Learn what shouldn’t be stored in an outdoor shed—and why.

The biggest issue with storing things in an outdoor shed? It’s the temperature extremes, says Jamie Hord, professional organizer at Horderly . “Temperature, whether hot or cold, can really be damaging to certain items. If you’re looking to preserve items for longer, keep them in temperature controlled spaces.”

If you’ve run out of space in your house or garage, an outdoor shed may seem like the ideal storage solution. But keep in mind that there are things you shouldn’t store in an outdoor shed, whether it’s for the safety of the items themselves or your own personal safety.

01 of 12 Pantry Foods Credit: Tom Marvin / Getty Images “A lot of people use their garage for pantry overflow, but temperature changes can make food spoil quicker,” Hord says. That’s especially true of products stored in paper boxes, such as crackers or dry pasta—which can attract moths, mice, and other pests. 10 Things You Should Never Store in the Garage

02 of 12 Clothing and Other Fabric Items You probably don’t need a sleeping bag for Peru. Credit: Soren Pilman/E+/Getty Images Out-of-season clothes, sleeping bags, and other fabric items may seem like a natural choice to store in a shed, but you may want to think twice. “These items can mold and get pests in them,” Hord says. “If you are to store fabrics in the shed, covering them from dust can be good but could still lock in unwanted moisture. We use weathertight bins a lot,” she adds. 11 Things You Should Never Store in Plastic Bins

03 of 12 Propane Credit: Bill Diodato / Getty Images Propane tanks definitely don’t seem like something you should store close to your home (and you’re correct on that!). So why not a shed? A propane tank that leaks or gets damaged could easily set off a fire or explosion if the gas is allowed to build up in a closed area. Your best bet? Keep that tank outdoors. (It was built for it!)

04 of 12 Important Papers Paper is a material that doesn’t stand up well to less-than-ideal conditions. And storing important papers in a shed or garage could subject them to pests, dirt, moisture, and other factors that could damage or destroy them. 10 Surprising Things That Shouldn’t Be Stored Outdoors

05 of 12 Wine and Other Drinks Wine bottles on a shelf. Credit: Getty Images / Tim Martin Hord says wine and sodas can be impacted by the temperature extremes in a shed or other place without adequate temperature controls. At best, you may notice a difference in the quality or the taste of the drinks—at worst, it can make them spoil faster.

06 of 12 Electronics With the right connection, your iPod can become a wonderful music source for home stereo systems. Credit: Ivan Stevanovic/Getty Images Once again, the temperature extremes in an outdoor shed could wreak havoc on the sensitive wiring in electronic equipment or damage the batteries within. Bring your electronics back in the house for safer storage.

07 of 12 Refrigerator or Freezer Freezer food. Credit: Getty images Many people rely on a fridge or freezer in the garage or shed for extra drinks and food storage, but Hord says that it may not be the best place for them. “The fridge has to work much harder in hot temperatures, which means it will be using up a lot more energy.”

08 of 12 Books Stacks of books against wall. Credit: Dario Paini / EyeEm Just like important papers, books can easily be damaged by moisture, pests, and dirt that’s often found in sheds—and the changes in temperature could weaken the adhesives used for the binding.

09 of 12 Valuables Some valuables, like paintings or fabric items, are more likely to get damaged by temperature extremes, pests, or just the potential dirt that may accumulate in an outdoor shed. But you should also keep in mind that your shed is likely less secure than other spots inside your home, which could lead to your valuables going missing. A better option? A safe or more secure storage area inside your home. 7 Things You Should Never Store in Your Attic—Plus 5 Things You Should

10 of 12 Batteries Credit: Przemyslaw Klos / EyeEm / Getty Images Fun fact: batteries stored at temperatures too high or too low will lose some of their power, so storing your batteries in an outdoor shed could shorten their lifespan. As a worst-case scenario, two batteries could create a spark and potentially cause a fire.

11 of 12 Wood Furniture Credit: Aleksandr Zubkov/Getty Images Temperature extremes can lead to your wooden furniture warping or cracking—and could weaken the glue used in joints. The only furniture suited for storing in an outdoor shed is your outdoor furniture, as it’s made to weather temperature fluctuations. These Are the Biggest Outdoor Furniture Mistakes