7 Things You Should Never Have in Your Garage: Keep Your Space Organized and Safe With these Top Tips.
The garage is often an overlooked area when it comes to home organization, but it’s one of the most important spaces in the house. Whether you use it for storing your car, as a workshop, or as a catch-all for everything you don’t know where to put, it’s easy for garages to quickly become cluttered. But just as important as what you should have in your garage is what you should never have there. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the seven things you should avoid in your garage to keep it organized, safe, and functional.
7 Things You Should Never Have in Your Garage
1. Expired or Dangerous Chemicals: Keep Your Garage Safe
Let’s start with something crucial: chemicals. Many of us store cleaning supplies, paints, oils, and even pesticides in our garages without realizing the dangers. Old or expired chemicals are not only hazardous to your health, but they can also cause serious damage to the environment and even your garage itself.
Why You Should Avoid Storing Chemicals in Your Garage
Over time, chemicals lose their effectiveness and can become dangerous when stored improperly. For instance, expired paints or old motor oils can emit toxic fumes, posing health risks to anyone who enters the garage. Some chemicals can also react with each other, potentially leading to harmful accidents. Also, extreme temperatures in garages can cause certain chemicals to degrade more rapidly, making them even more dangerous.
How to Dispose of Chemicals Safely
Instead of keeping chemicals that are no longer useful, make sure to dispose of them properly. Many cities have local hazardous waste disposal programs that can safely handle chemicals. If you do need to store chemicals in your garage, make sure to keep them in airtight containers, away from any heat sources, and clearly labeled.
2. Old or Broken Electronics: Things You Should Never Have in Your Garage
How many of us have stored old electronics in the garage with the hope that we’ll “fix them someday”? It’s an easy trap to fall into, but holding on to broken electronics just takes up precious space that could be used for more functional storage.
Why You Shouldn’t Store Electronics in Your Garage
Many electronic items, like old TVs, computers, and phones, are sensitive to heat and humidity, which makes them less suitable for the extreme temperature fluctuations that often occur in garages. Over time, electronics can become damaged or worse—obsolete, causing even more clutter. Plus, old electronics often contain hazardous materials, like mercury and lead, which shouldn’t just be tossed into the trash.
What to Do With Old Electronics
Instead of hanging onto broken electronics, consider recycling them. Many electronics stores, local recycling centers, and even some manufacturers offer e-waste recycling services where you can safely dispose of old gadgets. You’ll clear up valuable space in your garage and be doing your part for the environment too!
3. Unnecessary Furniture: Clear Up Garage Space
Got an old couch or a dresser that’s too big to fit anywhere else? Many people end up storing furniture in the garage as a temporary solution when they have no room for it inside the house. But let’s be honest—when was the last time you actually used that old couch or chair? Keeping unnecessary furniture in the garage only takes up space that could be used for more practical purposes.
Why Furniture Doesn’t Belong in the Garage
Unless your garage is climate-controlled, furniture isn’t a good candidate for long-term storage. Extreme temperatures, humidity, and dust can quickly damage your furniture, leaving you with a pile of unusable items. Moreover, large furniture pieces can block your garage’s functionality, making it harder to park your car or organize your tools.
What to Do With Old Furniture
Instead of allowing old furniture to take up space in the garage, try donating it to a local charity or selling it online. If it’s beyond repair, you may need to look into responsible disposal options, such as recycling programs in your area.
4. Clothing and Textiles: Not the Right Storage Environment
You may think your garage is the perfect place to stash old clothing, blankets, and seasonal gear, but in reality, it’s one of the worst places to keep textiles. Storing clothes in your garage can lead to damage from dust, pests, mold, and mildew, especially in humid or extreme weather conditions.
Why Clothing Doesn’t Belong in the Garage
While it’s tempting to store seasonal clothing or old items you’re planning to donate in the garage, the conditions can be harsh for textiles. Garages are often exposed to fluctuating temperatures and humidity, both of which can cause fabrics to degrade, fade, or develop mold. Plus, insects like moths love to feast on natural fibers like wool, causing further damage.
Better Alternatives for Storing Clothes
If you need extra storage for clothing, invest in sealed plastic bins with airtight lids. These will keep your clothes safe from dust and pests. Consider storing seasonal clothes in a closet or attic space that is climate-controlled and less prone to temperature swings.
