9 Things You Should Never Store in Cardboard Boxes

Protect your precious belongings (and stay more organized) by avoiding cardboard storage options.

Getty Images / Oscar Wong

Packing items away in cardboard boxes is one of the worst storage mistakes you can make. Whether you're repurposing Amazon boxes for attic storage or left boxed unpacked after a move, you could be inadvertently putting your items at risk. Even if boxes are sealed (seemingly) well and correctly labeled, cardboard simply doesn’t cut it as a wise way to stash your stuff from a safety, cleanliness, and organizational standpoint.

If you have stacks of cardboard boxes in your basement or attic, we're sharing the significant risks they pose, as well as the most important things you should never store in cardboard if you want to keep them safe for years to come.

As a professional organizer, I wish cardboard boxes didn't exist as a storage option at all—that’s how impractical they are! But I can understand why they’re used so often. They’re considerably more cost-effective than alternative boxes, like plastic totes, and they can be broken down to be saved for other uses, such as packing for your next move.

However, storing items in cardboard boxes as a long-term storage solution is a recipe for disaster. In addition to being a fire hazard, these are some of the reasons why cardboard boxes are problematic.

If you have any boxes lying around the house, this is your sign to carefully sort through them, declutter what you can or toss what’s unsalvageable, and rehome what you want to hold onto into higher-quality bins.

If you do need to store items in cardboard boxes (even temporarily!), these are the items you should avoid keeping in cardboard.

Since cardboard boxes are prone to pests, it shouldn’t be a surprise that packing sweaters or sheets in them is a bad idea. Moths can chew through fabric, plus materials (particularly leather and suede) will be susceptible to mildew. Instead, store off-season clothes and linens in vacuum seal bags or plastic totes to better protect them.

Steer clear of using cardboard boxes to hold pantry items. Bagged or boxed packages are not impervious to pests, so if they make their way into the cardboard box, they can also get into the food. And if moisture is present, canned goods will rust. If you need to store overstock non-perishables somewhere other than in the kitchen, keep them in glass or plastic airtight containers.

Perhaps you have backstock bathroom products, such as shampoo or shaving cream, sitting in a box that hasn’t been unpacked since your last move. Bottles containing liquids, gels, serums, oils, and sprays can leak when jostled around, making a mess and causing the cardboard to disintegrate. It’s best to store bulk items in plastic bins so clean-up will be easier when accidents inevitably happen.

Documents (especially important ones needed for recordkeeping) should never be stored in a cardboard box. Yes, that includes old tax files that you hope you won’t need to access before the seven-year limit is up. Because in the off chance you do, the cardboard can cause them to be illegible. The acidity in cardboard material will cause papers to fade, yellow, or fall apart. They can also become stained with mildew and mold or chewed through by bugs. Silverfish love to feast on paper and cellulose, which binds books together, so they should stay far away from cardboard, too. Work on decluttering your book collection so you have room on shelves and organize essential paperwork into file cabinets, benches, or acid-free boxes.

If kept in cardboard boxes, your photo memories will suffer the same fate as paper documents. Photos, newspaper clippings, letters, and similar sentimental items will also become discolored and brittle over time. Again, acid-free storage will always be the best solution to maintain mementos for generations to come. Look for keepsake boxes or photo organizers that specifically state they’re made with acid-free, or archival, materials.

Never mind the potential for damage; Valuable items are at a heightened risk of being stolen if left in easily accessible cardboard boxes. Keep prized possessions, like jewelry, artwork, and collectibles, in a fire and waterproof safe so you know they’re as protected as possible. While you’re at it, add original (and difficult to replace) documents like birth certificates and passports to the safe as well.

Cardboard boxes provide no protection for electronics, regardless of if they’re old or new. Whether you put a gaming system in a box because you’re taking a break from using it or use one to stack old laptops until you clear their hard drives, every device is in danger of being damaged permanently. Dust can settle into vents or scratch screens, excess moisture may corrode metal parts or cause wires to short circuit, and fluctuating temperatures could lead to overheating, among other issues. By any means possible, organize electronics in a climate-controlled part of the house until they’re ready to be used or recycled.

Cardboard is a highly flammable material, so storing flammable chemicals in a box is asking for trouble. Not only can they spill and create a toxic mess to clean, the combination of chemicals sitting in cardboard poses a fire hazard. Safely store cleaning supplies, pesticides, paint cans, and other household chemicals in ventilated areas and chemical-resistant plastic bins, like those made of Polypropylene (PP) or High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE).

Cardboard boxes full of heavy things not only make them challenging to maneuver, but they’re also likely to collapse under the weight. Fragile items can shatter, and anything that’s innately sharp will put whoever is sifting through the box in jeopardy. Do yourself and anyone who has to handle the boxes (such as white-glove movers) a favor and leave these items out of them. Instead, use heavy-duty totes with handles for the hefty stuff and carefully wrap breakables or pointy things in padded paper.

Recycling cardboard boxes after a move may seem like a waste, especially if you know you might need to pack up again in the near future. It’s also impractical to purchase reusable bins for all your belongings, especially if storage space or your budget is limited. So, it’s OK to hang onto ones that are in good condition but do so smartly.

First, ensure they’re empty, dry, and devoid of loose tape. Then, break them down and sort them by size. Use rope or string to tie groups of flatted boxes together so they’re easier to organize. Then, choose a space in your home where pests and humidity or moisture are unlikely to be present. Stand them up and lean them against a wall (so they stay out of the way) in a climate-controlled basement, the back of a spare closet, or the nook under a staircase. Inspect them before using them again to ensure they’re still usable for your next move. If that time doesn’t come, consider donating boxes to someone who needs them for their move or using cardboard for craft projects.