Home Organizing Storage 11 Things You Should Never Store in Plastic Bins You probably have some of these things stored in plastic right this minute. By Lisa Milbrand Lisa Milbrand Lisa Milbrand has more than 20 years of experience as a lifestyle writer and editor, writing thousands of articles on topics that help people live better and healthier lives for Real Simple, Parents, and dozens of other top publications. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Published on June 27, 2024 Close Photo: Viktoriya Telminova/Getty Images Plastic bins may seem like the perfect way to store most things. Since they're pretty impermeable, they can be great for protecting your favorite things from flooding, moisture, and pests. But there are things that should never be stored in plastic bins—and likely, you probably have some of those things stored in them right this very minute. The 30 Best Storage Baskets for Organizing Every Room in Your Home So before you go stuffing everything into plastic bins, take a look at our list of items you definitely shouldn't store in them—plus our tips for choosing other types of bins, too. Things You Shouldn't Store in Plastic Bins 01 of 11 Leather imagedepotpro/Getty Images "Leather is not good to store in plastic, as it can stick and damage it," says Jamie Hord of Horderly. If moisture gets trapped in with your leather goods, it can also cause your leather to crack. 02 of 11 Photos DAJ / Getty Images Heat and moisture could cause photos to stick together, fade, or become damaged if they're stored in a plastic container. Your best bet is to look for storage containers designed for photo storage, and find ones that are labeled "archival quality"—as they will be free of acids and other chemicals that could cause your photos to degrade. 03 of 11 Electronics Brand X Pictures/Getty Images A plastic container in a well-controlled environment (like your bedroom closet) might be okay for sensitive electronics. But a plastic container stored in a spot where temperature and moisture fluctuations happen (like your attic or basement) could lead to damage to your electronic equipment. If you do decide to store your electronics in a plastic container, add in some silica gel packets to help reduce the chances of moisture damage. 04 of 11 Clothing and Fabric Viktoriya Telminova/Getty Images Plastic bins may seem to have been custom made for storing out-of-season clothes, but it's not the best idea—especially for delicate materials like cashmere or silk. Again, the potential for heat and moisture buildup in the plastic bin leaves your favorite garments at risk of developing mold, odors, or even stains. 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Storing Winter Clothes 05 of 11 Important Documents Jamie Grill / Getty Images If it's an essential document, you don't want to leave it to the whims of moisture or potential fading as it's exposed to sunlight in a clear plastic bin. Opt for more breathable options like fabric, wood, or canvas storage containers. 06 of 11 Chemicals Andrea Evangelista/E+/Getty Images Storing chemicals in a plastic bin could result in issues if the bin is in an area prone to temperature fluctuations, or if one or more of the chemicals leak, which could potentially result in a dangerous reaction. 07 of 11 Food Leftovers. Glow Cuisine/Getty Images Using plastic to store food—whether leftovers or in the pantry—can potentially be an issue, especially if you're the type to reuse plastic takeout containers or reheat leftovers in the plastic container. High temperatures can cause chemicals in the plastic to leach out into the food, especially when the food is reheated. Are Clear Pantry Storage Containers Actually Worth It? So while we're not saying never, if you do want to use plastic containers to store your food, you should opt for those labeled microwave-safe before you pop them in your microwave. Also check that your plastic food containers are intended for reuse, rather than single use. 08 of 11 Pet Food pedphoto36pm/Getty Images Just like human food, pet food stored in plastic containers could end up with trace amounts of the plastic in the food itself. Upgrade to a metal food-safe container to minimize the risk. 09 of 11 Anything That's Wet or Damp Pepifoto/Getty Images You probably know where we're going with this one. "Anything wet or damp is not great to store in a plastic bin with a lid, as this will trap moisture and create mold," Hord says. Let damp or wet items dry out before storing them, or opt for a breathable storage bin material. 10 of 11 Batteries Steven Puetzer/Getty Images This is about more than just the plastic container itself. Storing batteries in a way that allows them to roll loose creates the danger that they will contact each other or another metal object, and start to short circuit. That will lead to the batteries losing energy at best—and could potentially be a fire hazard at worst, especially if the plastic container can melt. 11 of 11 Shoes Marisa Kikis A plastic bin will trap moisture and microbes in with your shoes, which can result in mold, damage, or odor. Choose shoe boxes or storage bins that allow air to flow around your shoes to minimize the possibility of damage. These Are the Best Organizing Products From IKEA, According to Experts How to Store Things in Plastic Bins Safely Even if you're storing something that'll do fine in a plastic bin, be aware of how environmental factors could impact the items. "Sunlight can get through and cause more damage in a clear bin," Hord says. Opaque bins can help protect the things that may become sun-faded. Temperature can also be a factor, especially in allowing chemicals from the plastic to leach into the items you're storing. While plastic may protect from pests and additional moisture getting in, it isn't protective of temperature changes—and studies have found that plastic at higher temperatures can leach bisephenol A into the food or drinks stored within it. If you are concerned about moisture gathering in a plastic container, you can opt for plastic containers without lids or with vents to allow for airflow—or put in desiccants like silica gel to help control moisture in them. Alternatives to Plastic Bins (Besides Cardboard) There are plenty of other storage products you can use to store items more safely. Hord suggests using materials like leather, cane, rattan, seagrass, metal, wood, felt, and canvas. You may even want to consider recycled plastics that are made into a fabric material, for a nice happy medium between plastic and other materials. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources Real Simple is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts in our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we fact check our content for accuracy. Ginter-Kramarczyk, Dobrochna, Joanna Zembrzuska, Izabela Kruszelnicka, Anna Zając-Woźnialis, and Marianna Ciślak. “Influence of Temperature on the Quantity of Bisphenol A in Bottled Drinking Water.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19, no. 9 (May 7, 2022): 5710. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19095710.