Long-Term Scope Storage

I may have to put a Meade SCT and Orion Dob in unattended extended storage (at least one year) in an unheated basement or perhaps a detached garage. The short-term, day-to-day temperature swings are modest in both locations. However, if they end up in the garage, over the course of the year they will experience humid summer weather and freezing winter temperatures.

I plan to protect them from dust with light weight plastic covers and add large dessicant containers under each cover. I'm inclined not to seal the plastic tightly, as I suspect allowing air exchange may help prevent any moisture formation after the time when the dessicant becomes saturated and no longer effective.

I suspect most modern telescopes, having largely powder-coated and plated surfaces, can tolerate storage pretty well. Accordingly, I don't plan anything elaborate beyond what I've outlined above. Any thought on this or critiques of my approach? Thanks.

Dennis

I have seen a mirror stored in a sealed plastic bag
(Baggie) in a hot garage gain a uniform haze
which proved very difficult to remove. I expect
it is some vaporous product given off by the
plastic at high temps. Hence I would say to avoid
plastic + high temps if possible.

Moisture is the other thing to watch out for. There have been a thread or two about that on the forum in the past few months. Desiccant can be used IF the amount of moisture trapped in the bag when it's closed is faily low. Some people prefer using a low wattage special purpose heater of the kind used in gun cases, others might recommend a 25watt bulb. If it goes in dry with a couple of pounds of dry desiccant in a well sealed bag rust or oxidation of the mirror surface shouldn't be a problem, though the previous post about filming possibly due to outgassing of the plastic wrap was an interesting and unexpected aspect I hadn't considered before this.