Garages might seem like a good place to store just about anything, but they’re far from ideal for many common items. With their constant temperature swings, exposure to moisture, and increased risk of pests, garages can quickly ruin what you’re trying to protect. In some cases, what you store there could even become dangerous. Whether you’re trying to make space or just avoid clutter, it’s worth knowing what to keep out of your garage permanently. Here are 15 things that should never be stored there—and what to do instead.
1. Paint and Paint Supplies
Paint doesn’t handle heat or cold very well. In the summer, high temperatures can dry it out, separate the contents, or even cause cans to burst. In winter, especially in colder climates, paint can freeze and become clumpy and unusable. Even sealed cans degrade over time when exposed to constant temperature changes. Leftover brushes and rollers suffer too—they mold, harden, or fall apart. If you’re planning to reuse paint or painting tools, keep them in a closet or cabinet inside your home where the climate stays controlled. It’s not just about preserving quality—it’s about avoiding waste and potential messes.
2. Propane Tanks
Propane tanks pose a serious safety risk when stored in enclosed spaces like garages. A slow leak might go unnoticed, and gas can build up over time. One spark—from a power tool, a water heater, or even static—can cause an explosion. Hot summer garages also increase the pressure inside propane tanks, making them more unstable. Even if the tank is nearly empty, the remaining gas can still be hazardous. The safest option is to store propane tanks outdoors in a shaded, well-ventilated area away from doors, windows, and children’s play areas. A secure, upright position is key to avoiding accidents.
3. Pet Food
Storing pet food in your garage might seem harmless, but it can quickly turn into an invitation for pests. Rodents, ants, and cockroaches can chew through bags and infest containers, even ones that appear sealed. The constant moisture and temperature changes can also spoil dry kibble or make it moldy. Pet food exposed to these elements may look fine but could make your pet sick. Always store pet food indoors in airtight containers made of thick plastic or metal. It’s better for your pet’s health and helps you avoid a surprise infestation in your garage.
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4. Important Documents
Paper and heat don’t mix well. Neither do paper and moisture. That’s why storing important documents—like birth certificates, tax records, wills, or passports—in your garage is a bad idea. Humidity can cause paper to warp, stick together, or grow mold. Rodents can chew through folders and boxes, and insects are drawn to the starch in paper and glue. Even waterproof bins won’t protect against long-term heat damage. Keep all documents in a temperature-controlled space inside your home. A filing cabinet, closet, or fireproof safe offers the best long-term protection against both physical and environmental threats.
5. Electronics
Garages expose electronics to all the wrong conditions. Heat can warp plastic parts and melt internal components. Cold can cause condensation to form inside screens and circuits, leading to corrosion or electrical shorts. Dust buildup affects cooling fans and other moving parts, while pests may chew on wires. Storing things like old computers, TVs, or speakers in a garage pretty much guarantees they won’t work when you pull them out later. If you’re not using your electronics, donate or sell them. If you want to keep them, store them in a dry, clean place indoors with steady temperatures.
6. Wooden Furniture
Wood is incredibly sensitive to its surroundings. In a garage, furniture made of wood is constantly expanding and contracting with temperature changes. That can lead to warping, cracking, and glue failure. Moisture in the air encourages mold and mildew, which can stain or weaken the wood’s surface. Finishes like varnish or paint may peel or bubble. Even furniture that seems solid and well-built won’t last long under these conditions. If you must store wood furniture, wrap it in moving blankets and place it in a room with a steady temperature and low humidity. Otherwise, expect damage within months.
7. Clothing and Bedding
Clothes, blankets, and linens are like magnets for garage-related problems. They soak up moisture, absorb odors from cars and chemicals, and attract moths, rodents, and mold. You might think you’re saving space by keeping winter coats or spare bedding in the garage, but you’re actually shortening their lifespan. Even vacuum-sealed bags will degrade over time under high heat or direct sunlight. If you need to store seasonal clothing, use lidded plastic bins and tuck them under beds, in closets, or inside wardrobes. Keeping them inside ensures they stay fresh, clean, and wearable when you need them again.
