How These Three Factors Influence What Not to Store in Your Garage

Temperature is probably the most influential factor in what items to store in your custom garage. Temperature brings varying fluctuations in moisture and humidity as well. While not every item becomes a safety hazard under extreme changes, other items can be affected.

Important note: Always try to keep your garage above the average dewpoint.  This is the temperature at which condensation can form and cause further damage to your belongings. For climates such as Florida, this is around 40°F.

Oil based paintings and canvases aren’t weather resistant. Delicate pieces of art are sensitive to external elements and can become slightly distorted or shaped based on the conditions they are consistently in. A hot summer has a melting effect on pastels while a cold winter's night can cause the paint to compress and crack. Dirt and dust also accumulate in garage spaces, which can inconveniently cover pieces of art to the point where they require cleaning.

Extreme heat and cold alters paint formulas, especially if the can has been previously opened and isn't well sealed. Paint cans also rust if they are stored on a concrete surface. The best practice is to avoid storing them in a climate that drastically changes temperatures from day to night.

A lot of people like to have a second fridge in the garage. If you have experienced Florida summers or winters, then you know that weather dramatically impacts the temperature of garages. The last thing you want are higher utility bills because your garage refrigerator is working extra hard to maintain its internal temperature during a hot summer day.

Humidity is a huge aspect of everyday weather in Florida, and it becomes especially intense during severe thunderstorms in the early summer months. Most garages are even more humid because they naturally trap and restrict air flow compared to the rest of the house. Garages are one of the few rooms in a household that are completely self contained and have a limited number of vents. Varying temperatures and humidity ruin the cork’s effectiveness to keep air out and prevent oxidation. Wine should be stored in an environment no colder and no warmer than 45 - 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

There are some items that absolutely should not be stored in a garage for safety related reasons. Some items can even become ignitable after being stored in an area that experiences extreme temperature changes. Most garages are completely self-contained when closed, which means that any type of gas leaks won’t be able to ventilate out. The following items are not recommended to be stored in any type of garage:

Absolutely avoid storing this item, at all costs, in your attached garage. Storing propane tanks in intensely warm conditions especially can potentially cause explosive hazards to occur, especially if the valve on the tank is loose. The best practice is to store them ideally in an area away from your home outdoors. Since propane is not adversely affected by cold temperatures, it is perfectly safe to store your full tanks outside, as far away from your home as possible. Simply prop the tank on a few pieces of wood or cover it with tarp to avoid snow and ice.

These containers also belong outside your home in safe storage. Supplemental gasoline bins are great for refilling lawn mowers, dirt bikes, and other items that benefit from occasional refilling. Keep them away from air vents, heaters, and electrical appliances. Avoid storing them next to flammable clutter and practice sound judgement. If you routinely deal with flammable substances for household projects or hobbies, have a plan to detect smoke or fire in all areas of your home, especially the garage. Gasoline containers can be stored in locations 50 feet away from your home, preferably in a detached shed or garage.

Over many years of living in one place, it’s easy to naturally accumulate clutter that doesn’t have a dedicated space. This includes cardboard boxes, wood, or any type of flammable materials. Every electrical appliance is a safety hazard if it's surrounded by flammable clutter. Common electrical appliances include the garage door opener circuit board, the main house electrical box, and any miscellaneous cords that run through the garage. Give these electrical appliances some breathing space. Avoid stacking storage bins against them whether they exist on the wall or near the ceiling. An electrical fire will only become stronger by having flammable materials in close proximity to it. 

Note: Avoid storing materials on top of active plugs, transformers, or surfaces that warm up as a result of electrical heating.

Vermin are especially attracted to sources of food. Canned food is commonly stored in garages, but this should be avoided at all costs to reduce attracting pests. Rats love tiny, cluttered spaces and garage entrances are usually easier to access from the outside or in adjacent attic spaces. The most important mitigation practice is to not give them an incentive to enter your garage space and find an alternative, temperature controlled location, to store your spare food supply. 

Silverfish are most commonly attracted to starchy materials, both edible and inedible. Aside from canned food, the starch material used to bind books is also extremely attractive to them. It is recommended to find a more temperature controlled environment to store your spare books.

Even if you are able to prevent firewood from becoming a fire hazard in your garage, it can still attract pests. If possible, store firewood in a dry area outside of your home and off the ground. Termites and carpenter ants will have a harder time occupying and destroying your firewood if it’s off the ground and stacked in an organized fashion.

Unfortunately, furniture tends to attract all of the above pests. Old, wooden furniture is one of the most susceptible items to attracting pests in a garage and most people tend to store them in this part of their home. If you have spare furniture that you do not use often, consider finding an alternative, temperature controlled location for it or perhaps donate it to your location Goodwill.

The best practice is to avoid storing the items mentioned in this article in your garage. It can be tempting to use a custom garage space as a storage room for items that don’t have a dedicated place. Now that you’re aware of the reasons why certain items shouldn’t be kept in your garage, you can better organize your space to further prevent any dangerous or pesky hazards from occurring. These simple fixes will give you all the reassurance you need to practice safe garage storage and in a manner that also doesn’t accidentally ruin your personal belongings. 

• https://garagetransformed.com/winter-garage-temperature/
• https://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/11-things-never-to-keep-in-your-garage-51014#refrigerator-in-garage
• https://www.winespectator.com/articles/how-to-store-wine-temperature-humidity-coolers-and-more
• https://www.hunker.com/13418971/where-should-i-store-my-extra-gas-tank-for-my-gas-grill
• https://www.sparefoot.com/self-storage/blog/7155-garage-fires-and-clutter/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CGarage%20fires%20can%20be%20difficult,the%20garage%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20Lt.&text=%E2%80%9CFlammable%20liquids%2C%20such%20as%20gas,or%20be%20disposed%20of%20properly.%E2%80%9D
• https://www.exxon.com/en/gasoline-safety-storage
• https://www.garageliving.com/blog/garage-safety-hazards/
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• https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/2008/1-9/FirewoodInsects.html
• https://www.ezstoragenow.com/blog/why-you-should-never-store-furniture-these-6-other-items-in-your-garage/#:~:text=Garages%20are%20too%20close%20to,in%20a%20climate%2Dcontrolled%20setting