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Let’s be honest. Most of us are guilty of throwing stuff in our garage and forgetting about it. Sometimes, we don’t touch or use the tools and equipment in our garage for years. However, if we aren’t careful, we can easily fill our garage with too many belongings, creating a maze at best and a fire hazard at worst.

A good solution is to clear out your garage every year. You get to declutter and help make your home safer. But even regular garage clean-outs may not be enough to protect your home from some hazards.

It’s time to assess whether you have one of these five hazards sitting in your garage. If you do, clear them out immediately or be sure to properly store them.

Propane

If you’re a king of the cookout, you’ve probably used propane before. Propane canisters should never, ever be stored in your garage. Keep them outdoors in a well-ventilated space to avoid fume build up. Enclosed areas like a garage make propane a particularly dangerous item. This colorless, odorless gas is extremely hazardous because it isn’t easy to detect a leak.

Paint

Paint is commonly stored in the garage, but did you know that’s not a great idea? Paint doesn’t withstand high or low temperatures very well. Instead, you should store your paint in a cool environment but never in freezing or extremely hot temperatures. With paint, you also need to be aware of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). VOCs evaporate when paint dries and release dangerous chemicals like formaldehyde. Wear a mask when moving or getting rid of paint to protect yourself from fumes.

Electronics

Whether you’re planning to sell your DVD collection on Ebay or keep that old gaming console due to its sentimental value, you probably want to keep your electronics in good shape. Storing them in your garage is not the solution. Electronics are susceptible to extreme temperature changes, especially if there’s moisture in the air. Moisture and condensation can seep into electronics and damage the circuits amid temperature fluctuations. Store electronics in a dry, temperature-controlled location. Not in your garage.

Food

A lot of homeowners believe it’s okay to store certain food items in their garages. This is’t a good idea. Not only can it attract unwanted pests like mice and racoons; canned foods can actually spoil in the fluctuating temperatures. The expansion and contraction of the can, can break the seal or even cause the can to burst.

Books

Magazines, scrap books, photo albums and books are negatively affected by humidity. No matter how precious your old photos or favorite tomes might be, humidity doesn’t care. It will warp everything from spines, to bindings, to pages and even ink. If you value your books, don’t store them in the garage for long, especially if you live in a moisture-rich environment.   

Is your garage so full that you’ve been thinking about increasing your storage space? Look no further! We have the best custom Garage Building Kits on the market. Contact us today at 888-460-0251 if you have any questions and our customer service professionals will be happy to assist you!