What to Store in a Detached Garage

Equipment

The garage is the best place to store equipment that is consistently used outside. Equipment includes hoses, shovels, snowblowers, soil, lawnmowers, weed wackers, fertilizer, and any other tools used for landscaping. Workshop tools like a toolbox, nail guns, and pliers are also best stored in a detached garage. All of these tools can get dirty quickly. You need to make sure you are consistently cleaning them to prevent dirt from building up in your garage and attracting pests. 

Sporting Goods

You can also keep recreational items in the garage, like bikes, basketballs, and camping equipment. A detached garage will protect all your sporting goods items from weather-related damage. You can organize these items in your garage by utilizing all the wall and ceiling space. Use racks and hooks to organize any sporting equipment on the walls, and use ceiling mounts to store your bikes. You can create a more organized space by keeping your items off the floor.

Car Accessories

What to Avoid Storing in Your Garage

Not everything is suited to be stored in a detached garage, as some items can get damaged if they are stored there. Garages aren’t usually as climate-controlled as the house, so you need to be cautious of what you store there. Jed’s Sheds can insulate your garage to be climate-controlled, but if you are just using it as a storage space it is not needed. Here are items you shouldn’t store in a detached garage: 

Electronics

Many people think of storing old electronics in their garage, including old TVs, radios, computer equipment, consoles, and appliances. These discarded electronics can be damaged while inside the garage, especially if the items are not that old. Humidity and temperature levels constantly change inside a garage, which can damage an electronics' circuit board or solder joints. More expensive electronics can also be a target for theft. Storing these items in your home instead of the garage will keep them much safer. 

Clothing

Clothes, linens, and blankets should not be kept in the garage for a few reasons. There are often fluctuations in humidity, heat, and cold inside the garage that can cause mold and mildew to grow on the fabrics, damaging them. Power equipment can also give off fumes that can stick to your clothes. Finally, pests are attracted to garages as they like to use clothes and linens to make their nests. To prevent your fabrics from getting damaged, store them in a dry and cool area of your house. If you must store them in the garage, use vacuum-sealed bags to protect them.

Papers

Magazines, photos, newspapers, and other papers will deteriorate sooner than you think if they are left in a garage. Changing temperatures and high moisture levels can be bad for paper products. If the products get wet, mold can grow on them. Pests and rodents will get into your paper products to make nests. Photos could curl, discolor, stick together, or dry out if left inside a garage. Keep all your paper products, especially photos, stored in a cool, dark, and dry place inside your home, preferably an indoor closet.