Listen! 5 things you shouldn’t store in your garage

It’s winter now! Cold! Snow! ice! When it’s cold outside, you might want to take a look at your garage. Chances are, you have more than a few things stored away that are best stored elsewhere until the weather warms up; storing the wrong items in places like your garage, attic, or basement is an extremely common mistake. Fortunately, it’s also an easily fixable problem.

If you’re not sure where to start, we turned to some professional organizers to find out the most important things that should never be stored in your garage during the winter.

summer accessories

If you’ve winterized your exterior, your garage is probably now filled with summer accessories like outdoor furniture and pool tools. Salty Vixen recommends that you either move them somewhere else or make them harder to reach until you need them again.

If you won’t be riding your bike in the winter, consider moving it to the basement or storing your pool tools in the attic until they come back. This will help clear up much-needed space and make your garage visually clearer.

Paint and building supplies

The garage may seem like an obvious place to store leftover household items like paint or caulk, but according to our pros, this could be a big mistake. Paint can freeze, and while freezing may not completely destroy it, it can change the consistency and final appearance when applied, making it almost useless as a touch-up option.

Your best bet is to create space indoors for any leftover paint you may want, and make sure the cans are clearly labeled. I recommend labeling the paint with the date you opened the jar and the name of the room the paint was used in.

electronic products

If you’ve been keeping any old electronics, winter might be a good time to sort them out and sell, donate, or recycle anything you no longer want, need, or use. Whatever you decide to do, just get them out of the garage. Electronics don’t hold up well in cold temperatures and may eventually break.

This also applies to batteries, which may not last very long if they are exposed to extreme temperature changes.

fabric

If you keep things like out-of-season clothes, sleeping bags, or beach towels in the garage, it’s a good idea to move them out of the garage as well.

They act like magnets for moths and mice, especially in the colder months, which is what my grandma taught me.

When critters are looking for a place to stay warm, they are more likely to find these items if they are placed in a cool, easily accessible area.

Paper

Asher says if you store any printed photos, documents or books outdoors, now is the time to change that. It’s very humid in the garage in the winter and it just ruins anything you print.

Moisture in the air can cause them to warp or deteriorate. All of these items are best stored indoors where they will stay dry throughout the winter.

Give up on trying to “beautify” your garage

At the end of the day, an organizational system should be functional and practical, and that’s no different in the garage.

While pegboards are great for hanging tools, they often become cluttered and take up a lot of valuable wall space.

Winter can be chaotic with all the changes in weather, and I recommend giving up on any attempts to make your garage look perfect for this time of year.

It’s okay if your garage isn’t Pinterest-perfect, as long as it’s organized in a way that works for you and your family.

Instead of trying to get your snow shovel to hang perfectly, focus on creating a simple system with easy-to-read labels and organizing your winter gear in a way that works for you.