Michigan residents have endured some brutally cold temperatures over the past couple of weeks, with lows dipping into the single digits and teens. It’s the kind of weather that makes you want to hunker down indoors and avoid going outside altogether.

One thing to keep in mind is that if it’s cold outside, it’s going to be just as cold in your garage. So cold that certain items stored there could be at risk of freezing, breaking, or becoming unsafe.

Unless you keep your garage heated all winter long, there are several items you should remove to avoid damage, or worse, potential safety hazards.

Some items may seem obvious, while others might not even cross your mind until it’s too late. Think of it this way: if it’s not safe to keep something in your car during the winter, it’s probably not safe in your garage either.

See Also: Never, Ever Set Your Heat Below This Temperature

I was certain that everything in my garage was fine and didn't need to be brought inside for the winter... but I was wrong. The first two items on our list? They're both in my garage right now, and I’m probably going to pay the price for it.

1. TV/Electronics: Extreme temperatures and moisture can mess up circuits and components in things like TVs, speakers, or that old computer collecting dust in the corner. This has me a little concerned since I’ve got a TV hanging on the wall in my garage right now.

Canva
Canva
loading...

2. Batteries: Car batteries, rechargeable batteries, and power tool batteries can lose charge or even freeze, which could cause permanent damage. This would explain why Dewalt batteries don’t work quite as well as they used to in the winter.

Canva
Canva
loading...

3. Musical Instruments: Never leave musical instruments in your garage as wood instruments can warp and crack.

Canva
Canva
loading...

4. Paint:  Extreme cold can make paint separate or go bad. Other liquids like cleaning products or adhesives? They could freeze and become totally useless.

Canva
Canva
loading...

5. Canned Beverages: Do we really need to explain what happens to a soda can in freezing cold temps? Let’s just say, it’s not pretty.

Canva
Canva
loading...

Your best bet would be to place these items somewhere in your home like a storage room or closet.

50 Discontinued Soda Pops

Never Leave These Items in Your Freezing Car...Ever

Gallery Credit: Canva

10 Items Currently Recalled at Michigan Meijer Stores

The following items have been recalled due to various reasons. These products are available at Meijer (and in some cases, other retail locations) in Michigan and five other states.

Gallery Credit: George McIntyre