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If there’s one storage spot in your home that represents the ‘out of sight, out of mind’ attitude, it’s under the bed. Storing stuff there is an efficient way to keep bulky items out of the way, but it’s also an easy place to put things you’ll quickly forget—a storage black hole.
Whether under the bed is where your out-of-season clothes hibernate or a place for your abandoned scrapbooking projects, there are some things you’re better off keeping away from this black hole. Here, organizing experts reveal the eight things you should never store under your bed.
Danica Carson, cofounder of The Uncluttered Life blog and creator of the Declutter Deck.
Monica Fay, decluttering expert.
Kristi Perry, professional home organizer and owner of Art of the Space.
5 Storage Solutions That Look Good—but Actually Create More Clutter.
Anything Made of Paper or Cardboard.
You might be tempted to put a shoe box or two under the bed for safekeeping, but that’s a bad idea according to Danica Carson. ‘Paper products are a food source to some insects like silverfish, moths, and cockroaches. From a preservation perspective, paper products like photographs, books, documents, and boxes should never be stored under the bed.’, she says.
Linens and Textiles.
Ever hit an old blanket and see dust puff out? That’s almost guaranteed if you store linens and textiles under the bed. ‘Never store blankets, pillows, or anything fibrous or porous under the bed unless contained in a container or at least bagged.’, says Monica Fay, a decluttering expert. ‘Dust easily accumulates underneath furniture, especially beds, and will settle into the material. It may not be as noticeable as on a plastic or wooden surface.’ This is especially important if you have asthma. To be safe, keep your comforters away from dust mites.
Leather Goods.
Putting leather shoes or purses under the bed is like setting them out in the sun. The environment is bad for them. ‘Dust can cause leather items to dry out, crack, and become discolored over time.’, explains Carson. ‘If you must store these items under the bed, they need to be in plastic containers to prevent dust from accumulating on them.’
Awkward or Heavy Items.
When you bend down to get items under the bed, you risk straining your back. So it’s wise to avoid storing heavy or awkward items there. ‘You increase the chances of injury a lot—and the risk of damage to the items.’, says Carson.
Food.
This might seem obvious, but experts say you’d be surprised by what they find under beds. Food, even unopened boxes of granola bars, are a no-go. Mice and other pests can chew through cardboard to get to the goods.
Do you really want to eat from a dusty box of crackers? Similarly, storing electronics like old DVD players or previous model phones under your bed skirt is not advisable. Dust can impair or destroy electronics over time, and anything with a battery poses an increased fire risk under the bed.
‘Dust can actually impair or destroy electronics over time,’ Carson says. ‘Additionally, anything with a battery poses an increased fire risk under the bed. Because dust can negatively affect electronics, those batteries are more likely to malfunction than batteries stored in cool, dry places.’
Fay offers a philosophical recommendation: ‘Never store memories of your ex or your goal weight clothes under the bed.’ She explains, ‘You deserve to sleep both literally and symbolically in peace every night without lying on top of the physical reminder of the past or a life you aren’t living currently.’
Some organizing pros warn against putting anything under the bed. Kristi Perry, a professional home organizer and owner of Art of the Space, advises, ‘I recommend not storing anything under your bed unless it is something that you regularly access and your back can handle bending down to pull out time and time again.’
The ‘black hole effect’ is real, adds Carson. She estimates 80% of what’s stored under there is forgotten. Dust, allergens, and bugs will accumulate there, no matter how spotless your home is.
If you do truly need to stash stuff under the bed, Carson recommends using airtight storage containers that are clear so you can see what’s in them. Containers with wheels are great, too, especially if retrieving them might be tough for you.
