I am so glad that you're here for this one, because this is where it gets really practical. If you haven't listened to episode 177, which is the part one, I'd encourage you to start there.
We covered a lot of ground about why storage environments matter, and we talked through each of the four seasons and what it does to an unregulated storage space. Today, we're building directly off of that foundation. Um, but if you're joining us fresh, there's, uh, the short version. You can certainly continue from here, and then when you're done, just go over to part one.
Here we go.
Welcome to the Organized and Cherished podcast with the Organized Flamingo. I am your host, Stephanie, your compassionate and efficient professional organizer. Whether you are part of the sandwich generation, helping a loved one declutter, or just trying to simplify life, this is the place for you.
Together, we will tackle those overwhelming piles of stuff, uncover purpose in what we keep, and let go with dignity and care. Because it's not just about throwing everything away. It's about respecting memories and simplifying life. Sound like a plan? Let's jump in and get organized Now let's talk about specifics, because different categories of belongings have different needs when it comes to storage environment, and knowing this is how you start making intentional decisions about where things live in your home, in your storage areas, um, more specifically.
Okay? So I'm just gonna give you some of the main topics, and if you have something I missed, let me know, because we all have different belongings and/or we may have been passed, uh, down boxes that you didn't even know were a different category, especially if you're from different cultures, from different environments.
And so sometimes you have super specific things or combination of fabrics that I can help you with a little further. Okay? So these are just the general topics. Photographs and paper documents. So photographs and paper documents. This is the category I hear the most heartbreak about. Photos that were stored in an attic for decades and came out yellowed, warped, or stuck together.
Documents that have gone brittle or been damaged by moisture. It's also one of the items that people want the most, but don't want to take care of. It's just, it accumulates, and you don't know what to do with it or about it. The ideal storage environment for photographs and paper documents is cool. So it's usually around the sixty-five to seventy degrees Fahrenheit, give or take, um, dry, which is about forty to fifty percent relative humidity, and dark.
So attics and garages are the worst places for them because it's too hot in summer and potentially too cold in the winter, and too prone to humidity swings. Basements can work if they're climate controlled and dry, but we know most of them aren't. And if you are keeping photographs, and especially if you're keeping physical prints that are irreplaceable, they deserve a place inside your climate-controlled living space.
So that's where I would suggest that you put them, like in a climate-controlled box. You can just get those, a weatherproof type of box, and then just put them in there, especially if you're not ready to scan them or do anything about it. Many of you do have them in albums. Albums for, with the acid free and/or film over them.
A lot of them, if you have them in an album like that, then you're probably in the clear, um, a little bit more safe because they're protected. So if you did put them or a family member, a loved one in the past did put them in those albums, then you are probably a little bit more safe than if they're just hanging out, uh, outside of a box, um, or in a cardboard box, just, you know, hanging out, um, loosely.
A closet shelf, um, is, you know, a great place to put it. Um, it's going to be dramatically better for them than a, a cardboard box, for instance, in the attic An archival quality box or album inside that closet is even better, like I mentioned. Uh, so those are the ones that I, I would suggest as solutions.
Here's something I say to clients regularly. If a photograph is important enough to keep, it's important enough to digitize as well. I wouldn't say one or the other because, you know, I get it. Right, right now we are still in a time when physical stuff has importance as well. Like, you want to put up a picture in a frame or on a wall, and I do get it, especially if you're in a home, um, in like your forever home or long-term home.
You wanna make it cozy. You know, you wanna make it your own, and I get that, and you want to put pictures up. If you have something like that and then you'd like to keep those pictures because you, you'd like to start, um, showcasing them, then let's go ahead or… and either start putting them up, you know, have a plan.
We'll store them somewhere inside and/or climate controlled and/or digitize as well if they're super important and you can't afford for them to get ruined. Um, a digital back- backup is not just a replacement for the original. Um, it's going to be kind of that insurance, and you can have scans made affordably at many photo shops.
I have wonderful colleagues that I've worked with before, and they can help you with that and work within your budget. Or you can do it yourself with a flatbed scanner. Some, some cameras now, like your phone camera, will let you scan as well. I would just caution you to not store it on your phone because it will take up a lot of data, and you don't wanna be s- paying, you know, hundreds of dollars on storage, you know, on your iCloud either.
