Early fall is a great time to clean out the garage. It’s not too hot, and you’ve had a chance over the summer to see which toys and gardening gadgets you actually used and which you can give away. While you’re cleaning out your garage, you might be trying to figure out how you can create some more space in there. You can find some great storage solutions at Aubin, your NH Ace Hardware store. But should everything you store in your garage stay there?
Let’s look at some items many people store in the garage that should live somewhere else.
Pictures and Videotapes
So many things are digital now, but a lot of us still have photographs and videotapes in our garages. It might be convenient to keep those things out of the way, but the garage is not the best place for them. The fluctuating temperatures can degrade your photos and tapes, and pests can destroy them, too. Our advice is to find a format conversion service to preserve your precious memories and save valuable storage space.
Seasonal Clothing and Hand-Me-Downs
We understand why you would store winter coats, bathing suits, or other season-specific clothing in the garage. You need an out-of-the-way place to keep things you only need for a few months out of the year or hand-me-downs that are between kids. But just like with your pictures and tapes, temperature changes can cause them to degrade. Even worse, critters like mice love fabric, so you don’t want to risk uninvited guests chewing up your clothing.
Pet Food
Pet food comes in big bags, and it can be hard to find a convenient place to store it inside. So keeping it in the garage might seem like a simple solution. However, there are a few reasons why that isn’t a good idea. In the summer, it can get too hot, and the food will go bad before the expected expiration date, which can make your pets sick. Additionally, pests like your pet’s food as much as your pet does, so you don’t want to attract them to your garage. Find a place for it in the kitchen, or move it into the basement if it’s dry enough.
Storage Solutions at Aubin Ace Hardware NH
If you’re ready to clear out the garage, find what you need at your favorite NH Ace Hardware store. Our team at Aubin is happy to help you finish your weekend projects.