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I don’t know about you, but my garage used to be a complete mess! Boxes and tools all over, that was until a few months ago when my husband decided to fix up the garage and arrange everything to make it neat and safe. Our house is always neat, clean and welcoming so why shouldn’t our garage be? The garage is an extension of your home, so you always want to make sure it is a safe environment. I know we store old paint cans and tools in there, so I want to make sure that we do everything we need to do to keep it clean and safe!
For many DIY enthusiasts, the garage is a favorite storage space to keep materials for projects. These items may include chemicals, paint, and gardening supplies; the sort of items that you would not normally keep inside. However, it’s not always a good idea to store these items in your garage, as some are better suited for a storage shed. Some project materials are flammable, and if kept in an attached garage, may increase the likelihood of a fire spreading in your home. MetLife Home & Auto provides a number of helpful tips to help you avoid a flammable fiasco and keep your garage organized:
Organization Tips:
- For any items stored in your garage, MetLife Auto & Home recommends you use proper stacking and bins to avoid clutter and potential falling objects that can cause injury or be a hazard to getting in and out of your garage. Stores like The Container Store are a great place to purchase garage organizing systems.
- Garages are often used as a storage space for various chemicals and solvents you normally wouldn’t store inside your home. However, it’s safer to keep gasoline, propane tanks, pool chlorine, solvents and lubricants, and paints and thinners away from one other and in a detached storage shed. o This is also a safer idea for everyday gardening essentials, including garden fluids and insecticides. Fertilizer should also be stored separately and 16-20 feet away from other known flammable chemicals.
- All equipment with sharp edges or blades should be properly stored and should not be easily accessible, especially with children in the home. Again, alternative storage or a locked shed can be great for these sharp items.
Safety Tips:
- If you store riding tractors and lawn mowers in your garage, make sure to let them cool down prior to putting them away. These are also items that should be kept in a detached shed if possible.
“Additional tip: Do not let grass and other lawn debris build up on tractor or lawn mowing units as they can become an excellent source for fires.”
- Since propane tanks are commonly used for outdoor barbecues, many people keep them outside or in a garage. Check out this website to learn more about how to be smarter and safe with propane tanks around your home: http://www.usepropane.com/safe-source-of-energy/small-cylinder-safety/
- Ventilation is key to keeping your garage ventilation safe. MetLife Home & Auto recommends installing a Carbon Monoxide detector in your garage to alert you and your family of any potentially hazardous conditions.
- Many people have automatic garage door openers; however, if the power goes out from a storm or a fuse is blown, there can be times where the garage door may not open automatically. Most automatic garage doors have a manual process, and knowing where and how to open your door this way is very important.
“Additional tip: Make sure all adults and older children in your household know how to manually open the garage door if needed.”
- Finally, never run any internal combustible engines including fueled heating equipment inside a closed garage or other closed structures during a DIY project. This will avoid CO2 build up.
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I am currently a member of the MetLife Auto & Home Insurance Blogger Program and this post is part of my involvement. While MetLife has provided me with materials and necessary resources to complete various activities, all statements and sentiment in Kelly’s Thoughts On Things are my own.