Objects in garages usually get forgotten about in the extreme heat (Image: Getty)
With temperatures soaring this summer, there is a potential health risk towards both people and pets. However, items can also get damaged, and some of those in your garage may be a disaster waiting to happen when the heat hits. Ryan Gorenflo, basement expert at The Basement Doctor, says that many people underestimate just how hot a garage can actually get during the summer.
Due to the fact that garages are usually far less ventilated than the rest of the house, heat is able to build up extremely quickly and damage things fast.
Aerosols:
Ryan says that perhaps the most important items to take out are aerosols and pressurised sprays. This is not just limited to deodorants, but also insect sprays, air fresheners and spray paint.
“In the worst cases, pressurised cans can leak, rupture or burst if they are exposed to excessive heat. That is why they should not be left in direct sun, near hot walls or inside enclosed spaces that become extremely warm.”
Leftover paint can become ruined in high temperatures (Image: Getty)
Paint tins:
Leftover paint is another important item to be wary of, mainly because the heat can ruin the paint itself.
He said: “Paint is one of the first things I would move out of a hot garage. If paint is exposed to high heat or big temperature swings, it can separate, thicken, dry around the edges or become difficult to use later.”
Electronics:
Electronics should also be checked on and removed from the garage, as the are prone to failure if stored improperly in the heat.
Ryan says that: “High temperatures can shorten battery life, damage electronics and make older or poorly stored items more vulnerable to failure.”
“If you have power banks, lithium batteries, cordless drill batteries or old devices sitting in a hot garage drawer, move them somewhere cooler and dry.”
Candles and wax melts can also get ruined in the sun (Image: Getty)
Paper items:
Another one of the items that gets damaged most in extreme heat is paper-based objects, such as documents and family photographs.
Ryan said: “Photos and documents are some of the worst things to keep in a garage during a heatwave. They can curl, fade, stick together or start to smell musty if they are stored in hot, humid conditions, especially if they are kept in cardboard boxes.”
Candles and wax melts:
The final item Ryan recommends moving out of the garage is candles and wax melts, which can leak and warp if left somewhere too hot, and become completely ruined.
It is important to follow Ryan’s advice if you do not want to risk some potentially important or expensive items getting ruined.