14 Things You Should Never Store in the Garage

For many of us, the garage is as much a storage space as it is a place to park the car. But while it may seem like a convenient spot to stash just about anything, not everything belongs there. Temperature swings, humidity, pests and other conditions can damage certain belongings and, in some cases, create safety concerns. To help you make smarter use of your garage, we’ve rounded up 14 things you should never store in the garage and asked a professional organizer to share her best storage advice.

Stocking up on pantry staples and nonperishable emergency foods can be a smart move, but the garage isn’t the best place to keep them. Temperature swings and humidity can shorten shelf life, compromise packaging and affect the quality of even shelf-stable foods. And if mice, insects or other pests find their way inside, a garage full of groceries can quickly become an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Not everyone has room for a wine cellar at home, but stashing your Sauvignon Blanc in the garage won’t cut it. Fluctuating temperatures can cause wine to expand and contract, potentially allowing air into the bottle and compromising its flavor and quality over time. Instead, keep your collection in a wine refrigerator or another cool, temperature-stable spot inside your home.

Your garage may offer plenty of extra storage, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best place for things you reach for every day. Lisa Mark, certified professional organizer at The Time Butler in Los Altos, Calif., recommends reserving garage storage for less frequently used belongings. “Items accessed all the time should be stored in the spaces in which they are used,” she says, “and overflow items like paper towels can be stored on shelves in the garage and moved into the home as existing items are used up.”

What you store in the garage matters, but so does how you store it. Whenever possible, Lisa suggests swapping cardboard boxes for sturdy plastic bins with secure lids. Cardboard offers little protection against moisture and temperature fluctuations, and it can attract insects and rodents looking for food, nesting material or a cozy place to hide.

There’s an art to properly storing paintings (pun intended), and the garage isn’t the place to do it. Fluctuating temperatures and humidity can cause paint to crack or flake and canvases to expand and contract, potentially damaging your favorite pieces over time. For long-term storage, keep artwork upright in a cool, dry area inside your home and away from fireplaces, heaters and direct sunlight.

Old photos and family memories deserve better than a spot on a garage shelf. Heat, humidity and moisture can cause photographs to fade, stick together or develop mold over time. For safer long-term storage, keep photos in an interior closet or another cool, dry area of your home rather than the garage, basement or attic.

Once you’ve found a safe spot for your paintings and photographs, make room for important documents, too. Passports, birth certificates, deeds and other difficult-to-replace papers can be damaged by moisture and temperature fluctuations in the garage. Store them inside your home instead, preferably in a fire-resistant box or filing cabinet.

What do your wedding dress, graduation gown and your baby’s first outfit have in common? They can all be damaged by the temperature swings and humidity commonly found in garages. To preserve sentimental clothing items, store them in an acid-free box inside your home, preferably in a cool, dry closet or chest.

Garages often become a catchall for old fuel, chemicals, batteries and other hazardous materials, but these items shouldn’t linger there indefinitely. “When possible, refrain from storing toxic materials in the garage,” Lisa advises. She recommends using local household hazardous waste programs to properly dispose of old fuel, waste oil, batteries and similar materials.

Saving leftover paint for future touch-ups is a smart move, as long as you store it properly. The temperature swings common in garages can cause paint to separate, thicken or otherwise become unusable over time. Keep leftover paint in a temperature-stable area of your home, out of children’s reach and away from heaters, open flames and other ignition sources.

An extra propane tank may seem convenient to keep in the garage, but it’s safer to store propane cylinders outdoors in a well-ventilated area away from your home. Because propane is highly flammable, a leaking tank can create a fire hazard if gas builds up near an ignition source.

Wood furniture may be durable, but it still needs the right storage conditions. The temperature and humidity swings common in garages can cause wood to expand and contract, leading to warping, cracking and other damage over time. To help preserve furniture and other delicate wood pieces, store them inside your home or in a climate-controlled storage space.

Whether you’re heating your home or simply roasting marshmallows, keeping firewood on hand can be useful, just not in the garage. Firewood can harbor insects and other pests, while trapped moisture may encourage mold and mildew. Store it outdoors instead, ideally off the ground and a short distance away from the house.