15 Things to Never Store in Your Garage

If you use your garage to store the items 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 what lines the shelves of your garage or is tucked in its dark corners. In fact, some of those items could even become dangerous when stored in the garage.

Before you stash another box or unused item in your garage, make sure it’s safe to do so. We compiled this list of 15 things that should never be stored in a garage.

What not to store in your garage

These items should never be stored in your garage:

Food

Alcohol

Paint cans

Propane

Firewood

Pet food

Photographs

Books

Plywood

Wooden furniture

Collectibles

Rugs and carpets

Clothing

Electronics

Toys

What you can store in the garage

At this point, you’re probably wondering what, if anything, can be stored in the garage. The list is short, but feel free to store these items:

Car supplies

Tools and maintenance items

Camping equipment

Outdoor toys

Climate controlled storage

So, what do you do if you have a lot of items that shouldn’t be stored in the garage but don’t have the space to keep them in your home? One solution is to rent a climate-controlled storage unit. Typically, these units are inside a building that regulates the temperature within a range of 55 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit and provide protection from the elements. Keeping your items in a climate-controlled unit ensures they will be in the best possible condition when you want them.