Garages are designed to hold cars, and sometimes they're so small that they can barely do that. But more often than not, they become secondary storage sites as well.

Larger garages are often sufficient to hold not only a car or two, but plenty of other things as well. Bicycles, lawn mowers, yard equipment, can all find a home there.

It's no wonder that the garage space can sometimes get overwhelmed with clutter. With some homeowners content to park on the street or in the driveway, the garage might become a catch-all for any number of things from your house.

However, the garage isn't an ideal storage place for everything. It's a popular place for mice, and it's also more vulnerable to temperature fluctuations and moisture.

The possibility that mice or rats will find their way into the garage means you should avoid keeping edible items there. Tara Aronson, author of the website Clean Organized Family Home, says the garage's often cool temperatures would seem to be good for vegetable storage. If you keep vegetables here, however, you'll probably find that they've been gnawed on by the garage's uninvited guests.

Avoid storing bags of pet food or birdseed in the garage as well. If it is more convenient to keep them there, put this food in plastic containers that will resist pests.

Rodents will also be attracted to linens and clothes if they are stored in the garage. The warmth and softness of these materials makes them a perfect place for a mouse to build a nest. Even if your garage happens to be free of mice, moisture in the garage could cause mildewing on the cloth.

This dampness also makes the garage a less than ideal place for anything that could be damaged by water. Documents, books, and other papers will be discolored and warped if they are stored in these conditions for a long period of time. Moisture will also prove damaging to electronics, such as stereos or televisions.

Aronson says that since the garage is not insulated, it will be subject to greater temperature variations. Fluctuation between heat and cold will prove harmful to wines, which require a relatively constant temperature to avoid compromising taste. Joshua Clement, writing for About, says paints and stains will also be rendered useless if they get too cold.

Try to keep the items in the garage limited to things related to the car or lawn care. Don't let the clutter build up, and throw away or donate any broken or unused items.