If you run a garage, you need to stock up on chemicals. But how do you organise them all?
Aside from cars, tools, gardening equipment, and bicycles, another common thing most of us keep in our garages is specialty chemicals that we use in our day-to-day living.
Some of these are chemicals for your car’s maintenance, antifreeze and window washing fluid, pesticides, fertilisers, and other gardening chemicals.
From transmission fluids and motor oils to paint thinners, pesticides, and others, it’s easy to get lackadaisical with proper storing procedures or forget to dispose of harmful chemicals and cleaners adequately.
Not only do these products cause unwanted and unsafe clutter in places like your garage, but they also pose a significant threat to the health and safety of your family or other occupants in your home.
These chemicals can be a source of household accidents; therefore, storing them safely is a must. Properly storing chemicals in your garage is essential to keeping your family safe.
If you have an attached garage, there is always the danger of toxins coming into your home or, even worse, a fire accident. A storage solution from Garage Storage Solutions can transform your garage into a social focal point for visitors with a modern look.
Mastering safe storage tips can help you to take advantage of the garage storage space and, at the same time, keep everything secure. Here are some garage chemical storage tips to keep in mind:
Safely Storing Chemicals In Your Garage
By being aware of chemical safety and taking the precautionary measures to install proper cleaning supply storage, you can ensure your home or garage is not just childproof but also that your entire family is safe from the common dangers that loom over improperly stored chemicals and cleaning products.
Before you store any chemicals in the garage, make sure that they are not flammable and not affected by extreme temperatures.
If your garage is not heated, it can be challenging to store most items like acetone because they are affected by very low or high temperatures.
Here are some precautions you might want to consider in storing chemicals in your garage to keep your home and family safe.
Keep Chemicals In Their Original Containers
Sometimes we tend to transfer chemicals to different containers, but keeping them in their original bottles or containers is essential.
This is because we need to know the chemicals we are using and how to use them.
When we transfer them to different containers, we might forget what they are for, if they are safe to use on certain surfaces, and if there’s a need to add other chemicals or water before using them.
Also, manufacturers produce chemicals in containers that are safe for storage of whatever is inside.
The plastic of one container may differ from another, and it can become contaminated, or it might not handle certain chemicals, which can result in melting.
Properly Label Chemicals
Though you keep your household chemicals in their original containers, their labels can wear off in time and remembering them can be difficult.
To avoid confusion, it’s better to label each of them properly.
If you ever come across a container in your garage that is not labelled and do not remember what it is, it’s better to dispose of it properly.
Do not sniff chemicals to identify what they are because this can be dangerous to your health.
Keep Chemicals Out Of Reach Of Children
If you have kids at home, make sure that you store chemicals in a higher spot in your garage that is out of their reach.
Children are curious about many things, and seeing liquids in different colours can spark their curiosity.
Aside from considering your children’s height, it would help if you also considered their ability to climb. In addition, ensure that the chemicals are not easily accessible to them to ensure their safety and avoid accidental poisoning.
Read Labels On Safe Storage
The first step is to read the labels on safe storage. Reading labels will help you understand the type of chemicals you are going to store.
It is not advisable to store flammable chemicals in the garage.
Also, avoid storing chemicals that release chemical fumes into the environment because they can be dangerous when stored in the garage.
Before you store any chemicals in the garage, make sure that you consider all safety tips to consider whether the garage is good storage space.
Invest In A Lockable Chemical Storage Cabinet
Earlier, we talked about keeping chemicals stored out of the reach of children and pets.
A high shelf can work well, but a lockable storage cabinet works better.
It doesn’t have to be huge or take up valuable garage floor space. There are various options available, from cabinets with a small footprint to those that can be installed on a wall.
Keep Chemicals In Lockable Cabinets
If you do not have any high spot in your garage to store chemicals, it’s better to keep them in lockable cabinets.
Using lockable cabinets can be helpful with storage.
It is essential to use the proper storage to keep everyone safe. For example, using lockable cabinets can keep away corrosive items like acids from the reach of children.
Use lockable cabinets that will keep chemicals that you want out of reach. Lockable cabinets for storage are made using PVC or steel.
These cabinets can work well compared to a high shelf, mainly when the chemicals you keep include antifreeze, oils, and parts cleaner.
Aside from keeping them from your children’s reach, storage cabinets will be able to protect them from open flames because most of the cabinets for chemicals are fire-resistant.
If you’re thinking about the space a storage cabinet will take up in your garage; you don’t have to worry because there are many options. There are small ones, and some can be installed on your garage’s wall.
