The loft can be a simple place to store many old and unwanted household items - or some that we only need occasionally.
Old clothes, the Christmas tree, decorations or kitchen appliances are many of the products that can find their way to that part of the house.
But people should be wary of what goes into the attic as some things can get badly damaged, Liverpool Echo reports.
The Echo spoke to Joyce French, cleaning expert at HomeHow, who outlines the seven things you should never store in the loft.
Electronics
Got an old cassette player or Gameboy gathering dust in the attic?
Everyone has outdated electronics that they just can’t let go of. However, old electronics can still overheat in the loft.
The circuitry can blow and ruin your item forever - so it’s best to keep beloved electronics in a cooler environment downstairs, take them to a recycling centre, or sell them online.
Holiday decorations
As our Christmas decorations come down and the New Year begins, it is time to store away your holiday décor.
But next year's festive season could be a lot less merry if you keep the decorations in the loft.
Delicate fabrics, items that are painted, and special plastic ornaments may warp in the heat and are prone to damage in a humid environment, like the attic.
Instead, store holiday decorations in a large plastic container box in a cool environment, such as the garage.
Wooden furniture
Maybe you've inherited antique wooden furniture and it's not quite your style, but you don't want to throw it away.
It may be tempting to store it in the loft, but you shouldn't - as wood can warp in the damp, crack in the heat, and grow mould in humid conditions.
Wood also tends to attract woodworm, which can eat away at wood furniture.
Paint
After doing up the house, you may have leftover paint, but oil-based paints can heat up to hazardous, combustible levels if stored in a hot roofspace.
They are highly flammable, so should be kept in a temperature-controlled spot, like a spare cabinet.
The dramatic temperature fluctuations can break down latex paint too, making it unusable.
Important documents
Many of us keep important documents, such as birth certificates and passports, together in one place.
But the loft is one of the worst places to keep these, as they don't hold up well with temperature fluctuations.
Your important documents will begin to fade, get damp, dusty or stick together as time goes on.
Invest in a storage drawer unit for documents you need and bring them downstairs.
Cardboard boxes
If you’re storing things in cardboard boxes in your attic, it may be time to reconsider.
Pests like mice and bugs are attracted to cardboard and glue, feeding off it and making it their home for breeding.
Cardboard boxes also tend to become damp and disintegrate over time, potentially damaging the precious items inside.
Food and wine
Some lofts can reach temperatures high enough in the summer to cook canned goods, so foods that are safe enough to store away for a long time shouldn’t be kept here.
As well as this, unsuitable warm temperatures can spoil expensive wines.
Pests such as mice and rats thrive in a humid attic environment, and can also contaminate and chew through food items.
Instead, store perishables and wine in a cool, dry place so they are safe for consumption after a long term
