8 Things You Should Never Store In A Cedar Chest, According To Experts

Cedar chests have been used for generations to keep off-season clothing, precious family heirlooms, and intricately stitched linens far away from the damage of moths. You'll find them in attics keeping a century-old wedding dress pristine or right in the middle of a living room safely storing off-season blankets.

These versatile chests took off in popularity in the beginning of the twentieth century thanks to Virginia furniture maker, Lane Company. While the tradition of a hope chest has its roots thousands of years ago, cedar became the material du jour thanks to its insect-repelling qualities.

But are cedar chests as versatile as they've been made out to be through the years? Two experts share why you might want to think twice before you put your most valuable and delicate items in a cedar chest, as well as eight items you should never store in a cedar chest.

Textiles

Most people probably think of textiles when they think of a cedar chest. Whether it's your great-aunt's embroidered tablecloth, holiday blankets, or baby afghans, these sentimental textiles often get stowed away in a long lost cedar chest in a guest bedroom or attic. But you might want to think twice before you leave them in the chest too long. "Older textiles can get staining on them from the cedar wood," says Powell. But that doesn't mean you have to abandon the chest altogether. Powell says, "If you store these items in a proper plastic covering within the chest, they should be okay."

Loose Documents

You might have hundreds of art projects from your children tossed in a cedar chest, waiting for a day when you'll either frame them or ship them off with your kids to their future home. Perhaps you have old thesis papers you can't bear to part with or old letters from a penpal. Whatever the documents might be, they often find their way to a cedar chest for storage. However, this isn't always the best place for them. The cedar wood will release acids over time that can damage paper. "Any loose photos or papers will need an archival plastic sleeves or tub within the chest," says Powell.

Mothballs

Cedar chests are known to repel moths, but cedar doesn't actually kill moths or their larvae. That's probably why people have put mothballs in their cedar chests for years. Thankfully, we now realize that mothballs are actually toxic and, if you have clothing and other items sealed in a chest with these toxic fumes, you could be putting yourself in harm's way when you open it back up.

Leather Bags

Cedar chests typically dry out the items that are stored within them, which is fine if it's clothing or paper. But you don't want a leather bag to dry out or it could become brittle and crack. Because of the potential for damage, it's best not to keep leather bags—or shoes or belts—in a cedar chest. Plus, leather can take on the scent of cedar, which bothers some people.

Vintage Clothing And Uniforms

Similar to textiles, vintage clothing and uniforms are often kept in cedar chests, but that's asking for trouble. Moore explains that her uncle's World War II uniform was stored in one, and it began to disintegrate because the acidity of the cedar destroyed the integrity of the fabric. Moore says, "Do not store any textiles in cedar chests for long periods of time unless they are protected in another plastic bin or acid-free tissue."

Cedar can also leach color onto fabric over time, which is another good reason to make sure all clothing is properly protected, even if it's only stored for a season.

Quilts

A cedar chest full of quilts feels like a nostalgic memory—and it should stay in the past. Just like other textiles, quilts can be easily damaged by the acidity within cedar chests. You also might find that a quilt kept in a cedar chest takes on an orange tint anywhere it's been exposed directly to the wood.

The easiest remedy is to cover the quilt or put it in a plastic bin before it goes in the chest.

Loose Photos

Powell explains that loose photos can be damaged by a cedar chest and should always be placed in archival sleeves or bins before going into a cedar chest. If they aren't properly protected, they can be damaged by the acidity within the cedar.

Wedding Dresses

Lastly, the idea of storing your wedding dress away in a cedar chest to give to a daughter one day may sound romantic, but resist the urge unless you're going to take the necessary steps to make sure it's not damaged by the cedar. If you lay a wedding dress directly into a cedar chest, you could end up with cedar stains along the white or ivory fabric or, even worse, the fabric could begin to disintegrate. Powell recommends protecting dresses with a garment bag before you store them in a cedar chest.