6 household items you should never store in a shed over winter, experts warn before it's too late

Although outhouses can be a great source of extra storage there are common household items which simply won't survive the temperatures and weather conditions over autumn and winter.

Whether or not you follow the yearly garden trends, the chances are you have a shed or outdoor storage space in your garden. Typically used for storing tools, lawnmowers and other items, sheds can often become emergency storage units for common household items.

Before you know it your shed is filled with paint, leftover garden chemicals and excess pet food bags. However, one garden expert has warned homeowners that these common items and others won't survive in your shed over winter.

So when you're sorting your garden out this season you may want to rethink your storage solution and find alternative homes for the items below.

Things you should never store in your shed over winter

You might have thought you'd done everything when ticking off the essential jobs to get done in your garden in September, but your shed may need further consideration.

"Garden sheds are really handy for storage, but it is important homeowners don’t mistake them as a storage space for all household items," says Laura Bamborough, Shed expert at GardenBuildingsDirect. "Storing items incorrectly can come at a cost and creates unnecessary waste."

So what items should you be storing elsewhere?

Laura Bamborough

After working at GardenBuildingsDirect for over four years Laura is an expert in everything sheds, summerhouses and wooden outdoor structures. She works with customers to help them make the right purchase and offers advice on the upkeep and maintenance of the structures.

1. Paint

After you've filled your home with some of your favourite interior paint colour trends, you're probably tempted to just stick all the paint cans in the shed and not have them fill up your loft or cupboards. Although paint seems pretty indestructible, this isn't the best idea.

"Keeping leftover paint in the shed is a common mistake. Storing paint properly is key to maintaining its quality and making sure it can be reused in the future," says Laura.

"Keeping leftover paint in the shed during the winter months could cause it to congeal, separate or dry out," she explains. So if you plan on using your best living paint colour for touch-ups, don't store it in the shed over winter.

2. Power tool batteries

Sheds are the perfect spot for keeping your electronic outdoor appliances such as lawnmowers, strimmers and chainsaws. However, when it comes to your smaller power tools and more specifically their batteries you may want to reconsider.

Laura explains, "Cold temperatures can reduce the efficiency and lifespan of power tool batteries, so leaving them in the shed during autumn and winter could mean you have to replace them."

Instead, why not try out some under-stairs storage ideas so you have extra space for both your power tools and their batteries?

3. Bedding and fabrics

You're probably not going to be storing your best sheets in the shed anytime soon but you may have old bedding that comes in handy for surprise guests or camping trips. Things like this can be often thrown into your shed or other outhouse without much thought, but through the winter these materials can be quickly damaged.

Laura says that any old pet bedding, toys or fabrics can become easily damp and mouldy when stored in a shed and left exposed to the elements. Instead, she recommends using some home organisation ideas to find a place to store them indoors.

"Mice and other rodents may also seek shelter inside of bedding or other materials in your shed," she adds.

4. Pet food

Depending on the size of your pet and their dietary requirements, you might find yourself surrounded by bags of food and treats quite often. There's also the fact that buying in bulk sometimes works out cheaper but of course takes up a lot more space. Surely the shed is safe for sealed bags? Unfortunately not.

"Make sure to remove any surplus pet food from your shed ahead of the colder weather. The scent of pet food attracts pests like mice, so it is best to keep any food items indoors and away from rodents," says Laura.

If you're trying to stop rats coming into your garden then keeping any type of food source out of the way is the best way to do it.

5. Chemicals

This one might surprise you as you'll often store your pesticides and weed killers in the shed without a second thought. However, after you've got rid of the weeds in your grass without ruining your lawn you may want to store your products somewhere else.

"Some liquid pesticides can crystallise in cold temperatures. Cold conditions can damage the chemicals and make them more difficult to work with or completely unusable," explains Laura.

6. Electronics

Although your larger electronics are safe from the weather in your shed over the winter, there may be a different more furry threat to consider.

Laura points out that rodents both big and small will seek warmth in outbuilding during winter and may nibble on electrical chargers and break expensive equipment.

For the same reason you want to prevent mice from entering your home, you might consider keeping your electronics off the floor of your shed or even mouse-proofing the whole structure.

Shop additional storage solutions

Now your outbuilding is dealt with it's time to prepare your home for the cold weather ahead. Participating in some rituals to reset your home for autumn won't just get you in the cosy mood but also in a relaxed mindset for a new season.