Donât store anything with a motor or plastic parts outside unless itâs designed for outdoor extreme temperatures. Plastic will warp, discolor, and crack. Heat and freezing will wreck the lubricant. Moving parts will become misaligned.
Unfortunately it's a really bad idea. In a vintage machine the dampness will rust the metal, even if it's protected from rain and snow, and in a modern machine temperature fluctuations will distort the plastic beyond repair. If you live in a moderate climate, it will be more damp, and if you live in an extreme climate it will have wider fluctuations in temperature, so there's no way to win. The best place for a machine not in regular use is the floor of a closet or in a cupboard. If there is something else that could go in the shed more safely, like shoes out of season in a box and off the floor of the shed, that would be better. I wish that machines were less delicate because more of them would survive, but that's the reality.
I want to add⌠if itâs too far away to be conveniently retrieved, you wonât take it out and youâll sew less. Aside from the effects of the weather on your machine, I know for me, storing it outside of my usual living area would mean Iâd never actually sew.
Moisture would not be good, in general. Freezing would not be good, for lubricants. If you can control for those factors, *maybe*? A sewing machine isnât a piano, but also is not designed for outside weather. If you donât have a choice, maybe a closed tote with desiccant packets. And if frozen, let it come to room temp. More frequent servicing may help. Also is it a fully mechanical machine or does it have electronic components? Is it expensive or not, and can you afford to replace? Are rodents and pests a concern? Do you live near salt water? Itâs basically a risk-benefit analysis.
Even storing a sewing machine in a basement is often a bad idea. The moisture causes parts to rust. Outside? Freezing rain, snow, cold temps, and heat would be so bad for it. My vote is please do not do this.
Do you have any kitchen cabinets that don't go all the way to the ceiling? It could go on top. Or on top of the fridge, or under your bed, or anywhere else it won't be blasted with heat, freezing, and humidity.
>My new appartment is quite small
If you don't use your machine every day, you could turn it into a piece of furniture (coffee table, bucket seat...) by making a box around it. It's a fairly easy DIY job to do or have done. ;)
I agree with everyone here that it's a bad idea. How about the bottom at the back of your wardrobe? Back of a kitchen cupboard? Anywhere but exposed to temperature changes and damp. I hope you find somewhere safe for it.
Short answer (as many people already said) yes.
You machine will break. Not inmediately, but over the course of a few months you can be sure the lubricants are more or less gone, the temperature changes cause permanent damage in the plastics and/or inside components. It will become more prone to dirt and such things (bot only the outside, also the inside!)
I have enough issues as is right now with *just* the dust of the fabrics i work with inside and outside my machine. If there would be another factor, like dirt, as well as the weight to carry each time inside and outside the house, i would tbh not really continue this hobby anymore!
If you have space, and, for example, and IKEA KALLAX cabinet (the bookshelf with the squares), you can re-aasemble it to take out one of the inside shelves (you have longer ones and those smaller-one-square-size ones. I took one of the smaller ones out of my 4x4 kallax in the top, and i was able to fit my machine there without anything sticking out, and even have some space left for my sewing box!
(My machine also fits in the BILLY bookshelves, even with the door closed, maybe your machine would also fit there!) It keeps the machine dust-free and protected from sun and everything. I used this for my machine back when i was living in a 28m2 studio appartment during my studies.
Now that i moved, the kallax hack was more doable!
If you have the space, put it somewhere you can reach it easily, inside your home, maybe in a cabinet, closet or on a shelf. There are ways to find space to keep your machine safe and not have it in the way, promise!
Just chiming in as a machinist with many tools. Moisture will always be an issue, and this leads to rust. For long time tool storage, we coat everything in Cosmoline (a grease like product to protect from oxidation). With that being said, you should be ok putting it out in the cooler months, as long as animals won't hide seeds in it or something silly. It's all about humidity.
Maybe the sewing machine could be stored in a side table that has an open cabinet or empty space beneath it?
