A loft is the most common place to store off-season clothes and one of the worst environments for them.
Temperature swings are extreme
A loft can exceed 50°C in summer and drop below freezing in winter. That cycling degrades elastic and adhesives.
Condensation is the bigger risk
Warm air rising from the house meets cold roof space and condenses. Anything not sealed against moisture is at risk.
Pests reach lofts easily
Moths and rodents both find loft storage readily. Sealed containers matter more here than anywhere else.
If you must use a loft
If you must use a loft
- Use rigid, sealed plastic boxes, not cardboard
- Add silica gel packs against condensation
- Keep boxes off the joists on boards, not insulation
- Store nothing leather, and nothing valuable
- Check twice a year, not once
- Label thoroughly — retrieval is unpleasant
- Consider anywhere else first