6 Things You Should Never Ever Store in the Garage

Protect your belongings and yourself with these safe rules for storage.

Lisa Stokes/Getty

This story originally appeared on GoodHousekeeping.com.

We're guessing your decluttering strategy is something like this: No place for it inside? Put it in the garage.

But the truth is, your garage isn't a great catch-all storage space, since it's not climate-controlled and (literally) a big, open door to critters and pests outside. Skip storing these items there, and make room for what the space is really meant for—your car.

1. Paint
Leftover color from the last time you redecorated won't last long if subjected to high heat in summer (or falling temps in the winter). Plus, cans stored on cement floors will rust faster than those stored on a shelf.

RELATED: How to Dispose of (Or Donate) Leftover Paint »

2. Propane
We know you want to be well-prepared for a summer of cookouts, but only keep propane tanks for your gas grill outside, where it's well-ventilated. Otherwise, you risk igniting the fumes when you start your car.

3. Canned Food
A stockpile of canned tomatoes, beans and more has a shorter shelf life in a room that gets hotter than 70 degrees (and when temps reach 95 degrees, the food will spoil quickly). If your canned goods freeze in the winter, they can be thawed, but the quality might diminish.

In fact (and don't hate us for this one), you probably shouldn't store any food in the garage, since it could attract rodents. The silver lining? An excuse to finally trick out your pantry with that new shelving system you've been eyeing.

4. Refrigerator
Yes, by definition, fridges control the temperature in your food's environment. But as the heat rises, your fridge will need to work harder to keep your food cooland you'll feel the burn in your energy bill. Plus, a fridge won't keep food cold enough when the surrounding temps drop below 60 degreee, since it will run less when it gets chilly.

5. Open stacks of linens or paper goods
Mice and other pests love to make nests in bunches of fabric or paper (like that pile of cardboard boxes from your recent move). Store paper cups and plates in your pantry instead, place linens in plastic bins if you have to put them in the garage, and purge recyclables often.

6. Electronics
DVD players, televisions and computers you've been meaning to donate (or return to your grounded teen's bedroom) could get damaged in extreme heat or cold.

NEXT: The Essential Items for an Organized Garage »

Photo: Lisa Stokes/Getty

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