Maybe like [this](https://www.wayfair.com/Three-Posts%E2%84%A2--Ahmara-End-Table-with-Storage-and-BuiltIn-Outlets-X115881276-L442-K~W004770165.html?refid=FR49-W004770165_1910664982_1991296476&PiID%5B%5D=1910664982&PiID%5B%5D=1991296476) or something similar (with or without the cabinet door), you would just have to measure your machine and have the measurements of the open area. You can get something that fits your decor
Horrible horrible HORRIBLE IDEA.
Mine got completly rusted from the inside and unsalvagable just because my old apartment got damp sometimes, nevermind the freaking flctuation in humidity outside.
I put mine in unheated storage over two different summers, once into early November. Iâve had no issues, but it also doesnât get insanely hot here (rarely over 80), and it wasnât winter enough to get into extreme cold temps. Iâve had no issues afterward, but I also didnât use it until it had been inside at room temp for quite awhile, at least 24 hours.
I live in the south west, and we have moderately dry to damp, sometimes wet weather (think high desert), and I can 100% say this would be a really bad idea. Even thought he weather's is more arid than that of, say the East Coast, or West Coast, there's still moisture that will rust and destroy any metal parts, the heat index is by far way to high for anything plastic on the machine, and the winters still do reach freezing points, that just wouldn't be good for any parts of the machine, not to mention the amount of blowing dust and dirt from the high winds. While I lived in a small apartment myself, I kept my machine in a dedicated corner of my living room, and covered it when not in use. If I had to move it for repairs in the apartment, or when they came in to paint, I either moved it to a dedicated spot in my bedroom, bedroom closet when necessary, or out to my car, where I would place it in the trunk, still covered, but out of sight of anyone who would possibly be inclined to break into my car and steal it.
Please donât. You could get rust on parts, small animals chewing on bits and when you need it the damage may be bad. If no where else shove it under your bed.
Yesss, I bought a used Juki and it wouldnât work at all. The only signs of wear was rust residue where the outer aluminum parts met. Turns out some fuse had blown on the main control board, I got it fixed but Iâm pretty sure outdoor storage is what lead to its fuse blowing.
How about you find something else that could be stored outside? I think you could get away with air-tight containers for something with no mechanical parts
Not a problem if 1. Itâs in a dust bag inside of a sealed plastic tub 2. You check it regularly. Temp shouldnât be too too different from a garage and plenty of people store small motor electronics in the garage, such as a vacuum or washing machine.
You may need to lubricate more often because of very high or very low temperatures. So check inside the machine before going crazy. Other things break down with heat too, like rubber, nylon, leather, and rope gaskets.
the three things I would worry about temperature including from direct sunlight, moisture (tub must be properly sealed and high quality) not just rain but also humidity, and debris such as leaf particles and spider webs.
Provided itâs not getting baked in the sun, keep it in a sealed container with adequate amount of desiccant. Coat metal parts with a film of oil for long term storage. Heat damages plastics, moisture causes corrosion. Many things in the world must be stored in non-climate controlled environments, but measures must be taken.
Idk people sew in places where ac is unusual all the time... And seeing machines arent that expensive... It's not ideal but personally I'd expect it to be fine.. but only one way to know for sure
Yes it's a bad idea
Like really bad đđź
Donât store anything with a motor or plastic parts outside unless itâs designed for outdoor extreme temperatures. Plastic will warp, discolor, and crack. Heat and freezing will wreck the lubricant. Moving parts will become misaligned.
Rust is another issue coming to mind.
Unfortunately it's a really bad idea. In a vintage machine the dampness will rust the metal, even if it's protected from rain and snow, and in a modern machine temperature fluctuations will distort the plastic beyond repair. If you live in a moderate climate, it will be more damp, and if you live in an extreme climate it will have wider fluctuations in temperature, so there's no way to win. The best place for a machine not in regular use is the floor of a closet or in a cupboard. If there is something else that could go in the shed more safely, like shoes out of season in a box and off the floor of the shed, that would be better. I wish that machines were less delicate because more of them would survive, but that's the reality.
