Why We Don’t Store Candles in the Garage – Getting ready for summer: Part 1
In case you have blanked it from your mind, it gets HOT here in the Valley of the Sun. Average temperatures are in the triple-digits June through September. June 26, 1990 reached an all-time high of 122°F!
While everyone has air conditioned homes, very rarely are garages cooled. There are ways to mitigate the heat in storage spaces such as the garage, attic or storage shed which we will go into at another point. For now, realize that your garage can be up to 20 degrees warmer than the ambient temperature.
You can suffer burns after only 30 seconds of exposure to water at that temperature.
A good rule of thumb is that anything which can be damaged by a lit match will be damaged by storing in your garage. For most things like food, clothing, paper,plastic and electronics this means that the items will age faster. I have seen plastic bags stored in a garage crumble after only a few years subjected to such extreme temperatures. This does not mean you should not store items in your garage. It does mean that you need to weigh the potential for damage into your decision.
Paraffin wax melts at 99°F. Candles are a great example of what should not be stored in the garage. Your circular pillar can flatten. The candle can melt into and around its surroundings, damaging nearby items. Or a puddle can form as the candle melts and solidifies.
So, take a moment and review what is in your garage. Can it take the heat?
- Did you pack up candles with your holiday decor?
- Do you have a box of delicate lace or ancient family documents?
- What about extra bottles of wine?
- Are you storing antique wooden furniture?
Now is the time to prepare for the summer. You don’t want to be working out there when it heats up.
