8 Things You Shouldn't Store in Your Garage This Winter

By Leigh A. Morgan

November 06, 2025

If you're scrambling to organize your home before Jack Frost arrives, your garage may seem like the perfect storage solution. After all, it's just sitting there, waiting for you to fill it with all the things you can't fit anywhere else. But before you start moving everything, take a beat and learn what things not to store in a garage in winter.

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8 Things Not to Store in a Garage in Winter

There are two main reasons certain items don't belong in a garage when it's cold outside:

1. They increase the risk of fires or other safety issues.

2. They're susceptible to damage caused by cold exposure.

If you're on an organizing kick, make sure you understand the principles of cold-weather garage storage. These are the top eight things not to store in a garage in winter.

Firewood

Your garage may seem like the perfect place to store firewood. It's dry, and it's somewhat close to your fireplace or wood-burning stove. Unfortunately, firewood attracts pests. The hardiest species can live in firewood for up to three years.

Unless you want creepy-crawly critters indoors, keep firewood outside. Store it in a rack above the ground to prevent moisture from causing the wood to rot.

Propane Tanks

No matter how carefully you handle a propane tank, there's a chance it might leak. Propane is highly flammable, so it shouldn't be anywhere near water heaters, furnaces and other electrical equipment. If you have a propane tank in your garage, removing it should be the first item on your garage winterizing checklist.

Electronics

Many winter storage garage tips focus on safety, but it's also important to consider functionality. The parts inside DVD players, video game consoles and other electronics are extremely sensitive to temperature fluctuations. Moisture can also cause significant damage. To keep your electronics working properly, keep them out of the garage when it's cold outside.

Paint

Paint is one of the most common items damaged by cold in a garage. At certain temperatures, paint separates, rendering it unusable. For example, latex paint should be stored in an area that doesn't drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius). If your garage is unheated, it can get much colder once winter sets in.

Food

If you buy in bulk, you may need more storage space than your pantry or kitchen cabinets can provide. However, unless you want to throw away your hard-earned money, food is one of the top things not to store in a garage in winter.

If your garage gets cold enough, canned food can freeze. Not only does this affect taste and texture, it can also cause some of the cans to explode. Cereal, pasta and other items with cardboard packaging are susceptible to insect and rodent damage. Temperature fluctuations can also cause some foods to spoil.

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Important Documents

Passports, loan agreements and other essential documents should never be stored in a garage during winter. High levels of moisture can cause mold or mildew to grow on paper. Some documents are also susceptible to temperature fluctuations.

If you have a water heater in your garage, it could leak, potentially destroying important paperwork. Keep these items in a fireproof, waterproof safe instead.

Plants

If you leave a plant outside during the winter, it's likely to look shriveled or droopy when the weather gets warmer. Overwintering is the process of protecting plants from low temperatures. This typically involves bringing plants indoors and keeping them there until spring arrives. Unfortunately, an unheated garage isn't the best place for overwintering, as it can get cold enough to damage leaves, flowers and other delicate plant parts.

Chemicals

When it comes to the most dangerous items to store in a garage in winter, chemicals are at the top of the list. Cleaning products, pesticides and other chemicals can leak, increasing the risk of fires. If your garage lacks adequate ventilation, chemical fumes can contribute to health issues. Even if there are no safety issues, storing chemicals in a cold garage can ruin them, forcing you to spend money on replacements.

As a General Rule, What Kinds of Things Just Can't Withstand the Winter Cold?

Generally, anything that's sensitive to low temperatures or humidity shouldn't spend the winter in your garage. This includes items that can freeze, warp and rust. The bottom line? If an item relies on stable conditions to work properly, it deserves a place inside your home. Alternatively, you can rent a climate-controlled storage unit.

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