The garage seems like a great place for storage. Especially for those possessions you can’t get rid of, but don’t have anywhere else to put.

But it really depends on what you’re looking to store.

There are certain items that should be kept out of the garage, not just because it clutters up your garage, but because it can damage the items themselves. Especially if you live somewhere that experience below freezing temperatures.

To keep your possessions safe, here are a few things you shouldn’t be keeping in your garage.

A Fridge or Freezer

Do you have a spare fridge or perhaps a meat freezer? There’s a good chance you keep it in your garage. This is a bad idea. Extreme temperatures, both hot and cold, cause your fridge or freezer to work overtime. Not only does this consume a lot more energy, but it can cause damage to your appliance.

As strange as it might seem, fridges can actually stop running once temperatures go below freezing.

Wine

Fluctuating temepartures cause the wine to expand and contract which, in turn, leads to oxidation. This compromises the taste and ruins the wine altogether.

Cardboard Storage

Cardboard boxes are great for moving, but they’re not the best long-term storage solution. Especially for items in your garage. Rodents, pests, and spiders can easily sneak or eat their way through into your valuables.

Moisture and water that seeps in from outside can cause the boxes to rot and decay. It’s best to stick to plastic containers. Also try and keep things off of the garage floor.

Canned Food

Hoping to survive a potential zombie apocalypse with your large collection of canned food? Then you might not want to keep it in the garage. Many people have the impression that canned food is invisible and lasts forever.

If you keep it around room temperature, it can last a very long time, but it doesn’t do so well in uncontrolled environments.

Electronics

Hot temperatures damage electronics. Cold temperatures damage electronics. Moisture damages electronics. Rodents damage electronics. What does this mean? It means you shouldn’t keep electronics in your garage.

Wooden Furniture

Like most things on this list, wood doesn’t respond well to extreme, fluctuating temperatures. It also doesn’t do great with moisture. Your garage is not the place for storing your wood furniture. Additionally, it can provide the perfect nesting place for rodents and spiders, which is something you don’t want.

Paint

It’s smart to keep extra paint on hand for the walls, ceilings, cabinets, etc. in your home. It’s not smart to keep that paint in your garage. High and low temperatures cause the chemicals in the paint to separate, ruining whatever is left in the can.

Important Documents

The garage is a terrible place to keep important documents, unless you have them in some sort of climate controlled safe. Wherever you store them, it should be in a place that’s fireproof and secure.

Making Your Garage More Flexible

Most of this list applies to garages that aren’t climate controlled. However, adding heating and cooling systems to garages has become much more popular in recent years, especially for connected garages. This takes away the damaging temperature extremes, allowing you to be more flexible with your garage use.

For a climate controlled garage, you’ll need to make sure it’s properly sealed and insulated.

At Springfield Overhead Door, we provide a wide range of insulated entry and garage doors in Ohio, along with professional installation service.  Whether you want to use your garage as a storage area, an office, a lounge, or something else altogether, we can help make sure it’s ready to withstand the elements.

Contact us today!