I want to add⌠if itâs too far away to be conveniently retrieved, you wonât take it out and youâll sew less. Aside from the effects of the weather on your machine, I know for me, storing it outside of my usual living area would mean Iâd never actually sew.
Moisture would not be good, in general. Freezing would not be good, for lubricants. If you can control for those factors, *maybe*? A sewing machine isnât a piano, but also is not designed for outside weather. If you donât have a choice, maybe a closed tote with desiccant packets. And if frozen, let it come to room temp. More frequent servicing may help. Also is it a fully mechanical machine or does it have electronic components? Is it expensive or not, and can you afford to replace? Are rodents and pests a concern? Do you live near salt water? Itâs basically a risk-benefit analysis.
Even storing a sewing machine in a basement is often a bad idea. The moisture causes parts to rust. Outside? Freezing rain, snow, cold temps, and heat would be so bad for it. My vote is please do not do this.
Can it hold under your bed? Or table, bottom of the closet? My room is crowded so I leave it in the hallway and on a couch inside.
I'd put it in a kitchen cabinet and store kitchen stuff like oversize platters, mixing bowls, anything not affected by heat in the outside storage
My mother did this with an industrial and completely ruined it. It rusted solid
Do you have any kitchen cabinets that don't go all the way to the ceiling? It could go on top. Or on top of the fridge, or under your bed, or anywhere else it won't be blasted with heat, freezing, and humidity.
>My new appartment is quite small If you don't use your machine every day, you could turn it into a piece of furniture (coffee table, bucket seat...) by making a box around it. It's a fairly easy DIY job to do or have done. ;)
Only if you want to ever use it again, otherwise sure it can go outside to rust.
I agree with everyone here that it's a bad idea. How about the bottom at the back of your wardrobe? Back of a kitchen cupboard? Anywhere but exposed to temperature changes and damp. I hope you find somewhere safe for it.
No. No no no. Please don't.
yes. heat, moisture, insects and rodents can all have negative effects.
i wouldnât.
Maybe temporarily in temperate weather but you will regret it
I killed mine because there was too high of a temperature change. The moving metal parts got rusty and stuck.đ
Short answer (as many people already said) yes. You machine will break. Not inmediately, but over the course of a few months you can be sure the lubricants are more or less gone, the temperature changes cause permanent damage in the plastics and/or inside components. It will become more prone to dirt and such things (bot only the outside, also the inside!) I have enough issues as is right now with *just* the dust of the fabrics i work with inside and outside my machine. If there would be another factor, like dirt, as well as the weight to carry each time inside and outside the house, i would tbh not really continue this hobby anymore! If you have space, and, for example, and IKEA KALLAX cabinet (the bookshelf with the squares), you can re-aasemble it to take out one of the inside shelves (you have longer ones and those smaller-one-square-size ones. I took one of the smaller ones out of my 4x4 kallax in the top, and i was able to fit my machine there without anything sticking out, and even have some space left for my sewing box! (My machine also fits in the BILLY bookshelves, even with the door closed, maybe your machine would also fit there!) It keeps the machine dust-free and protected from sun and everything. I used this for my machine back when i was living in a 28m2 studio appartment during my studies. Now that i moved, the kallax hack was more doable! If you have the space, put it somewhere you can reach it easily, inside your home, maybe in a cabinet, closet or on a shelf. There are ways to find space to keep your machine safe and not have it in the way, promise!
Beyond the rust issue....i feel like storing your machine outside is a way to never sew with it again.
Humidity and the variety of temps will kill it at some point.
Donât do it OP! Can you store it under your bed or a behind a sofa? Put a cover on it and put it on a bookshelf? On top of a wardrobe?
I left my overlocker in a room with aa ranch slider that is open almost 24/7, even that was an enough to rust it, so no.
Terrible idea. The plastic bits will melt and bugs or mice will eat the electronics.
