With temperatures set to soar this week, an expert has identified five items that UK households should remove from their garages before Wednesday to prevent damage and potential safety hazards.
Aerosols and pressurised cans
Ryan Gorenflo, basement expert at The Basement Doctor, warns that aerosols are among the most dangerous items to keep in a hot garage. These include deodorants, 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,” Gorenflo said.
Paint tins
Leftover paint is another item that can be ruined by high temperatures. Gorenflo recommends moving paint out of the garage as a priority.
“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,” he explained.
Electronics
Electronics such as power banks, lithium batteries, cordless drill batteries, and old devices should also be removed. Gorenflo noted that high temperatures can shorten battery life and damage electronics, making 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,” he advised.
Paper items
Documents, family photographs, and other paper-based objects are also at risk. Gorenflo 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
Finally, candles and wax melts can leak and warp in extreme heat, becoming completely ruined. Gorenflo urges households to move these items to a cooler location to avoid damage.
Garages are often far less ventilated than the rest of the house, allowing heat to build up quickly. Following this advice can help protect valuable or sentimental items from being ruined during the heatwave.