Um, so just have like a designated place, like a external hard drive where you will keep them if you're going to go that route Let's go on to clothing and textiles. Fabrics such as, you know, clothing, linens, quilts, holiday tablecloths, anything fabric. It's deeply sus- susceptible to both humidity and temperature extremes.
Mildew is the number one enemy here, but moths and other insects are a close second. They're cozy, they're warm, right? The first rule of storing textiles is store them clean. Oils from skin and food residue are what usually attracts pests, and it accelerates the discoloration, so that would be my number one tip.
Even something that looks clean should be laundered before that long-term storage. But I also get that it's, it's a lot to think about, so I just want you to make sure that, um, if you don't have the time, maybe for you, this phase in, of life, it is not best to store it. It is just best to donate it and let it go.
Uh, and then the next season, or the next time you need something, go ahead and buy it again, because at, at that point it bec- it's worth it, instead of trying to accumulate more and more and creating, um, a hazardous environment in your home or in your storage areas. The second rule is to keep them breathable.
Sealed plastic bins are actually not really ideal for most textiles for long-term storage, and I'm talking, like, a couple year. I'm not talking, you know, you're going to store it there for a year. They can usually trap moisture. Cotton storage bags, archival tissue paper, or breathable fabric containers are better for things you're keeping for the long term.
Cedar is a natural moth deterrent that doesn't damage fabric the way mothballs do. Um, cedar blocks, cedar balls, cedar-lined storage boxes are worth investing for those precious, uh, fabrics. Um, maybe they're heirloom doilies, heirloom clothing, or kitchen fabric type of things. Um, I would put those in, um, something like a, like a cedar-lined storage box.
For everyday seasonal clothing, like your winter coats, your summer wardrobes, sealed plastic bins are fine. It'll work, especially if you're gon- going to take them out again in, within about a year or so. You're cycling through these regularly, so you're opening and closing and you're washing, so moisture won't really trap inside.
It doesn't give it enough time, and it, so it won't co- compound in that way. But for your grandmother's quilt, like I said, and your wedding dress and all those things, give it some breathing room, a breathing storage, climate controlled area. Next up, we've got electronics. For electronics, they're very sensitive to both extremes.
Uh, sustained heat degrades batteries and can warp circuit boards. Sustained cold combined with, like, that humidity causes condensation when the item comes back to room temperature, so that's the- one of the biggest concerns here. Um, and I was actually taught that by an, uh, a friend who, they were- they would work on garages, and then they became, like, a junk hauler person, and they mentioned they started to learn more about condensation and what that does to electronics.
So that's where I learned that from. Um, and that condensation can just damage all your electronics. So, uh, the ideal range for electronic storage is roughly about 50 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit with very low humidity. Uh, and if you're storing electronics long-term, like old cameras, a spare laptop, holiday-specific electronics, antique radios, okay, things like that, remove the batteries before storage.
A leaking battery inside a stored device is one of the most preventable forms of damage and one of the most heartbreaking when it happens to something irreplaceable. Okay, some electronics can be stored in those cool, dry locations. Um, if the original packaging is available, great. But honestly, I'm always 50/50 about it because they're cardboard, okay?
And they're not… You- usually, you can't really put them back. They also expand and, and contract, and sometimes you can't fit your electronics back in that box. I also, like I said, I also don't love cardboard boxes for long-term use or in your areas where little critters can nest. So, a sealed, like, plastic bag, uh, with, like, a silica gel package, those little moisture absorbents that you find, you know, in the new shoeboxes, great way to recycle those.
Inside a padded container is a really good alternative, um, somewhere that, um, they could be, they could be safe, padded. There's a little bit of breathing room to absorb that moisture, but it's not being exposed to the elements. So, that's where I would, I would store my electronics. Wood furniture and musical instruments.
Wood is alive, my friends. Or at least it behaves that way. It expands in humidity, and it, then it contrasts in dryness, and it does this constantly in response to its environment. So over time, wide swings in temperature and humidity will cause cracking, warping, and that joint failure. So if you're storing wooden furniture, for instance, a table from a grandparent, a chair you're not using right now, an heirloom piece, it really should be in a stable temperature environment.
An unheated garage or attic will cause damage over time. Basements can work if they're dry, though. Okay. Musical instruments, very sensitive. A guitar, violin, cello, these are all made to exist in a very specific humidity range. If you have one of these and it didn't belong to you, so you don't ha- you have no idea how, what this all means, talk to your local music department, music expert, and they can help you through that.
