The effects of different storage temperatures on the residual rate of sodium chlorite on preservative papers were studied. By the means of iodimetry, the residual rates of sodium chlorite in the papers were measured. The changes of the whiteness of the papers were measured by whiteness meter, and the chemical properties of the fiber surface were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It was found that the residual rates of sodium chlorite showed different decreasing trends at different temperatures. The whiteness measurement results showed that the decreased residual rates of sodium chlorite were caused by the reaction between the lignin and sodium chlorite. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) test results indicated that the contents of lignin and extractives decreased with the increasing storage temperature. In conclusion, lower temperature was beneficial to maintain the residual rate.