If your home storage woes are giving you a headache, you might be tempted to think of a vinyl shed as a giant aspirin.
And we understand that feeling. Vinyl storage sheds offer homeowners a quick, effective solution to clutter in other parts of the house.
But not everything you own is a good fit for your shed, where pests, moisture and temperature fluctuations might pose a threat.
Let’s look at some of the dos and don’ts of storage in vinyl sheds.
Store with caution
1. Pet food
Does your dog approve of your choice of dog food? So will your pest population.
Your shed might be able to keep out deer or raccoons, but smaller animals like mice will burrow their way in if they think there’s food. If you have to store pet food – or bird seed – in your shed, keep it in a secure storage container like a galvanized metal trash can.
2. Clothing
Clothes, or any kind of fabric, can develop mold or attract bugs and other pests unless they are kept inside an airtight container.
3. Photos
These will be safer in your house. If you have to use your shed to store them, make sure it’s in a waterproof container.
Don’t store
1. Canned goods
Canned goods don’t do well in extreme temperatures. If vinyl sheds get too hot, canned food can spoil. And if canned food freezes and thaws, it can lose its flavor and nutritional value.
2. Musical instruments
“I’ll take up the guitar again someday, when I get more time,” you tell yourself. That day might never come if you store your instrument outdoors.
Heat and humidity can weaken and warp wooden instruments, while brass instruments such as trumpets can corrode when exposed to moisture.
3. Electronics
Storing electronics in vinyl storage sheds can subject them to damage from temperature extremes. And if mice or other pests manage to squeak their way inside, they’ll be all too happy to nibble on the wires.
4. Cardboard
Think of this as a storage-within-storage issue. Keeping the things in your shed inside carboard boxes means inviting damage from pests, mold and water. Use waterproof, pest-proof plastic bins instead.
5. Paint
Paints, solvents and stain stored in your shed can spoil when exposed to extreme heat. Some paints will separate, and become unusable. Keep paints on a shelf in your basement.
Safe to store
1. Lawn and garden tools
This is a given. It will free up space in your garage, and make things easier when it comes time to tend to your lawn. The same holds true for lawn and garden chemicals and fertilizers.
2. Shovels and snow blowers
Give yourself more garage space by keeping your winter gear inside your shed.
3. Gasoline
It’s OK to store a small amount of gasoline inside vinyl sheds, as long as it’s kept in a safe plastic container.
4. Propane tanks
Normal temperature extremes and humidity won’t affect these tanks, and as with gasoline, it’s safer to store them away from your house.
Are you interested in installing a vinyl storage shed at your home? Turn to Swingset & Toy Warehouse, where we offer an extensive line of sheds, each with a pressure-treated lumber foundation, color-keeper vinyl siding, and a lifetime limited warranty.
Visit us at one of our four New Jersey locations, and we’re confident that we’ll help you find a shed that fits your backyard and all your storage needs.