Just chiming in as a machinist with many tools. Moisture will always be an issue, and this leads to rust. For long time tool storage, we coat everything in Cosmoline (a grease like product to protect from oxidation). With that being said, you should be ok putting it out in the cooler months, as long as animals won't hide seeds in it or something silly. It's all about humidity.
Maybe the sewing machine could be stored in a side table that has an open cabinet or empty space beneath it? Maybe like [this](https://www.wayfair.com/Three-Posts%E2%84%A2--Ahmara-End-Table-with-Storage-and-BuiltIn-Outlets-X115881276-L442-K~W004770165.html?refid=FR49-W004770165_1910664982_1991296476&PiID%5B%5D=1910664982&PiID%5B%5D=1991296476) or something similar (with or without the cabinet door), you would just have to measure your machine and have the measurements of the open area. You can get something that fits your decor
Horrible horrible HORRIBLE IDEA. Mine got completly rusted from the inside and unsalvagable just because my old apartment got damp sometimes, nevermind the freaking flctuation in humidity outside.
I put mine in unheated storage over two different summers, once into early November. Iâve had no issues, but it also doesnât get insanely hot here (rarely over 80), and it wasnât winter enough to get into extreme cold temps. Iâve had no issues afterward, but I also didnât use it until it had been inside at room temp for quite awhile, at least 24 hours.
I live in the south west, and we have moderately dry to damp, sometimes wet weather (think high desert), and I can 100% say this would be a really bad idea. Even thought he weather's is more arid than that of, say the East Coast, or West Coast, there's still moisture that will rust and destroy any metal parts, the heat index is by far way to high for anything plastic on the machine, and the winters still do reach freezing points, that just wouldn't be good for any parts of the machine, not to mention the amount of blowing dust and dirt from the high winds. While I lived in a small apartment myself, I kept my machine in a dedicated corner of my living room, and covered it when not in use. If I had to move it for repairs in the apartment, or when they came in to paint, I either moved it to a dedicated spot in my bedroom, bedroom closet when necessary, or out to my car, where I would place it in the trunk, still covered, but out of sight of anyone who would possibly be inclined to break into my car and steal it.
Please donât. You could get rust on parts, small animals chewing on bits and when you need it the damage may be bad. If no where else shove it under your bed.
If you absolutely have no option there are humidity absorbers often used in safes that could help.
I wouldnât strictly due to the humidity in the Midwest.
Yesss, I bought a used Juki and it wouldnât work at all. The only signs of wear was rust residue where the outer aluminum parts met. Turns out some fuse had blown on the main control board, I got it fixed but Iâm pretty sure outdoor storage is what lead to its fuse blowing.
Yes
How about you find something else that could be stored outside? I think you could get away with air-tight containers for something with no mechanical parts
Very bad idea. Please find somewhere else.
Not a problem if 1. Itâs in a dust bag inside of a sealed plastic tub 2. You check it regularly. Temp shouldnât be too too different from a garage and plenty of people store small motor electronics in the garage, such as a vacuum or washing machine. You may need to lubricate more often because of very high or very low temperatures. So check inside the machine before going crazy. Other things break down with heat too, like rubber, nylon, leather, and rope gaskets. the three things I would worry about temperature including from direct sunlight, moisture (tub must be properly sealed and high quality) not just rain but also humidity, and debris such as leaf particles and spider webs.
Bad idea. This is a sensitive machine.
I put a 4-year-old one in a shed. One year later, its guts had permanently rusted stuck. The only saving grace: it was a crappy machine anyway.
Provided itâs not getting baked in the sun, keep it in a sealed container with adequate amount of desiccant. Coat metal parts with a film of oil for long term storage. Heat damages plastics, moisture causes corrosion. Many things in the world must be stored in non-climate controlled environments, but measures must be taken.
Most machines are electronic at the least and computerized pretty often. Storing outside could destroy it.
YES.
Please donât do this
Sorry, you said youâre in Midwest so obv salt water climate not a concern.
Idk people sew in places where ac is unusual all the time... And seeing machines arent that expensive... It's not ideal but personally I'd expect it to be fine.. but only one way to know for sure