5 things you should never keep in your garage in the winter, according to organizers

If you live somewhere that has cold weather right now, you may want to take a look at your garage. Chances are, you’re storing more than a few things that would be best kept elsewhere (or completely thrown aside) until things heat up; Storing the wrong items in places like your garage, attic, or basement is a very common mistake. Luckily, this is also easy to fix.

If you’re not sure where to start, we turned to some professional organizers to find out the top things you definitely shouldn’t store in the garage over the winter.

summer accessories

If you’ve winterized your exterior, it’s likely that your garage will now be filled with summer items, like outdoor furniture and pool equipment. Professional organizer diane n. Quintana advises you to either move them elsewhere, or make them difficult to access until they are needed again.

“Swap things around, like you do with your clothes,” she says.

If you won’t ride your bike in the winter, consider moving it to the basement Hiding Your Pool Tools Stay in the attic until they come back in season. This will help free up much-needed space and keep your garage looking neat.

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Paint and Building Supplies

The garage may seem like an obvious place to keep any leftover household items like paint or caulk, but according to our pros, that could be a big mistake.

“Paint can freeze, and although freezing may not completely ruin it, it can alter the consistency and final look when applied, making it almost useless as a touch-up option,” says homegrown influencer Laura Asher.

Your best bet is to make room indoors for any leftover paint, and as Quintana points out, be sure to clearly label your cans.

“I recommend labeling the paint with the date you opened the can and the name of the room the paint was used in,” she says.

electronics

If you’re hanging on to any old electronics, winter can be a good time to sort them out and sell, donate, or recycle anything you don’t want, need, or no longer use. Are. Whatever you decide to do, just get them out of the garage.

“(Electronics) don’t hold up well in cold temperatures and can get damaged,” Asher says.

This also applies to batteries, which may not last as long if exposed to extreme changes in temperature.

fabric

If you keep things like out-of-season clothing, sleeping bags, or beach towels in your garage, Asher says it’s best to move these out of the garage for good, too.

“They are magnets for moths and rats, especially in the colder months,” she says.

Since small creatures look for places to keep warm, they are more likely to find these items if they are kept in cool, easily accessible places.

paper

If you store any printed photos, documents, or books outside, Asher says now is the time to replace it. Garages can be extremely humid in the winter, and this will ruin anything printed.

“Moisture in the air can cause them to warp or deform,” says Asher. “It’s best to store all of these items indoors, where they will stay dry throughout the winter.”

Give up trying to make your garage ‘pretty’

At the end of the day, organizational systems are functional and utilitarian. As Asher points out, this is especially true in garages.

“Although pegboards can be great for hanging tools, they often become disorganized and take up a lot of valuable wall space,” she says.

Winter can be confusing with all its changes in weather, so Asher suggests abandoning any attempts to do so Make your garage look great this time of year.

“It’s OK if your garage isn’t Pinterest-perfect, as long as it’s organized in a way that works for you and your family,” she says.

Instead of trying to hang your snow shovel perfectly, focus on creating simple systems with easy-to-read labels, and Organize Your Winter Gear In a way that works for you.