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In many Raleigh, NC homes, including yours, a custom garage becomes a place for storage rather than parking. It’s a large, open space, making it ideal for tossing junk you don’t use regularly. While it makes a good storage room, it is not the best choice for storing some items.
You should never store something in your garage that could attract pests or be affected by fluctuating temperatures and humidity. This includes:
- Food
- Clothing
- Art
- Mattresses
- Propane
- Books
- Paint
- Wood Furniture
- Important Documents
- Wine
Ready to learn why these 10 items shouldn’t be stored in your garage? Stay tuned!
Food
It’s a good idea to buy a month’s worth of non-perishable items at once to save on trips to the store and money at the end of the month. However, having food in your garage is like laying out the welcome mat for rodents and insects. The extreme temperatures and high humidity can also cause your food to spoil. This rule applies not only to boxed goods but also canned and pet food as well.
Clothing
It’s always a good idea to rotate your wardrobe to free up more space in your closet. However, storing articles of clothing in your garage is definitely not advisable. According to HGTV.com, pests are attracted to a ton of different fabrics. Plus, clothes make the perfect nests for mice. The humidity and temperature changes can also cause mold and mildew to grow. Instead, store your clothes in a sealed container and in a temperature-regulated area.
Art
When storing your paintings, you don’t want to leave them in the garage. Temperature and humidity can damage the paint by making it flake, crack, and discolor. Another problem is the canvas expanding and contracting. Wood frames supporting the canvas will warp. Instead, choose a place in your home away from heat and direct sunlight.
Mattresses
Like clothing, you shouldn’t store mattresses in the garage. These items are highly porous and susceptible to moisture build-up. Also, the fabric on your mattress can attract pests and you could inadvertently cause an infestation.
Propane
Generally, propane tanks are safe to store outside of a home, but not in your garage. However, there are dangers involved. If the tank is not maintained correctly, you could have a gas leak hazard on your hands. Propane takes the place of oxygen when inhaled in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe.
Not only is it a hazard to inhale, but even the slightest spark can also cause the gas to ignite. The spark could come from anything, including starting your car. It is best to keep them outside in an area out of direct sunlight. Never store your tank on its side and always ensure the valve is in the off position.
Books
Saving your favorite children’s books for your future kids or grandkids is a great idea. If stored in the garage, the extreme temperatures and humidity levels can warp the pages and the spine, making them difficult to read later on. If the pages become damp, you might be forced to toss them out.
Not only that, but damp spots can turn into a breeding ground for insects. Silverfish are one example of an insect that thrives in damp, dark areas such as garages. They like to feed on the starchy glue used for binding books together.
Paint
Paint is not something you want to keep in your garage unless it’s climate-controlled. According to Bobvila.com, inconsistent temperature changes can affect paint, even in sealed cans. Ultimately, the ups and downs in temperature can change the paint’s formula.
If you need to store a gallon of paint in your garage, don’t worry. However, keeping it for more than a night or two in there is not recommended. Keep it inside a closet with the lid secure and away from small children and pets.
Wood Furniture
The majority of garages are not temperature controlled. The humidity and temperature can go from one extreme to the other. With these constant fluctuations, your furniture could become damaged.
The damage can vary depending on how long the furniture has been stored and the extremes in temperature. Minor damages include veneer delamination. More significant damage may involve the wood becoming warped.
If you want to save your antiques for a family member, store them inside your home or in a climate-controlled storage unit.
Important Documents
Important documents should never be stored in your garage. Passports, medical records, birth and marriage certificates, and mortgage documentation should be kept safely inside your home.
The moisture in humid air is enough to cause damage to these papers. Mice, roaches, and other insects may also find them the perfect thing to munch on and destroy.
Wine
Wine needs a cool, dark area for storage, such as a cellar or basement. What is not a great idea is putting your wine cabinet in the garage. There isn’t a consistent temperature to keep the wine from changing during the years. Temperature fluctuations can cause the wine to expand and contract, leading to flavor-changing oxidation.
Conclusion
Garages are great places to store some items as well as park your bikes and cars. However, you want to find a different location for your food, wine, and wood furnishings, as the temperature fluctuations can ruin them. Clothing, papers, books, and mattresses can also invite pests into your home. Do your best to maximize the space in your home and look to your garage as an additional storage option.