Idalia preparation: How to protect your papers. Not in the dishwasher.

As Idalia approaches and Floridians on the west coast, in central Florida and along the Panhandle pull everything in the house and start covering their windows, it's also time to protect your valuable documents from potential wind, rain and flooding damage.

Insurance information, deeds, Social Security cards, marriage licenses, passports, tax returns, family pictures and keepsakes, all extremely vulnerable to water. Some of it you may need immediately after the storm, and some personal items may be impossible to replace.

Here's what you need to do to protect these items. Quick tip: Don't put them in the dishwasher.

Prepare for Idalia:Now is the time to make sure you're ready for a storm. Here's how

Getting ready:12 tips to make sure your yard is ready before a hurricane hits

Technically you can, and it's a persistent tip for hurricane prep, but don't do it. There's absolutely no guarantee your documents will stay dry and undamaged.

Dishwashers are designed to keep water in. They are not designed to withstand flooding, impact or severe damage.

"Appliances are not waterproof nor would we endorse such a tip," Kim Freedman, a representative for Haier-owned GE Appliances, told Insider.com.

If you have time to prepare, store your important paper documents in a safe deposit box, a waterproof and fireproof container in your home, or in another location away from your home.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends keeping electronic copies of all your important documents on a removable flash drive or an external hard drive, and putting that in your waterproof, fireproof container or somewhere away from the storm.

You should also consider keeping copies in a secure cloud-based service so you can access them anywhere.

"Be cautious about sharing personal financial information, such as your bank account number, Social Security number, or credit card number," FEMA warned.

Use your smartphone to take pictures of your documents and save them online.

Getting your documents ready:A major hurricane is likely on its way to Florida. What to document now for insurance

Make sure to save copies of any documents you would need to identify yourself and your household members, including children and pets, and your relationships to status. You'll also want documentation when you contact your insurance providers or request aid from government disaster assistance programs. FEMA suggests the following, as applicable: