If you're like most homeowners, you probably use your garage for storage as much as you do for parking. After all, there is typically plenty of room against the walls and in the corners for boxed mementos, seasonal clothing, holiday accessories, and important family photos. But it can be tough to protect all of your stored belongings from mold and mildew exposure in a drafty space like the garage. Here's how to provide the protection your things need to maintain a healthy condition throughout the years:

Repair the Garage Door

Due to things like dust, loose pieces, missing hardware, and unsealed frames, the garage door is one of the biggest culprits of promoting moisture buildup within the overall garage. Having the garage door inspected, repaired, and insulated is the most effective way to protect your stored belongings from mold and mildew buildup.

And along with a fresh coat of paint, you'll find having a professional, like one from The Garage Doctor, service your garage door makes it look and perform brand new again – it's a method that will prevent the need to spend hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in the coming years.

Do Some Insulating

An insulated garage door makes it tougher for air and moisture to enter the space, but it is not the only source of outdoor exposure to worry about. Consider implementing more insulation with the help of these tips and tricks:

• Use spray foam insulation along the frames of your windows and the door that leads to the interior of your home.
• Use insulation snakes along the bottoms of windows and doors when they aren't in use.
• Cover the windows with insulating treatments such as honeycomb cellular shades or long double-lined curtains.

You can further protect the garage from excess moisture by attaching insulation window film to the interior of your window panes. They'll help maintain a comfortable temperature in the space and naturally protect your storage and vehicles from UV sun damage.

Install a Ceiling Fan

A ceiling fan keeps the air moving so the moisture in it doesn't have a change to settle and seep into cardboard boxes, curtains, clothing, and photos. It can also save you some money on your heating and cooling bills if you find yourself spending a lot of time in the space. To keep air flow moving and to maintain comfortable temperatures, program your ceiling fan to run counterclockwise during the summer months and clockwise during the winter.

Include an Area Rug or Two

Putting area rugs on the floor in front of doors and windows will help to trap cold air underneath them so it doesn't mix with the warm air and create excessive moisture for the space to contend with. Area rugs give you the opportunity to create comfort and perk up the space with warm colors and soft lining. Look for rugs with a layer of thick lining on the base. This will ensure moisture can't penetrate through it from the concrete floor and collect within the fibers of the rugs.

Put Spacers Along the Shelves

To ensure mold and mildew do not build up between the walls and your storage boxes, place spacers along the backs of your shelves before putting your belongings on them. You can find rubber spacers in your home improvement store for this purpose, or use objects already laying around your home or yard such as:

• Small blocks of wood.
• Old books.
• PVC or metal pipes.

The idea is to keep your boxes and other stored belongings from resting directly against the walls, leaving enough room for air to breath between them.

These tips and tricks will ensure your photos don't bleed or crinkle, your season clothing doesn't start to smell like must, and your holiday accessories remain recognizable when you're ready to display them.