Protect Chemicals From Temperature Extremes
Chemicals can be dangerous when they get boiling; that’s why it’s essential to keep them out of direct sunlight or out of a sweltering garage.
Check the chemicals that you store, and do not keep anything flammable near a heat source like the radiator or furnace.
The same goes for chemicals that can be at risk during the winter season. Make sure to find a good spot in your garage where the temperature is just right to store chemicals.
Proper Garage Ventilation
Ventilation in the garage can make a big difference when storing chemicals. If your garage is attached to the home, it is essential to have proper ventilation.
There are chances that some of the chemicals like acids will be releasing fumes. Using a dehumidifier can help you to get rid of toxic fumes in the garage.
When you have proper ventilation, you will reduce the chances of indoor air pollution.
For garages attached to the main house, dangerous fumes can move to the central place hazardous.
Make sure that you allow proper air circulation and take note of any unusual smell in the garage.
Keep Hazardous Chemicals Out Of Reach
Garage storage – household supplies, shelving, door, house, finished garage walls animals and small children are notoriously curious.
This can serve a child well in many ways. However, a child or pet’s natural curiosity combined with improper storage of chemicals in a garage can turn deadly.
Therefore, all chemicals should be stored well out of reach of children and pets. Consider not only a child’s height but children’s propensity to climb.
Make sure that chemicals aren’t easily accessible if the child climbs on a shelf or nearby crate. This is especially true of chemicals like window washing fluid and antifreeze, which resemble colourful drinks.
Many people share the garage with their pets or children. Therefore, it is advisable to keep the dangerous items out of reach.
For instance, you can keep acids on a high shelf that is not reachable by kids or pets. Likewise, keeping chemicals in a raised area away is advisable because keeping them on the ground can be dangerous.
The garage floor is cold, and keeping items on a shelf will protect them from excess cold and moisture.
Keep chemicals off the ground and well out of reach of children and pets to ensure their safety and prevent accidental poisoning.
Properly Label Chemicals
Let’s say that you stored a clear liquid chemical in a suitable jar or bottle but didn’t bother to label it.
Now it’s two years later. Again, you’re looking for paint thinner, and you happen across the unmarked container.
You think it’s paint solvent, but you’re not sure. Maybe it’s something else altogether. While many household chemicals have fairly distinct smells, others do not.
Besides, sniffing a toxic chemical isn’t the safest way to determine what it is. Instead, labelling all of the chemicals stored in your garage ensures that you know exactly what you’re dealing with.
Poisonous, highly flammable chemicals are found in most homes and garages. They play a critical role in keeping our homes clean, our cars well-maintained, and our gardens lush and green.
However, to protect your home and family, you must safely store such chemicals. In addition, keep household and other chemicals out of the reach of children and pets.
Store chemicals in appropriate containers, preferably the container in which they came. If the label on the original container loosens, secure it with tape.
If you must store the chemical in another container, ensure that it is appropriately labelled. If possible, invest in a lockable cabinet suitable for storing chemicals.
Keep Containers Sealed
Keeping your containers sealed is very important to avoid leakages. If possible, make sure that you store chemicals full without opening them.
T is also advisable to avoid transferring chemicals from their original containers. When you keep chemicals in their original containers, you reduce the chances of spillage.
Manufacturers have container guidelines, and it is easy to stay safe when you keep chemicals in their original containers.
Chemicals That Should Never Be Stored In The Garage
Propane Tanks
If you have an attached garage, you should never store your propane tanks in the garage.
Propane is a highly flammable material, and it is essential to make sure that you avoid keeping propane tanks in an enclosed place.
In case of a fire accident, propane tanks should be far away from your main house, so keeping them in the garage is the last thing you want to do.
It is advisable to keep your propane tanks in an outdoor shade for safety purposes.
Paint
Storing paint in the garage is not advisable. Likewise, it is not recommended to keep unopened paint and also paint remains.
You can store paint in the garage overnight, but make sure that you do not keep it for a long time.
Storing paint for a long time in the garage can lead to damage because of the extreme temperatures.
Most of the unheated garages become too hot or too cold, which affects your paint quality.
Muriatic Acid
Many people do not know this, but muriatic acid should never be stored in the garage.
It encourages the rusting of items, and when stored in the garage, it can lead to rusting.
This is because it releases toxic fumes that go into the garage and oxidises metal items. So if you store metal substances in the garage, storing muriatic acid in the garage can rust.
