My dad tells me an old story from the 40's - My G-ma stored stuff all over the house as cupboard space was at a premium - those old houses weren't built with storage space like today - she did have a root cellar, but you don't refrigerate honey, sorghum or molassas, so. . .. She kept 1 gallon jars of Sorghum behind the couch (I don't know why so don't ask) and come spring time after a particularly cold winter in Missouri they noticed something sticky coming out under the couch. Yep, you guessed it - thank God they weren't wealthy enough to own carpet. 
I can't rep anybody.