So for musical instruments, because they are so sensitive, I would recommend they should be stored either inside the home, ideally with a humidifier in the room during the dry winter months, or just be really careful as to where you're, um, storing them in your storage rooms, and make sure that it's as climate controlled as possible.
Ask your local music department or shop for more tips on your specific instrument. Hi, Cherish friends. Life can get overwhelming, especially when you're juggling caregiving, clutter, and everything in between. That's why I created the Organize & Cherish weekly email that goes out every Wednesday straight to your inbox to help you keep the momentum, inspiration going with tips and reminders of our upcoming events.
All you have to do is head on over to organizeandcherish.com and sign up for the email newsletter. It's free, and you can unsubscribe whenever you'd like. It's my way of helping you simplify your life and respecting memories along the way. Now back to our show Let's talk about holiday and seasonal decorations.
Most of us store our holiday decorations wherever there's space, and I get that. And for a lot of people, that means it's usually the attic or the garage, right? It's, or an outside storage facility. And this is fine for most items, but it's worth thinking through what's in those boxes per what I've talked about above, right?
Um, if it's wooded, it's like a wooden item, if it's kind of a live, like a natural, uh, material. Is it paper? Think about those things. Is it sensitive to temperature? Artificial Christmas trees generally tolerate temperature swings as well, so those are fine. Uh, most metal ornaments, like, and plastic decorations usually are okay because the makers understand that you're probably storing it in a garage, attic type of place.
Um, what doesn't really tolerate it are the glass ornaments. They can crack in freezing temperatures. I've seen so many beautiful glass ornaments, if they're special to you and you do wanna keep them, be, be cracked in, in, just in those freezing temperatures, be really sensitive. Candles, like I mentioned earlier, they will melt in the summer heat.
Anything with glitter or paint that can chip when plastic becomes brittle, those items, very susceptible. Um, and many decorations that have sentimental or monetary value, so I would just be on the lookout for those items. Um, the rule I usually give clients is that if it's sentimental or irreplaceable, it shouldn't really go in the attic or garage and/or just make sure you have it in a temperature-controlled area.
So either it, it comes inside or just in a box that has, that is optimal for that space. But everything else, especially the holiday and seasonal decorations, can usually just live where it's at now. Uh, and you will usually be taking it out every year or so, so that you can do check-ins on that stuff as well And now that I've gone through the four seasons and what to look out for and some of the most common materials that I want you to look out for, let's just take a minute here to reframe and, or to think about all the stuff that you are keeping.
And it's connected to everything we've been exploring this year. We talk a lot about, on this show, about keeping with intention, asking yourself why you're keeping something, what role it plays in your life, whether it's worth the space it occupies. Uh, and all that is still true and very important, but keeping with intention also means keeping with care.
That's part of the intentionality. And care means knowing what your chosen items actually need and if you have the time and space for them. There's something that happens when people get educated about storing environments, and I've seen this with clients time and time and again. They start looking at their storage rooms differently.
They start looking at their space as environments to hold the stuff that they cherish the most, that is of value to them, and that shift in perspective changes everything about how they make decisions in that room. Because instead of, “Where does this fit? Where can I shove this? Oh, I'll deal with this later,” which you might, that is an intention, okay?
The question becomes, “Where does this belong?” and in a way that honors this stuff. Like, where can I keep it, and where can I be intentional about its care? A box of your mother's letters doesn't belong in a place that is not leak-proof, that constantly is getting inundated with water and moisture. It probably belongs somewhere that is protected.
Now, if maybe you're kind of hoping some of the stuff does get damaged, that is also a thought process for you to explore I have had people say, “I'm just putting it here out of guilt because I don't know what else or where else this stuff can go.” Especially if a loved one is still alive, um, is still able to remember or remind you that you have their most precious possessions, that can be really heavy and that can be a really big guilt.
And you kind of secretly hope that maybe it gets damaged. Okay, well, that is, like I said, a thought process, okay? Let's explore that with a mental health professional, with yourself, with your family, with your loved ones. But what I don't want happening is for it to get damaged, and you did not intend for any of that to happen.
And if you were to be heartbroken if any of the stuff did get damaged, not guilt, not guilted into it, but actually devastated and sad if the stuff got damaged, then I want you to be intentional about the care and start making some changes in those areas to ensure that the stuff that you are keeping is serving you and will be around for a long, long time.
