7 Things You Should Not Leave in an Unheated Garage in Winter.

According to ТСН: During the winter months, an unheated garage becomes cold and damp, which can negatively affect your belongings in just a few weeks. Professional organizers and storage experts advise on which items should definitely be moved indoors if the temperature in the garage starts to drop to outside levels.

What to Move to the House

• Power Tools with Lithium-Ion Batteries

Lithium-ion batteries are very sensitive to cold.

Steve King, builder and storage expert, recommends keeping such tools or the batteries themselves in a heated space — a utility room, office, or insulated closet.

• Paints, Stains, and Sealants

Cold temperatures can damage the structure of paints and finishes.

King suggests storing them in a warm place on the first floor or in a basement with a constant temperature.

• Propane Cylinders

Although propane is designed to be used outdoors, a winter garage is not the best place for its storage.

King emphasizes: the danger arises not only from the cold but also from the combination of low temperatures and poor ventilation, along with running vehicles or power tools.

• Canned Goods and Food Supplies

Temperature fluctuations can deteriorate food quality and shorten its shelf life. Cold garages also attract pests. Experts recommend storing supplies in a basement, pantry, linen closet, or airtight containers in the house.

• Electronics

Televisions, routers, cameras, and old laptops can quickly fail due to humidity.

Olivia Parks, professional organizer, stresses: even tightly closed boxes do not guarantee protection from condensation.

• Bedding and Clothing

Fabrics quickly absorb moisture. In a cold garage, they can develop mold, absorb unpleasant odors, or become a haven for pests.

Parks recommends storing textiles in the house — in closets, under beds, or in airtight bags in a controlled microclimate.

• Photographs and Artwork

Photos, documents, paintings, and illustrations are very sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity. They can warp, fade, or crack.

According to Parks, it's best to keep such items in archival boxes in a room with a constant microclimate.

Experts emphasize that the main rule of winter storage is — everything that can be harmed by cold, moisture, or condensation should be moved indoors, where the temperature is stable and predictable.