10 Things You Should NEVER Store In Your Garage
Having a garage is super useful. Not only does it house your car and keeps it away from outside harm, it’s also a great storage room. We like to put anything that doesn’t have a place within the house in the garage. From sports equipment to Christmas decorations. Super useful, right? Well, you may be in for a nasty surprise when you go to retrieve certain items you stored. The garage is prone to fluctuations in temperatures, it’s vulnerable to water damage, and can become a great home for rodents. As a result of these conditions, you may find a lot of valuable items destroyed. So, save yourself the headache and see the things you should never store in your garage.
Having a garage is super useful
We like to put anything that doesn’t have a place within the house in the garage
In this article
Things You Should NEVER Store In Your Garage
We know it’s super convenient to just shove everything you don’t know what to do with in the garage. However, this doesn’t make it the most safe place. From water damage to rodents and fire hazards, some things you really want to avoid putting in the garage. That’s why today we are going to help save some of your precious items by making sure you don’t store them in the garage.
It’s super convenient to just shove everything you don’t know what to do with in the garage
Some things you really want to avoid putting in the garage
#Pet food
The garage may seem like a great place to keep excess bags of pet foods, but that isn’t quite the truth. The change in temperature and excess moisture can ruin the pet food, destroying any essential nutrients and oils that the food offers, basically making it useless. Pet food in the garage also makes it a target for rodents that will chew through the packet and feast. So, make sure to keep your pet food in a tightly-sealed container without getting it out of the package and store it in a cool, dry place.
The change in temperature and excess moisture can ruin the pet food
#Propane tanks
It’s never a great idea to keep flammable things in the garage, so why would you keep a propane tank in there? Yes, most tanks are generally safe. However, a leak can happen to anyone and it takes a small spark (from your car, for example) to cause a fire. High summer temperature may also cause a spontaneous combustion. That’s why you should avoid keeping propane tanks, oil lamps, aerosol sprays, kerosene heaters and batteries in your garage.
It’s never a great idea to keep flammable things in the garage
#Wine
A good glass of wine is very satisfying. However, if you like collecting wines and want them to stay good for a long time, avoid keeping them in the garage. Wine is a sensitive compound, which means that it will react to even the slightest of temperature changes and it will change its taste, color, and quality because of them. That’s why it is recommended to keep your wines in a climate-controlled area and away from direct sunlight.
Wine is a sensitive compound, so it will react to even the slightest of temperature changes
#Rugs
You may have gotten tired of your rug, or maybe you bought a new one and you’ve tucked the old one in the garage. Either way, keeping rolled up rugs and carpets in the garage is like begging for mice to come to your home. By storing these items there you make the perfect home for these pests. Not only that but the fibers of the rug/carpet will also absorb the moisture and odor of the pests nesting in them, which will ruin them in the long run. So, no rugs and carpets in the garage!
Keeping rolled up rugs and carpets in the garage is like begging for mice to come
#Paper products
Important papers and files like your passports, medical records, birth certificates, marriage license, important photos etc. should never be stored in the garage. It’s like a recipe for disaster. Anything that is from paper should be stored far away from the garage or at least in an airtight container. This is because there is a chance for these items to get damaged by excess moisture. And you really don’t want anything happening to your important documents or cherished memories.
Never store anything made from paper in the garage
#Electronics
Things like old computers, laptops, phones, TV, etc. usually all end up in the garage in a box. Unless they are completely useless, it’s not a good idea to keep them in the garage. However, if they are useless and broken, then why are you not properly disposing of them? But if you do plan to use them as backup or for spare parts, keep them out of the garage. The temperature fluctuations and moisture may cause the electronics to short out, leaving them useless.
If you do plan to use old electronics as backup or for spare parts, keep them out of the garage
#Oily Rags
The garage is where you usually work on your car. Which makes sense that that’s where you would keep all the oily rags. However, spontaneous combustion is a real thing. And the possibility of it is quite high if you have a pile of oily rags and extreme heat conditions. This is especially likely if you live in a place with scorching summers and your garage has no proper ventilation. If you need to store your oily rags, there is a proper way to do so. First, let them dry out and then place them in a metal lid-tight container with some soapy solution. Or you can also dispose of them in designated oil waste containers.
Spontaneous combustion is a possibility if you have a pile of oily rags and extreme heat conditions
#Paint
Of course, you should store paint in the garage, where else would you put it? Wrong. Paint should not be stored in the garage. This is because of the fluctuations in temperature. Extreme heat or extreme cold can and will alter your paint’s formula. So, if your garage has such fluctuations, keep your leftover paint far away unless you want it ruined. Make sure to check out the label on your paints to find out the ideal storing temperature.
Paint should not be stored in the garage
#Old clothing
While you may not have any space in your wardrobe for your winter clothing, old dresses, or coats, the garage is not the place they should be stored. Clothes tend to attract moths. And once left unattended for long periods in the garage, they become a buffet for these pests. So, once you go to get them out, you’ll have a nasty surprise in store for you. All your clothes will be bitten and eaten through. Not only that but materials like leather and fur don’t do well when stored in damp areas. So, try and avoid storing clothes in the garage. Keep them in sealed bags somewhere inside your home.
Keep your clothes sealed in a bag inside your home
#Firewood
If you are storing firewood, you probably need it for a fireplace, furnace or wood burner. That’s why it’s very important you don’t store it in the garage. Firewood needs its own special storage place. Somewhere it can stay nice and dry for a long time. Putting firewood in the garage, just become a magnet for pests and any unwanted moisture may leave your logs soggy, which is something you do not want. It’s recommended to keep your wood at least 20 feet away from the home and keep in one a firewood rack.
Firewood needs its own special storage place
These were the things you should never store in your garage even though it may seem logical to keep them there. We hope you found this article useful. Now you know which things have no job sitting in the garage and where you should be placing them instead.
These were the things you should never store in your garage
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