# Can i put these items in a garage? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 8, 2014, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-put-these-items-in-a-garage/706704 "2014-12-08T22:52:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Pauly01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/df705f/32.png) [@Pauly01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pauly01)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2014, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-put-these-items-in-a-garage/706704/1 "2014-12-08T22:52:33Z")
We live in a 2 family house and have a garage. My closet isn’t exactly big but i have lot of things there that i don’t want to throw out. Some electronics, monitors and some old books that i dont read but i dont want to throw them out. It basically takes up 1/2 of the closet. Other half are my clothes etc. I wasn’t exactly sure if putting any electronics in a garage would be safe in when it rains/snows b/c water can get into the garage. Are there anyone that put electronics in a garage? The issue i see is if it rains and theres a huge flood, that might cause lot of problems. I have a desktop computer with 2 other monitors as well that i have on the 2nd floor which takes up a lot of space. Also have some old video game systems that i no longer play anymore as well but dont want to throw it out. Basically all these things are in 2 boxes in the closet that once you open the closet, it looks pretty bad. I would prefer to just take these boxes out and put it in the garage. Advice on this? ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2014, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-put-these-items-in-a-garage/706704/2 "2014-12-08T23:15:59Z")
Keep them a few inches off the floor and cover them in a tarp or something else waterproof. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2014, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-put-these-items-in-a-garage/706704/3 "2014-12-08T23:31:09Z")
If they are within a few inches of the foor and you cover them with a tarp they can collect a lot of moisture. I would get them up higer and make sure air can circulate around them if they are covered unless you have them actually in a sealed container. I ruined a lot of my small scales and digital measuring devices by covering them with a tarp in my storage shed. Roof and walls don’t leak but floor gets wet. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-put-these-items-in-a-garage/706704/4 "2014-12-09T00:50:24Z")
Shelves. Wonderful things. Are you in hot/humid? Cold/wet? If concerned about rust, open and spray WD-40 or better water displacement product. Especially electronics. Books need to be kept dry or will develop mold/mildew - maybe plastic storage boxes - if airtight. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-put-these-items-in-a-garage/706704/5 "2014-12-09T13:10:19Z")
This is how hoarding starts. Nobody needs or wants old computers, video game consoles or books that aren’t genuine first edition collectibles. If you haven’t used it in a year and won’t be using it in the forseeable future, get rid of it. Electronics can go to a recycling center and books to a local library or recycle bin. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-put-these-items-in-a-garage/706704/6 "2014-12-09T17:01:14Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > This is how hoarding starts. Nobody needs or wants old computers, video game consoles or books that aren’t genuine first edition collectibles. If you haven’t used it in a year and won’t be using it in the forseeable future, get rid of it. Electronics can go to a recycling center and books to a local library or recycle bin. ^This +1,000,000 ---
**Author:** ![BeeGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@BeeGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeeGee)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-put-these-items-in-a-garage/706704/7 "2014-12-09T18:59:47Z")
Why do you want to keep these things? Chances are very good that they have less value than you think they do. Nothing ages faster than electronics. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-put-these-items-in-a-garage/706704/8 "2014-12-09T19:44:23Z")
Ah Yes, Since the question has set awhile, let’s attack the OP. Anything to keep a conversation going… If the OP wants to horde, of what concern is it to the rest of us?