Does your shed feel too cluttered lately? Chances are you’ve been stuffing it with items that don’t really belong there anyway. “Sheds are best for things you use close to home—like garden tools, outdoor decor, holiday decorations for your yard, and anything else you use outside,” says Perri Kersh, founder of Neat Freak™ Professional Organizing, LLC in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. “Most sheds aren’t temperature-controlled, so they’re not ideal for items that require a consistent temperature.” Below, professional organizers from across the South share 12 categories of items you definitely shouldn’t store in your shed.

Clothing and laundry

It’s best to keep clothes and other textiles that are out of season out of the shed. “Damp air can create moisture and cause mold or mildew to form on these items,” explains Kristin Gorin, co-founder of Get Organized RVA in Richmond, Virginia. Additionally, animals can sneak in and stain, damage or cause holes in the fabric. “To protect these valuable textiles, store them indoors in a cool, dry, pest-free environment,” advises Rachel Gitzen, founder of Rah and Co in Columbia, South Carolina.

Eat

Your shed should definitely not be used as an extension of your pantry; all kinds of food will suffer when stored there. “Freezing temperatures can affect canned goods in sheds by causing the cans to corrode or jars to burst and leak onto your other stuff,” Gorin says. Plus, heat can cause food to spoil prematurely, and packaged foods are easily accessible to insects and small animals, she adds. The same goes for pet food and bird seed.

Important papers and documents

It’s best to invest in a filing system inside the house rather than in the shed. “Important papers are not only more vulnerable to theft, but they can also be damaged by the heat,” Gorin notes. Also, consider whether such a system is actually practical. Stephanie Worinkeng, founder of A Time To Organize in Greenville, South Carolina, points out, “Aside from the climate control, this is not an easy place to access and enjoy the memories of photos and papers that are worth keeping.”

Books

Books should also not be thrown into the shed if you want to look through them again. “The humidity and heat in a shed can cause the pages to stick together, mold to form and pest infestation to occur,” says Gorin.

toy

You may want to save toys for the next generation of children, but storing these things in your shed can be harmful. “Prolonged exposure to heat can make plastic toys brittle, making them prone to cracking and breaking,” Gorin explains. Dolls and stuffed animals also don’t fare well when exposed to the elements, she adds.

Instruments

If you have any instruments left over from your or a child’s band days, put them in a safe place in the house, not in the shed. “Wood can warp or crack, metal parts can tarnish, and strings can break due to excessive heat,” Gorin points out. “Not only are these expensive repairs, but they can also affect the sound quality and overall playability of the instrument.”

electronics

If you’re no longer using the DVD player, donate it. “Mice and other rodents often invade sheds and like to chew on cords,” explains Laura Gutowski, founder of Everything in Its Space in Charleston, South Carolina.

Empty storage containers

You may have had every intention of filling plastic containers with goods for safekeeping, but if you haven’t used them in several years, they’re useless to you. “The containers themselves take up valuable space,” notes Emily Evans, founder of Eliminate with Emily in Lexington, Kentucky. “Unless you plan on moving in the next year, there’s no reason to keep empty containers and boxes.” Boxes, whether filled or not, should definitely be thrown out, as they attract insects of all kinds. “Upgrade to plastic containers that seal well,” recommends Gutowski. “I prefer clear containers so you can see what’s inside, and it’s always smart to buy stackable, rollable ones so you can easily use them elsewhere in the future.”

Summer accessories

This general category of items includes all things related to summer: sunscreen, flotation devices and toys, and fabric folding chairs, because all of these products are damaged by heat—and bugs, explains Mysti Byrnes, founder of Ordonné by Mysti in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Paint

Byrnes says she’s moved twice since moving to the Baton Rouge area, and both homes she’s purchased have had over 10 cans of paint stored in the shed. “Heat ruins paint, and anyone living in the South is definitely exposed to extreme heat nine months of the year,” she comments. With that in mind, toss any other items related to the home renovation that aren’t yours. “The previous owner may have left behind extra roof shingles, paint, or fence posts that no longer match,” Evans says. “Throw them away or give them away!”

Anything else you don’t use

If you really don’t need it anymore, get it out of the shed and take it to the donation site. “Sheds are often dumping grounds for old toys, yard games, sports equipment and gardening tools,” says Gutowski. “If you don’t need it anymore, donate it to someone who needs it, and in the meantime, reclaim extra space to either reduce clutter or make room for things related to newer hobbies.”