10 Household Items You Should Never Keep in Your Garage
This classic storage space can cause some belongings to combust or degrade.
If your garage has slowly become home to everything that doesn’t quite have a home anywhere else, you’re in good company. The car may still fit in there (hopefully!), but it’s probably sharing space with gardening tools, sports equipment, holiday decorations, half-used cans of paint, and at least one cardboard box you haven’t opened in several years. Garages have a way of collecting things.
And while there’s nothing wrong with putting all that extra square footage to work, some belongings really are better stored somewhere else. Garages can get hot and humid in the summer, freezing cold in the winter, and dusty pretty much year-round. Those conditions can damage everything from furniture and clothing to photographs and electronics. Other items can attract pests or, more importantly, create a fire or safety hazard when they’re stored improperly.
That doesn’t mean you need to empty the whole garage and start over. A little garage organization goes a long way! The trick is knowing what can happily live alongside the lawn mower and what deserves a spot inside the house—or, in a few cases, outdoors.
So before you stack another box in the corner and promise yourself you’ll deal with it next spring, take a look at the everyday items that shouldn’t be stored in your garage. Moving a few things now can help protect your belongings, cut down on clutter, and make the space a whole lot easier to use. You might even find room for the car again!
Declutter these household areas next:
Paint Cans
Leftover paint is especially vulnerable to hot summer weather and freezing winter temperatures, which can cause it to separate, thicken, or become unusable. If you plan to use it again for touch-ups, store the cans in a cool, dry place where the temperature stays relatively stable. Otherwise, check your local guidelines for the best way to recycle or dispose of it.
Food and Drinks
If you bought snacks, canned goods, or beverages in bulk, the garage might seem like a convenient overflow pantry. But food can attract pests, and big temperature swings can affect the quality of even shelf-stable items. If your pantry is packed, a cool, dry basement or another indoor storage area is a better option.
Cardboard Boxes
A pile of cardboard boxes doesn’t just take up valuable garage space—it can also give bugs and rodents plenty of places to hide. Cardboard is combustible, too, so there’s no reason to keep stacks of empty boxes around longer than necessary. Break down and recycle any you no longer need.
Indoor Furniture
Heat and humidity can warp wooden furniture, while moisture, dirt, and pests can damage upholstered pieces. Whenever possible, store indoor furniture in a clean, climate-controlled space instead. If the garage is your only option, keep pieces elevated off the floor and protected from moisture.
Clothing Items
When you switch out your wardrobe for the season, storing bulky coats, boots, and other clothing in the garage might seem convenient. But fabrics can pick up odors and moisture and may attract pests. Wash everything first, then pack out-of-season pieces in sealed containers and store them in a clean, dry spot indoors.
Propone Tanks
Propane tanks contain highly flammable gas, so they shouldn’t be stored inside an enclosed garage, especially near cars, power tools, water heaters, or other potential ignition sources. Keep cylinders upright in a well-ventilated outdoor area away from heat, and always follow the manufacturer’s storage instructions.
Paper Products
Books, important files, and photographs are especially vulnerable to the moisture, dust, and pests that can find their way into a garage. Over time, those conditions can leave paper warped, stained, or permanently damaged. Keep anything important or sentimental indoors in a dry closet, office, or sealed storage container.
Wooden Logs
Firewood can bring insects and other pests along with it, and damp conditions can make the wood harder to burn. If you’re storing a large supply, keep it somewhere dry with good airflow and bring inside only what you need.
Greasy Rags
If you’ve been working on the car or cleaning up oil or solvents, don’t leave used rags crumpled in a pile. Oily and solvent-soaked rags can pose a serious fire hazard when they’re stored improperly. Keep them in an appropriate sealed container away from heat sources and follow local guidelines for safe disposal.
Artwork, Electronics, and Fragile Items
A busy garage isn’t the best place for china, glassware, electronics, artwork, or other fragile and valuable belongings. Beyond the chance of something getting knocked over, extreme temperatures and humidity can damage sensitive materials over time. Store anything valuable or difficult to replace somewhere indoors where the temperature is more stable.
Lilly Blomquist is the associate editor at The Pioneer Woman, where she writes lifestyle stories across a wide range of topics—including news, entertainment, holidays, food, and more.
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