5. Flammable Materials: Serious Fire Hazards
Garages are often used for storing tools and car-related products, some of which can be highly flammable. Storing gasoline, propane, paint thinners, or other flammable substances in your garage is a dangerous practice that could put your entire home at risk.
Why You Should Avoid Storing Flammable Materials
Flammable materials in your garage can be a serious fire hazard, especially if you store them near heat sources or sparks. Gasoline, paint thinners, and propane can easily ignite, leading to catastrophic consequences. Even something as seemingly innocent as cleaning rags soaked in oil or paint can spontaneously combust if not stored properly.
What to Do With Flammable Materials
If you need to store flammable substances, keep them in appropriate, safety-approved containers and store them in a well-ventilated area, away from any ignition sources. Ideally, flammable materials should be kept outside or in a specially designed storage unit that’s far from your living area. If you have any materials that are expired or no longer in use, properly dispose of them at your local hazardous waste facility.
6. Piles of Paperwork: Create a System for Organization
Whether it’s old bills, manuals, or random paperwork that doesn’t have a home, piles of paper are a common sight in many garages. But the reality is that keeping paperwork in your garage can lead to disorganization, and it might even result in lost important documents.
Why Piles of Paper Are a Problem
Paper is vulnerable to damage from humidity, heat, and pests. Over time, moisture can cause paper to become brittle, moldy, or discolored. If your garage isn’t properly sealed and temperature-controlled, your paperwork could easily get ruined, leaving you with a frustrating mess to deal with. Plus, not having a system for organizing paperwork can cause you to misplace important documents when you need them most.
Tips for Organizing Paperwork
Create a filing system for important documents and keep them in waterproof and fire-resistant filing cabinets or boxes. Label everything clearly and ensure that papers are kept off the floor and away from areas where they can get damaged. If you don’t need physical copies, consider scanning documents and storing them digitally for easy access.
7. Pets or Pet Supplies: Not Safe for Your Furry Friends
Many people store pet food, toys, or even the pets themselves in the garage, but this can be risky for a variety of reasons. Garages are not the ideal environment for pets or pet supplies.
Why Your Pets Shouldn’t Be in the Garage
Garages are often too cold in the winter, too hot in the summer, and sometimes too damp for pets to live comfortably. Additionally, the garage may have dangerous chemicals, sharp tools, or other hazards that could be harmful to your furry friends. Pet food, when stored improperly in the garage, can attract pests like mice or insects, making it unsuitable for your pets.
What to Do Instead
If you need to store pet food or supplies, keep them in sealed, airtight containers to avoid attracting pests. Make sure to store them in a cool, dry place within the house. As for your pets, they should always have a safe and comfortable space indoors. If you must store pet-related items in the garage, ensure they are kept out of the reach of chemicals and sharp objects, and always keep the space clean and dry.
Five functions of a home garage
A home garage can serve several practical functions beyond just storing a car. Here are five common ones:
- Vehicle Storage: The primary function of a garage is to protect vehicles from the elements, like rain, snow, and sun, helping to preserve their condition and lifespan.
- Storage Space: Garages often double as storage for tools, seasonal items, sports equipment, and household overflow. It can be a space to store things that don’t fit inside the house.
- Workshop or Hobby Space: Many people use their garages as a workshop for DIY projects, hobbies, or small home-based businesses. It’s a place to work on cars, wood projects, or crafts without making a mess inside the house.
- Home Gym: Some people convert their garages into personal fitness spaces, using the ample room to set up workout equipment and create a dedicated exercise area.
- Laundry or Mudroom: In some homes, the garage is used as a laundry room or a mudroom where shoes, coats, and other outdoor gear can be stored before entering the home.
A garage can be a multifunctional space, depending on your needs. Have you found any interesting ways to use your garage, or are you considering a makeover?
Conclusion: Things You Should Never Have in Your Garage
Your garage can be a valuable, functional space, but it’s important to make sure you’re using it properly. By avoiding these seven items—expired chemicals, broken electronics, unnecessary furniture, clothing, flammable materials, piles of paperwork, and pets—you’ll create a safer, more organized environment. Not only will this make it easier to park your car and use your tools, but it’ll also help you maintain a clutter-free, efficient garage that works for you.
With proper organization, a little decluttering, and the right mindset, your garage can become the well-organized, practical space it was always meant to be. So take action today—get rid of those things you should never have in your garage and transform it into the ideal storage space for your home.