Although your garage might be prepped with overhead storage, Gladiator wall systems, and Gladiator Premier Series Garage Cabinets, you don’t want to overcrowd them with unnecessary junk. Additionally, some items should never be stored in a space that isn’t climate controlled. Take at look at these nine things that are better off staying in your home.

Food and Wine

While canned foods are practically spoil-proof, they need to be protected from heat, cold, and humid extremes; this goes for dry goods as well. Foods that repeatedly freeze and thaw spoil quickly and can even become a health hazard.

Any wine aficionado will tell you that wine must be stored in a dark, temperate environment to preserve its integrity. When wine is exposed to extremes in temperature and humidity, it transforms even the choicest wine into very expensive vinegar.

Wood and Wood Furniture

When it comes to storing quality wood, a good rule of thumb is to keep it indoors. While it’s okay to store old, damaged wood as an organizing tool, humidity can often warp and rot wood, especially raw wood that’s used for building projects. Wood also attracts termites and rodents who love to build nests in soft places like chair and couch cushions.

Clothing and Other Fabrics

Anything made of fabric is susceptible to insects, rodents, rot, and mildew, so opt for inside storage.

Paper and Cardboard

If you want your keepsakes to stay in the best condition possible, you’ll want to keep them away from the garage. Garage humidity quickly rots paper, including photos, books, magazines, artwork, and cardboard boxes. Additionally, insects like cockroaches and silverfish feed on starches that can be found in the glue of book bindings.

Paint

Heat, cold, and humidity will eventually affect a paint’s color and consistency, rendering it useless. Instead, consider decanting leftover paint into smaller containers with screw-on lids and storing them indoors.

Refrigerators and Freezers

Having an extra fridge or freezer in your garage for food you buy in bulk may seem like a great idea. But these appliances work overtime to maintain a consistent temperature, so consider buying a smaller model to fit in an indoor room.

Propane Tanks

Propane is highly flammable, and a tank may have an unseen leak. Store these in a well-ventilated area, such as a shed far from your home. Protect tanks from all sources of unintentional heat and flames such as welding equipment, sparks from power tools, and hot lawnmower engines.

Electronic Equipment

Unless you’re temporarily storing old electronics destined for the dump, the garage is no place for electronic equipment. Humidity and condensation cause rust and damage delicate circuit boards and solder joints. This applies not only to TVs, computer equipment, and radios, but game consoles and appliances as well.

Want More Ideas?

When you don’t store all these products in your garage, you have room for amazing renovations, like a slatwall system or beautiful new floor. Contact Garage Design Works to discover how an Orlando garage floor will revolutionize your garage’s possibilities.