Your garage is a convenient space for storing all sorts of items, but not everything belongs there. Whether it’s due to fluctuating temperatures, humidity, or the potential for pests, certain things are best kept away from your garage to avoid damage or safety risks.

From perishable foods to valuable heirlooms, it’s important to rethink what you store in this often-overlooked area of your home. In this post, we’ll highlight the items that shouldn’t be stored in your garage and offer practical alternatives for keeping your belongings safe and in good condition.
1. Perishable Food Items
Why You Shouldn’t Store Them
Storing food in the garage may seem like a good space-saving solution, but it can lead to serious issues. The fluctuating temperatures in a typical garage—especially in extreme heat or cold—can cause perishable food to spoil more quickly. Food that’s stored in temperatures that are too hot or too cold can develop bacteria or mould, posing health risks.
- Canned Goods: While they can last long, extreme temperatures can cause the cans to expand or rust, leading to contamination.
- Dry Foods: Items like flour, sugar, and pasta can attract pests or degrade from temperature and moisture changes.
- Fresh Produce: Fruits and vegetables are especially vulnerable to heat and humidity, which can cause them to rot.
What To Do Instead
- Store non-perishable food items in a dry, cool pantry inside your home.
- Fresh produce should be kept in the kitchen or a refrigerator to ensure freshness.
- Keep dry goods in sealed containers in your kitchen cupboards to avoid pests and degradation.
2. Paint And Paint-Related Products
Why You Shouldn’t Store Them
Paint, varnishes, and other paint-related products should never be kept in the garage. These items are temperature-sensitive and can spoil when exposed to extreme heat or cold. High temperatures can cause paint to separate, dry out, or become unusable. Cold temperatures can cause the paint to thicken or freeze, rendering it useless.
- Heat Sensitivity: Paint can dry out or clump in high heat, affecting its quality.
- Cold Sensitivity: In winter, paint can freeze, causing it to separate and become unusable.
What To Do Instead
- Store paints, varnishes, and solvents in a cool, dry place, ideally inside your home.
- Consider investing in climate-controlled storage if you have large quantities of paint or other chemical products.
3. Flammable Materials
Why You Shouldn’t Store Them
Flammable materials, such as gasoline, kerosene, solvents, and cleaning products, should never be stored in your garage due to the risk of fire. Garages are often close to heat sources, including water heaters, car engines, and other equipment that can ignite flammable fumes or liquids.
- Gasoline and Fuel: These substances can ignite easily, even from a spark, leading to devastating fires.
- Solvents and Paint Thinners: Many common cleaning and painting products are highly flammable and can create toxic fumes.
- Cleaning Products: Certain cleaning supplies, like bleach and ammonia, can be hazardous when exposed to heat or open flames.
What To Do Instead
- Store flammable materials in a secure, fire-resistant shed or storage unit located away from your home.
- Always store fuel and chemicals in approved, sealed containers to prevent leakage and reduce the risk of fire.
4. Old Electronics
Why You Shouldn’t Store Them
Old electronics, such as computers, televisions, or audio equipment, are best not stored in your garage. These devices contain sensitive components that can be damaged by temperature extremes, moisture, and humidity. Over time, heat and humidity can cause internal components to corrode, leading to malfunction or total failure.
- Heat and Moisture: Excessive heat can warp or melt components, while moisture can cause internal short circuits or rust.
- Deterioration: Over time, storage in the garage can render old electronics completely unusable due to damage from environmental factors.
What To Do Instead
- Recycle old electronics that no longer serve a purpose.
- If you need to store electronics for a while, do so in a climate-controlled room, such as a closet or storage room inside your home.
5. Important Documents
Why You Shouldn’t Store Them
Vital documents, including passports, birth certificates, and financial records, should never be kept in your garage. The fluctuations in temperature and humidity can cause paper to deteriorate, become brittle, or grow mould. Even a small amount of moisture can damage important paperwork, making it hard or impossible to read.
- Humidity and Heat: High humidity can lead to paper deterioration and mould, while heat can make paper brittle.
- Loss of Information: Important legal and financial documents are irreplaceable, and their damage can result in the loss of critical data.
What To Do Instead
- Store documents in a secure, climate-controlled area of your home, such as a filing cabinet inside a bedroom or office.