Okay? Okay, so let's do some practical actions before we go with this part one and two. This kind of is com- the combination of both of our discussions from last week and this week. Um, so one is going to be to assess your storage climate. So before you can make good storage decisions, you need to know what your storage environment actually does across the year.
If you don't know and you'd like to start now, today is a great day. So the best investments that you can probably make for this action would be like a digital thermometer, um, and a hygrometer, a device that measures both temperature and humidity. Very important. You can find these under like, I, as of right now, like 15, $20.
Put one in your storage room and check it periodically across the seasons and write it down, and you actually may be really surprised. There are some that also keep record, past records, I think up to a year, so, um, they'll be a little bit more expensive, but that also could be helpful. Um, if you're not ready for that yet, start with observation.
Is there a musty smell in the summer? Maybe condensation in spring, a feeling of extreme heat when you open the door in July. Those are also, uh, things for you to note. Number two is to sort by sensitivity. Walk through your storage space and mentally sort what's in there into kinda two groups. If you haven't, if you don't have a system already, this could be a, a good place for you to start, especially if you're in an area with, um, these temperature climate extremes.
Sensitive, so you're gonna put one item, uh, one section under sensitive items, like your photos, documents, textiles, electronics, wood, instruments, anything sentimental, and then everything else. Your sensitive items need your attention first, so that's where we're going to start. Your less sensitive items are probably fine where they are.
This is also a good exercise for you to know who to hire and who not. Like, you can start with, “Okay, my budget is this, and with that budget I'd like to start with the more sensitive stuff. I'll deal with everything else on my own or at a later time.” Okay? Three, more, uh, the move, excuse me, move the sensitive items to better locations.
So this kind of is a continuation of our step two. Um, this is where you will then move the photographs, documents, heirloom textiles, anything irreplaceable. It needs to kinda live inside or in a climate-controlled home. You can also get boxes that are climate-controlled and start with the most irreplaceable category type thing and go from there.
For most people, that's usually photographs, important documents, textiles that are really special. Put those in a box and see from there where your budget and your time is, and then go from there. Number four is to improve the environment wherever you can. So you may not be able to fully climate control your garage or attic or external storage facility.
Maybe you don't want to. You, it's out of the budget. Absolutely don't… I totally get it. Don't go that deep into it, especially if you don't have the, the budget or the time mentally, physically. But you can take steps to improve the environment. A dehumidifier in a basement makes a significant difference.
They're making some, you know, way more cost-effective over at, like, uh, Sam's and Costco and et cetera. So you can find one now. Um, so dehumidifier. Ventilation in an attic can reduce peak summer temperatures. Um, silica gel packets inside storage bins does absorb moisture. You can find those at the store.
You can also, if you've been recycling them, you can certainly get the ones from your shoes, but those are usually really small, um, so you'll need a lot of them. But you can find some of those. Um, cedar blocks in textile storage, um, for deterring pests. None of these are, like, total solutions, but they can certainly shift the environment in a meaningful way, especially if you have it separated, like, in boxes.
So you can, um, you know, put a humidifier, like, in a certain section of your, of, of your attic or, excuse me, your, your basement or something like that. Like, if you have it in different sections, then certainly some of these solutions are going to be really handy. But it may not be the full solution for a full, like, a whole room for, especially one that's over, like, a hu- like, like, a unfinished basement, like a really large area.
Number five is label with care. Um, so which means just label the stuff with more specific, with specificity. So this is something that I love doing with clients. Instead of labeling a label that just says, “Holiday decorations,” try, “Holiday decorations. Glass ornaments. Keep inside in winter.” Instead of just baby clothes, try, “Baby clothes.
Store to clean. Cedar inside.” Like, be super specific. When you label with care information, uh, you really just make it easy for your future self and whoever else is helping you and/or lives in that area, so in the spaces that you're in. So, um, it's super helpful. So that's it for this temperature, controlled temperature discussion, all about climate, all about your stuff, how to take care of it when you're living in spaces, um, or they're living in spaces in storage, in the attic that is, that fluctuates in temperature.
So, uh, if you have any specific questions, again, let us know, and in the meantime, we'll see you next week, and happy organizing. Thank you for listening to the Organize and Cherish podcast with The Organized Flamingo. If you enjoyed today's episode, I'd be so grateful if you left a rating and review on your favorite podcast player.
It helps others discover our show. For full show notes, resources, and more organizing inspiration, visit www.theorganizedflamingo.com/podcast. Until next time, happy organizing