9 Unexpected Things You Should Never Store in the Garage

By Stephanie Booth
Jan 29, 2018

If your garage has become your de facto storage space—good for shoving away (or hiding) pretty much everything but the car—you’re not alone. But are you unwittingly leaving items out there to die a slow, painful death? Or worse yet, are you creating potentially dangerous conditions mere feet from where you sleep?

“The key thing to consider with garage storage is that the space usually isn’t climate-controlled. Temperatures can vary widely by season—and even over the course of one day,” explains Emily Patterson, a home safety and security expert for ASecureLife.com. “Anything that has to live in a small temperature range is best kept elsewhere.”

Nah, you’re probably thinking. My stuff’s totally fine.

Really? Before you let yourself off the hook, check out this list of important belongings that should never call the garage “home.” Be forewarned: There are a few surprises.

1. Your cherished family photos

True, you might not love that bucktoothed pic of yourself from third grade, but you feel the need to keep it for posterity, right? Well, if so, don’t do so in the garage.

“Pollutants, moisture, and heat will quickly destroy your photos,” cautions Mitch Goldstone, CEO of ScanMyPhotos.com. “Within a year or two, the colors will fade and the images will be destroyed from the collection of mildew.”

The same’s true for old-school slides. Digitizing all of your photos is a wise idea. Then, if you keep the printed copies, Goldstone says, store them in a dry area inside your home.

2. Propane tanks

This may not surprise you, but you’re probably still doing it. Don’t.

Because these volatile suckers can leak and/or ignite, “they should never be kept indoors or so close to your home,” warns Kelly Tenny, social media manager for on-demand storage company Zippboxx.com.

No matter how convenient it is to store them on a garage shelf, “they should be stored outside on a flat surface and kept out of enclosed spaces,” she cautions.

3. Car batteries

“Laying a car battery on concrete can drain and ruin the battery,” notes Teris Pantazes, co-founder of EFynch.com, an online handyman community in Baltimore and Washington, DC.

It’s nothing personal—concrete’s porous. It’s able to collect moisture, which is then transferred to a battery sitting on top of it. The result is a premature drain.

Newer batteries are sturdier, and affected less by external moisture. Still, if you do keep an extra battery in your garage, place it on a piece of wood or cardboard. Better yet, says Pantazes, don’t keep it on the floor at all.

4. Artwork and collectibles

We’re not just talking about your Picasso—although hopefully you would never store that in your garage. We’re referring to your coin collection, your cherished Chicago Cubs jersey, and heck, even those Hot Wheels you’ve had since you were a kid.

Let’s break down the reasons why: Dampness can cause coins to tarnish and mold to grow on paper and textiles, explains Kelly Juhasz, a Chicago-based member of the International Society of Appraisers. Insects will enjoy infesting and rodents feasting on paintings. (Gross.) Dirt and dust can cause stains and buildup on pretty much anything. And did we mention fumes from your car and old house paint can penetrate textiles and canvases?

On top of that, Juhasz points out, garages may be easier targets for theft. Keep items you love inside your home or a secure temperature-controlled storage space.

5. Food—even the canned variety

Unless you have a refrigerator or freezer in your garage, last summer’s bounty of strawberry jam or that case of pinto beans you picked up at Costco have no reason at all to be there.

“Fresh food will attract vermin even if closed,” says Patterson. “It’s not uncommon for these creatures to break holes in bags and chow down.”

Sweltering summer days can hasten the spoilage of canned goods, and freezing temps aren’t great either.

“Canned foods are designed to work best within an indoor temperature range,” Patterson says. As for fresh items, seal them in plastic bags in your pantry.

6. Your pet

Of course, you wouldn’t keep your pet in your garage at all times. (Right? Right?)

“But if you live in a place that gets very cold in the winter and hot in the summer, reconsider making the garage ‘their space’ when you’re at work or gone for the day,” Patterson suggests.

Instead, try closing off another area of the house where your pets can be comfy and safe.

7. Paint

Contrary to what everyone in the world seems to think, your garage ain’t the ideal place to store paint.

“It can actually spoil if it’s not sealed well and gets exposed to temperature extremes,” Patterson explains.

Your basement and attic may not be better options, since these too can experience temperature swings. Instead, suggests Patterson, find a space that’s dark, dry, and cool, like an unused corner of a utility closet, laundry room, or mudroom.

8. Lawn mower

“Not only is this piece of equipment deadly while engaged, but it has the potential to cause harm after it’s been stored,” explains Gene Caballero, co-founder of YourGreenPal.com.

Fun fact: “The exhaust and engine on mowers can stay at 240 degrees for up to 10 to 15 minutes after being turned off,” he adds.

Safely store your lawn mower in a shed. Don’t have one? Use a fitted cover which will protect it from the elements, and keep it outside.

9. Carpet and rugs

More often than not,  garage spaces aren’t well-ventilated. Yet “fresh air is vital for rug fibers,” says Dean Davies, a carpet and rug cleaning specialist with Fantastic Services in the United Kingdom. Garages also attract pests (as you now know), so when you finally do unroll your beloved Oriental rug, you could discover it’s ruined.

A better plan: Store your carpets and rugs in a place where humidity levels don’t bounce up and down like a game of Pong.

If the garage is your only option: “Make sure you’ve blocked any direct sunlight to preserve the rug’s colors, and place a dehumidifier near it to eliminate the possibility of any mold and mildew growth,” Davies suggests.