If you want to store items in your garage that you don’t have room for in your house, you could be in for a surprise later. Moisture, heat and pests can damage or destroy your belongings. In fact, some of those items could even become dangerous when stored improperly.
Before you stash another box or unused item in your garage, make sure it’s safe to do so. We compiled this list of 10 things that should never be stored in a garage.
These items should never be stored in your garage:
Food
You should never store food of any kind in your garage. Fresh food attracts rats and other pests, which can easily break into bags and cardboard boxes. Canned goods don’t fare much better. Temperature fluctuations can cause bacteria to grow inside cans, and humidity can cause the cans’ metal and the metal lids on glass jars to rust. In turn, the rust can cause a chemical reaction in the food that makes it unfit for consumption.
Alcohol
Beer, wine and other alcoholic beverages shouldn’t be stored in the garage either. Light and heat can alter their taste and even turn wine into vinegar. Instead, make room for them in a dark, cool place inside your home.
Paint cans
You’re not alone if you store leftover paint in your garage. However, the extreme temperatures of your garage, basement or attic can ruin your paint, rendering it useless. To keep your paint at its best, store it in a utility closet or laundry room.
Propane
Since propane tanks can leak, they’re a potential hazard when kept in your garage. Just one spark can start a fire when a leaking propane tank is present. Store propane tanks in a well-ventilated area a safe distance from your home.
Firewood
Pests like spiders and termites make their home in piles of stacked wood. If that wood is stored your garage, those pests can easily infiltrate your living space. Avoid an infestation by storing firewood at least 20 feet away from your home.
Pet food
Like human food, pet food shouldn be kept anywhere but in your garage. Although temperature won’t affect pet food the same way it does your food, rats and other pests can easily chew through pet food bags. If you must store it in the garage, keep it in a tightly sealed plastic or metal container.
Plywood
Who doesn’t store wood scraps in their garage? For an immediate project, it’s usually not a problem. But over the long term, wood can warp thanks to fluctuating temperatures and humidity. If you have nowhere else to store your scraps, the garage works. Just realize the wood may warp and become unusable by the time you need it.
Wooden furniture
It’s not just plywood that suffers in the garage. Pretty much any wood is susceptible to its harsh conditions. As a result, if you store wood furniture in your garage, expect some damage to it over time. For example, changes in the humidity will cause the wood to swell and contract, leading to cracks that you may not be able to repair.
Collectibles
Valuables don’t belong in the garage. Moisture can cause coins to tarnish, Hot Wheels to rust and trading cards to mold. Heat can cause vinyl records to warp, and dirt can mar autographed posters. Not to mention, it’s easier to steal these items from your garage than a secure place inside your home.
Electronics
Old electronics like computers, laptops, DVD players, game consoles and TVs can easily be damaged by extreme temperatures, with moisture posing the greatest risk. Any condensation or moisture can cause electrocution. Either keep these items inside or donate them.
We recommend renting a storage unit for your storage needs. Storage units at self storage facilities such as U-Lock Mini Storage offer secure, climate-friendly, and pest-free storage solutions. Our storage units are suitable for storing goods both for the short and the long-term.
We offer storage solutions to our clients across Greater Vancouver, Vancouver Island and the Fraser Valley, with storage units in Chilliwack (Chilliwack U-Lock Mini Storage), South Surrey and White Rock (White Rock U-Lock Mini Storage), Burnaby and Vancouver (Burnaby U-Lock Mini Storage), Victoria (Victoria U-Lock Mini Storage), Nanaimo (Nanaimo U-Lock Mini Storage) and Parksville (Parksville U-Lock Mini Storage).
Please contact a U-Lock Mini Storage self-storage facility near you to inquire about our storage units and our team members will be delighted to answer any questions you have!