What should you not store in a garage?
Items that can't handle temperature swings
Garages often swing from freezing in winter to very hot in summer, and many items can't take that. Electronics like TVs, computers, and game consoles can suffer from condensation and heat damage. Musical instruments, vinyl records, and candles can warp or melt.
Medications, cosmetics, and adhesives break down faster in extreme temperatures. Aerosol cans can become dangerous if they get too hot. If you wouldn't leave it in a car year-round, it probably doesn't belong in the garage.
- Electronics (TVs, computers, speakers)
- Musical instruments and vinyl records
- Medications and cosmetics
- Aerosol cans and lighters
- Candles and crayons
Moisture-sensitive and pest-attracting items
Garages tend to be humid, especially in rainy or coastal areas. That makes them a bad spot for paper goods, photos, important documents, and books, which can grow mold or get musty. Cardboard boxes themselves can absorb moisture and attract bugs.
Food, pet food, birdseed, and even scented items like soap can draw mice, raccoons, and insects. Fabrics like clothing, bedding, and upholstered furniture can get damp and mildewed, and they make cozy nests for pests.
- Cardboard boxes and paper files
- Photos and important documents
- Books and magazines
- Pet food and birdseed
- Clothing, bedding, and fabric furniture
Valuables and flammables
Garages are often easy to break into, so don't store valuables like jewelry, silver, or expensive tools there. Also think twice about flammable liquids like gasoline, paint thinner, and propane tanks; many areas have rules about how much you can keep in a residential garage.
If you must store paint or chemicals, keep them in a locked, ventilated cabinet away from heat sources. Check local fire codes for limits on flammable liquids. When in doubt, move it to a climate-controlled spot or dispose of it properly.
- Jewelry and small valuables
- Gasoline and propane tanks
- Paint thinner and solvents
- Important tax or legal records
- Expensive power tools
Common mistakes
- Thinking a garage is just extra storage space—it's really an unconditioned environment that can ruin many items.
- Storing paper and photos in cardboard boxes on the floor, where they soak up moisture and attract pests.
- Keeping gasoline or propane in the garage without checking local fire codes or ventilation needs.