- Consider using a fireproof safe for particularly important documents to protect them from both fire and water damage.
6. Family Heirlooms And Valuable Items
Why You Shouldn’t Store Them
Valuable possessions such as jewellery, family heirlooms, antiques, and other sentimental items should not be stored in your garage. These items are often made from delicate materials like wood, leather, and fabric, which can easily be damaged by fluctuating temperatures, humidity, and exposure to pests.
- Temperature and Humidity: Wood can warp, crack, or expand; leather can dry out or become mouldy; fabric can fade or develop mould.
- Pest Infestations: Garages are prone to pests such as rodents, insects, and termites that may damage valuable items.
What To Do Instead
- Store valuable items in a safe or climate-controlled storage unit.
- Use protective boxes or containers to shield fragile heirlooms from temperature and humidity fluctuations.
7. Medicine And Pharmaceuticals
Why You Shouldn’t Store Them
Medications, including both prescription and over-the-counter, should not be kept in your garage. Temperature fluctuations can cause medications to lose their potency or become ineffective. Extreme temperatures can also lead to the degradation of active ingredients, making the medicine unsafe to use.
- Temperature Sensitivity: Many medications require storage at a constant, moderate temperature to remain effective.
- Expiry Risk: Storing medications improperly can reduce their shelf life, rendering them unusable.
What To Do Instead
- Store medications in a cool, dry, and safe place inside your home, preferably in a medicine cabinet away from direct sunlight and heat.
- Always check expiry dates before using any medication, and safely dispose of expired items.
8. Clothing And Textiles
Why You Shouldn’t Store Them
Clothing, especially seasonal wear, should not be stored in your garage, particularly for long periods. The heat, humidity, and pests in the garage can cause the fabric to degrade, fade, or become infested with moths or mildew.
- Heat and Humidity: Fabric can lose its shape, become discoloured, or develop musty smells.
- Pest Infestations: Pests like moths can damage wool and other fabrics.
What To Do Instead
- Store clothing in airtight containers or garment bags inside your home.
- Consider using cedar blocks or other natural repellents to keep pests at bay.
9. Batteries
Why You Shouldn’t Store Them
Batteries, especially rechargeable ones, should not be stored in the garage. The high heat can cause the battery to discharge more quickly or even leak, damaging your possessions. Similarly, extreme cold can cause batteries to lose their charge or degrade.
- Heat Sensitivity: Heat can cause batteries to overheat, leak, or explode, leading to dangerous situations.
- Cold Sensitivity: Extreme cold can cause batteries to lose their charge more quickly, making them ineffective.
What To Do Instead
- Store batteries in a cool, dry place inside your home, away from extreme temperatures.
- Consider using battery organisers to keep them sorted and easy to find.
10. Pet Food
Why You Shouldn’t Store It
Pet food, like dry dog or cat food, should never be stored in the garage. The fluctuating temperatures can cause the food to go stale, lose nutritional value, or even become contaminated with pests. Humidity can also lead to mould growth in the food.
- Pest Infestations: Garages can attract insects and rodents, which may contaminate pet food.
- Staleness: Exposure to heat can reduce the food’s shelf life, leaving it stale and unappetising for your pets.
What To Do Instead
- Store pet food in sealed, airtight containers inside a cool, dry part of your home.
- Keep pet food in an area away from humidity or direct sunlight to maintain freshness.
Conclusion
While your garage is a handy storage space, it’s best to avoid storing perishable food, important documents, electronics, and flammable materials there. Keeping these items in more controlled environments will protect them from damage and safety risks. For a more organised garage, try incorporating some mechanic workbench ideas to maximise space and functionality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Safe To Store Food In The Garage?
Storing food, particularly perishable items or canned goods, in the garage is not safe. The temperature swings and pests commonly found in garages can spoil food or attract unwanted critters, leading to contamination.
Why Should I Avoid Storing Important Documents In The Garage?
Important documents should not be stored in the garage as they are susceptible to moisture, mould, and extreme heat. These elements can cause the paper to degrade, rendering valuable documents unreadable or irreparably damaged.
Can I Store My Car Batteries In The Garage?
Car batteries should ideally not be stored in the garage, especially in areas with fluctuating temperatures. Extreme heat or cold can cause the battery to lose charge, corrode, or even leak, making it unsafe for storage in non-climate-controlled spaces.