Tips to Protect the Items You Store in the Garage
by Charles Martinez
Your garage is often much more than just a spot to park your car or store the lawnmower; it is also usually the home to the things you don't have room to store inside. These can run the gamut from sporting equipment and holiday décor to paperwork, toys, or even clothing. If you are using your garage as a storage unit, then you need to make sure all of your items are just as protected in the garage as they would be in your home. The following tips can help.
Tip #1: Choose airtight containers
Insects, rodents, moisture, bad odors—your items could be exposed to all of these in your garage, no matter how clean you keep it. For this reason alone you shouldn't store anything in a permeable container like a cardboard box or a thin bag that could be punctured. Instead, invest in heavy-duty storage totes. Choose similar styles that stack easily, have handles, and feature locking lids so they are easy to store and move.
Tip #2: Keep everything off the ground
Moisture can seep into just about any garage, and concrete floors tend to get moist even if there is no actual flood. While storing in plastic totes should protect your items, you still don't want to trap moisture between the tote and the concrete floor. This could lead to mildew stains on the concrete. The best option is to invest in a storage system that keeps everything off the ground. A garage wall-storage system, such as shelving or rails that the totes connect to, works well and saves you space.
Tip #3: Store like with like
Make it easy to find all of your ski equipment, camping gear, or holiday décor. Make sure you keep totes of similar items store by each other or on the same shelf of your storage system. Another way to make things easier is to use totes of the same color for specific items. For example, Christmas décor can be stored in red totes while summer camping supplies go into green totes.
Tip #4: Know what to keep inside
The garage isn't a good location for certain items, even if you are careful about storing them. Canned foods, electronics, and any heirloom items are better stored inside the home where conditions are more controlled. Canned food, for example, can still spoil in a hot garage, or the cans can burst if they freeze in the winter. Electronics should never be subjected to temperature extremes, and you shouldn't take any chances with an irreplaceable heirloom item.
Look at a variety of storage methods to find one that will work the best to keep your stuff safe in your garage.
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About Me
I have never been the kind of person who loves to go through and eliminate clutter, but about six months ago, I realized that my storage space was a complete nightmare. It was really difficult to figure out what I needed to do and where I needed to put things, but the more I cleaned, the more I realized how much I had left to tidy up. It was amazing to see how far things progressed, and before I knew it, my space looked and felt a lot better. This blog is all about understanding proper storage practices and keeping your unit immaculate.