Most people in America use their garage as storage space. And, although we can see how this might seem like a practical solution to any space shortages at home and storage issues, there are a few things that you shouldn’t store in your garage for various reasons. (Related topic: Hudson garage doors)
Sure, you want to save space and we get it, keeping everything you own inside your house might lead to too much mess on a daily basis and an unwanted situation of clutter and poor organization. However, using your garage to store certain things might not be the cleverest thing to do and we’ll tell you why.
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Books & Wooden Items
Try to avoid storing your books and wooden furniture in the garage, unless you don’t mind them getting deteriorated in a rather short period of time. If you have no choice, try finding the driest spot in your garage because in that cold and damp environment it is unlikely that your books and wooden furniture will survive for long. Garages are usually fragile enough to be affected by changes in humidity, whilst the fibers in paper and wood will swell and contract as the moisture level in the air changes, which might lead to cracks and general degradation that you will not be able to repair.
If you have the chance, try keeping your wooden furniture in places with a consistent temperature, like an attic. However, if the garage is truly your only option make sure all the books and wood you keep there are covered and safeguarded from the elements, but keep in mind that not even this will prevent the stain or varnish from fading away and getting dull.
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Paint
If you don’t want to lose those cans of paint, don’t keep them in the garage. Paint won’t survive the high summer temperatures or a really cold winter. Further, paint tins on cement floors are more prone to rust than those stored in shelves. Keep your paint in a cool and dry environment but never in freezing temperatures.
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Appliances
Appliances are very delicate when it comes to temperatures, especially when it comes to condenser dryers. Ideally, the temperature should be above 41°F because anything lower than this will make the water condense in the condenser container but it might start to condense on other cold surfaces as well, which means all that happens to the wet laundry, is that it feels a bit warm. In fact, some of the latest electronic dryers now display a fault code and stop working if the room temperature is too low. Vented tumble dryers are more likely to work at low temperatures, but we strongly advise you to check the instructions first.
Unsupervised fridges kept in the garage can also be a problem since they’re likely to use more energy to keep food at the right temperature, therefore, consuming more energy and costing you more.
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Electronic Devices
Old games consoles, DVD players, TVs, and computers shouldn’t be kept in the garage, especially if you’re trying to sell them off. These goods can be easily damaged by the extreme temperature fluctuations to which electronics are particularly susceptible due to condensation and other problems related to moisture getting into the circuits.
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Food
Under no circumstances, you should keep food in the garage, not even canned food as it will still attract mice and other pests. Not to mention that food of any kind will be affected by the fluctuating temperatures, potentially freezing in winter and then thawing, causing it to lose some of its flavors in the process.
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Propane Gas
Propane canisters for your gas barbecue should be kept outside, where it’s well ventilated. Putting them in the garage is a safety risk; the fumes could ignite when you start your car.