Avoid Garage Damage This Winter With Smart Storage Choices

Living in Minnesota means your garage can feel more like a walk-in freezer during our cold winter months, which many of us take advantage of, right?

While it’s convenient to have extra space, I've recently learned that some of the things I've been storing in my garage shouldn't be out there during the winter months. Here’s a list of things that you may or may not realize shouldn't be stored in a garage during our cold winters.

PAINT AND PAINTING SUPPLIES

Paint and paint supplies are one of the biggest mistakes. Latex and water-based paints will freeze, separate, and become unusable. Even if they thaw, the texture and performance are ruined. The same goes for caulk, sealants, and adhesives.

OTHER LIQUIDS YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE THOUGHT OF

Liquids in cans, bottles, or jugs are risky in general. Cleaning supplies, windshield washer fluid, car and carpet cleaning products, lawn sprays, and other household chemicals can expand when frozen and burst their containers, leaving you with leaks and a mess come spring. No, thank you!

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HUMAN AND PET FOODS

Unless you have a freezer in your garage, food should never be stored in an unheated garage. Canned goods can freeze, bulge, or even burst and burst. Something I never thought of before? Pet food! The experts say it can lose nutritional value and attract rodents looking for a warm snack.

ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT

I'm a musician, and in the summer months, I unload my speakers, mixing board, keyboard, and stands into the garage for ease of loading. But NOT in the winter! Electronics don’t handle extreme cold well. TVs, laptops, and tablets...NEVER! Although I should probably bring in all of my gear, I tend to leave my speakers and cables in the garage on a shelf, because I have limited space; but it's an absolute NO for mixing board and instruments.

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POWER TOOLS AND BATTERIES

Although a garage is the place you would think you should store all your tools, not so much for your tools with digital components. Also, you might keep your leaf blower, chainsaw,  and lawn mower in the garage, but your battery chargers for these items should be brought inside if your garage isn't heated. They can suffer permanent damage from condensation when temperatures fluctuate. Batteries in particular lose charge and can fail.

FUELS ARE A BIG NO NO!

Gasoline, propane tanks, and fuel containers are dangerous in cold garages. Temperature swings can cause pressure changes and leaks, and fumes can build up in enclosed spaces. It's best to keep your filled gas cans and propane tanks outdoors.

INSTRUMENTS

Musical instruments like guitars, violins, and keyboards are extremely sensitive to cold and dryness. Wood can crack, strings can warp, and tuning stability can be permanently affected. Also, don't forget those school band instruments. If your child plays an instrument in school, like a flute, clarinet, trombone, or trumpet, and drops it off in the garage instead of bringing it into the house, remind them that not only will they forget to practice, but they might do extensive damage to their instrument.

HOUSEPLANTS

Houseplants and gardening supplies should stay inside. Soil freezes solid, pots crack, and live plants won’t survive prolonged exposure to sub-freezing temperatures.

WHERE ARE YOU STORING YOUR FAMILY PHOTOS?

Photographs, important documents, and sentimental items are often overlooked. Cold and moisture can cause paper to warp, ink to fade, and photos to stick together or become brittle.

MEDICATIONS AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES

Medications, vitamins, and medical supplies should never be left in a garage. Freezing temperatures can reduce effectiveness or render them unsafe to use.

SMALL APPLIANCES

Finally, anything with water inside, such as paint sprayers, pressure washers, hoses, or small appliances like coffee makers and toasters, can crack internally when frozen, even if the outside appears fine.

THAT'S A LONG LIST

In short, if it can freeze, crack, separate, leak, lose effectiveness, or attract critters, it probably doesn’t belong in a Minnesota garage during winter. When in doubt, bring it inside or find a temperature-controlled storage option—you’ll thank yourself when spring finally arrives.