Overview

• New consumer guidance this week in Argentina and Mexico warns that common hiding places such as drawers, shoeboxes, clothing, bathrooms, mattresses, refrigerators, basements and potted plants expose bills to damage and loss.
• Specialists cite humidity, condensation, insects, spills, fire hazards and theft as the main threats that degrade paper and ink and reduce the usability of notes stored at home.
• Bank safety‑deposit boxes are presented as the most reliable option for valuables, though availability can be tight, while certified fire‑resistant home safes fixed to a wall or floor are the next‑best choice.
• To preserve bills kept at home, experts recommend cool, dry storage in hermetic containers with silica gel, keeping notes flat, avoiding PVC sleeves and rubber bands, and minimizing handling.
• Reported guidance reiterates that banks, ATMs and retailers may refuse cut notes, bills with missing corners, water or heat damage, or decolorations and marks that impede use.