Sealing the containers is not an option because some of the fumes will still leak. Garage Storage Solutions’ smart wall storage system (hooks, racks, baskets and shelves) can be used in unlimited configurations and be adjusted over time as your requirements change. They are making it a perfect investment for your garage.
Proper Storage Techniques For Chemicals & Cleaners
Below you’ll find practical solutions for correctly storing chemicals and cleaners in familiar places like your garage.
Paints, Solvents, And Cleaning Supplies
First and foremost, ensure that you use proper ventilation every time you use these products and buy only the amount you’ll need or use in a limited amount of time.
After using, be diligent about resealing these containers and ensure that all bottles and cans have their original labels and other clear indicators of what the product is.
Pesticides And Fertilisers
Always keep these products in their original containers with original labels. Also, be sure these products are always stored in places out of the home, as the garage or storage shed.
Toxic Chemicals
Any chemicals that can be considered toxic should be securely stored in a cabinet that’s off the ground.
There are also several general rules about chemical and cleaner storage that you should also consider.
For example, you should avoid storing these and other potentially dangerous products on the floor, even for a temporary amount of time.
By installing a high-quality garage storage system that features elements like panels, shelves, hooks, bins and more, you will have an array of reliable options for properly storing chemicals and cleaners so that they aren’t just safe from children, pets, and others in your home, but that they are also stored in a neat and organised manner.
This way, you can find the products you need, when you need them, without having to worry about rummaging through the cluttered, miscellaneous contents of your garage.
Lastly, when it’s time to dispose of your chemicals and cleaning products, be sure that you do so correctly.
Simply throwing them in the garbage is often dangerous and insufficient.
Instead, contact your local city office or do your research to find out where you can safely and adequately dispose of these harmful products.
How To Organise Your Garage
Clean Out
The first thing you want to do is to pair down. It is usually possible to find a place for everything you have and want to have in your garage.
You need the proper organisation. Depending on how messy your garage is to start with, cleaning it up may seem a bit overwhelming at first.
Larger families may find that there has been more than one person piling their stuff in the garage, multiplying the clutter.
Garage organisation is often a family affair — at least the first stage where you need to clean out and pair down.
Get your spouse involved and recruit any other willing friends and family with this task. Go through absolutely everything.
There are bound to be toys that have been outgrown, appliances you no longer want, boxes that were never unpacked from the time you moved in. You will need to decide what you want to keep and donate the rest or have a garage sale.
Sort Everything By Type For Storage
The next thing you want to do is categorise what is left.
Organising your tools, sporting goods, holiday decorations and other materials, so that like goes with like will allow you to see how much storage space needs to be allocated for each type of item.
This step is critical in your ability to develop a plan. Use the yard or driveway to spread out and separate your garage contents into distinct groups of items.
Draw Up A Plan
To maintain organisation in your garage, each item you intend to keep there will need a designated place where it will be held.
This is the secret to all organisations and will make maintenance more accessible in the long run. If you think you will be acquiring many new possessions, space also needs to be included in the plan, keeping in mind that many older controls will be eliminated as new ones come in to replace them.
(For example, your child’s bicycle and sporting goods can probably use the same storage space previously allocated to the Big Wheel and other baby toys).
Include A Variety Of Different Types Of Storage Elements
Shelves: Shelving is a must in every garage organisation project. After all, a significant reason to organise your garage in the first place is to get everything up off the floor.
Pull-outs can also be lumped in with shelving. They function similarly to a regular shelf but keep things from rolling off.
Typical pull-outs used in the garage include pull-out shelves and pull-out wire baskets. Keep in mind that different types of frames are rated by the amount of weight they can hold.
Refer to the plan you made in the previous step to determine just how heavy-duty your shelves need to be.
We recommend that garage shelves receive some support every 30 inches to prevent bowing, as contents can be pretty heavy.
A well-organised garage will be more than just a place to put things. It can function as another room for your home.
Whether you need a practice room for your home rock band, a place to start your own new business, space for the kids, or just enough room to park the car, a sound garage organisation system can provide all of this.
Conclusion
We’ve all had the experience of getting into our garage and realising that there are chemicals, car care products, or other toxic items you need to store correctly.
This is why it’s essential to take advantage of your storage space with a little bit of planning before things get out of control.
These practical solutions for correctly storing chemicals and cleaners should help you make use of every inch in your garage without compromising safety. Garage Storage Solutions features an innovative wall system with heavy-duty sliding wall components such as hooks, garage shelving and stylish, durable steel cabinets designed to hold your gear securely and neatly in place.