8. Food and Beverages
Food storage in the garage is a major no-go. Even non-perishable items like canned goods or boxed snacks can spoil in the heat. Temperature swings cause cans to expand, contract, and sometimes leak or explode. Dry goods attract every kind of pest—from mice to pantry moths. Beverages like soda, beer, or bottled water can burst in freezing weather or degrade in heat. The garage might feel like an extension of your pantry, but it’s just not safe for anything edible. Keep all food items inside your kitchen or a designated indoor pantry area where temperatures stay consistent year-round.
9. Photos and Film
Your memories deserve better than a cardboard box on a garage shelf. Photographs, negatives, and old film reels are all highly sensitive to heat, humidity, and light. Photos will fade, stick together, curl at the edges, or grow mold. Film reels can dry out, warp, or become brittle. Even albums and scrapbooks stored in boxes won’t survive for long in these conditions. To protect them, use acid-free storage materials and keep everything indoors. Consider scanning your most important photos to preserve them digitally—just in case the originals don’t last forever.
10. Books and Paper Goods
Books don’t hold up well in garages. Moisture causes pages to warp and grow mold, while dust settles deep into bindings and paper fibers. Paper goods like journals, manuals, or magazines are equally at risk. Bugs chew on covers and glue, and rodents can destroy entire stacks in a matter of days. Even if stored in plastic bins, books can still absorb odors and suffer from fluctuating temperatures. If you love your books, treat them right. Store them inside your home on shelves, in cabinets, or in bins with silica gel packs to absorb moisture.
11. Firewood
It might seem logical to stack your firewood in the garage, but it’s actually a big mistake. Firewood is full of insects—including ants, beetles, and termites—that you don’t want in your garage or anywhere near your home. Plus, the wood itself traps moisture and can develop mold or rot, especially in warm conditions. If firewood sits too close to flammable items, you’re also creating a fire hazard. Always store firewood outside, raised off the ground and covered with a tarp or kept in a wood rack. Only bring in what you plan to use that day.
12. Wine and Alcohol
Wines and spirits need a consistent, cool environment to stay in good condition. In the garage, alcohol is at the mercy of heat, cold, and light—all of which can ruin its flavor and stability. Wine is especially sensitive. Heat causes it to age too fast, corks can dry out, and bottles may leak. Even hard liquor can lose quality or break down its container over time. Garages may also expose bottles to sunlight, which speeds up chemical reactions inside. For long-term storage, keep wine and alcohol inside in a dark cabinet or wine fridge with stable temperature.
13. Musical Instruments
Instruments are precision tools—and garages are unpredictable environments. Wood-based instruments like guitars, violins, and pianos will warp or crack in humid conditions. Metal parts on brass or woodwind instruments can corrode. Drum heads stretch and lose tension, and electronics inside amps or keyboards may stop working entirely. Even if you store them in hard cases, temperature swings and moisture can still creep in. For best results, store your instruments in a dry, stable room inside your house. Your future self—or your kid’s music teacher—will thank you.
14. Photographic Equipment
Camera gear is expensive and fragile. The garage exposes it to every kind of threat: heat, humidity, dust, and pests. Mold can grow on lenses, batteries can leak, and internal electronics can corrode. Dust gets into tiny moving parts, and extreme cold can crack plastic or damage screens. Even padded camera bags don’t offer enough protection if they sit in a hot garage for months. Always store your photography equipment indoors in a clean, dry area. A closet shelf or dresser drawer is much safer for keeping your gear in working condition.
15. Flammable Liquids
Many garages end up housing dangerous chemicals like gasoline, paint thinner, or oil. But these flammable liquids don’t belong there. They release fumes that can ignite with little warning—especially if you have a water heater or power tools nearby. Containers also degrade over time, which leads to leaks or spills. If vapors build up in an enclosed space, they become explosive. Only store flammable items in safety-rated containers and, if possible, outside your home in a secure shed. Always follow the manufacturer’s safety recommendations to avoid turning your garage into a fire hazard.
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