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And how the attic can easily become a very hazardous place for some items

It's very easy for your loft or attic space to become fuller and fuller, but there are some items that should never be stored up there. This is because the environment can put them at risk of damage, the temperature isn't right for the material, or they could create perfect nesting spots for pests.

The team at HomeHow have listed the items you should store somewhere other than your loft, with the help of cleaning expert Joyce French. Are any of the below in the wrong part of your house?

Keeping wooden furniture in the attic can lead to damp, cracks, warping and even woodworm. This is far from ideal for antique pieces or items you want to use again some day. If you no longer want your antique wooden furniture, put it up for sale, or give it away to someone who does.

Leaving festive decorations in the loft until next Christmas could seriously damage any painted, fabric and some plastic ornaments, as the heat could cause them to warp. The attic is also where damp thrives, which can easily cause damage. Try, instead, to store decorations in a plastic container somewhere cool, like the garage.

Since your attic can reach very high temperatures in the hotter months – high enough to even cook some canned goods – it's ill advised to use it as storage space for wines and food. Rats and mice prosper in these types of environments, contaminating food and possibly spreading illness. Instead, store food, wine and other perishable items in a cool place, away from damp and heat.

Although it's easy to think that the attic is a perfect place for important papers and documents, the excessive heat and damp can cause them to fade and stick together, eventually ruining them. As difficult as it is to wade through a mountain of paper, it may be worth doing in the long run. It can also be a great time to get rid of clutter.

The harm to electrical circuits because of overheating in an attic can inflict permanent damage to your electronics. Instead, keep them somewhere cool, downstairs, and donate or sell any you no longer have use for.

Cardboard boxes are widely available, recyclable and perfect for storage. However, they are also a hotspot for mice and bugs, who feed off the glue and cardboard and use them for nests. Cardboard can also become damp, possibly ruining the items inside them, eventually.

A recent home makeover or redecoration may have left some leftover paint stored in the attic. Be careful, though, as many paints are oil-based and can combust if heated up to high enough temperatures. Latex paint can also be rendered unusable if exposed to major changes in temperature. Instead, keep paints in a spare cabinet, where heat levels are much more controlled or see if a friend or family member wants to finish them off.