You must keep in mind that all items were not made to brace the outdoors. There are so many things that can happen to them, from weather deterioration to theft and other accidents. Your front porch should only have those items that won’t cause any danger or harm if left outside. There are so many items that you should never leave on your front porch, but to make it easier for you, we have made a list of the top 9!
Garden Hoses
You probably never thought that this could be dangerous if left out on your front porch but trust us when we tell you that it is. It has many dangers; for starters, a garden hose left outside in the heat can crack due to exposure to the sun. To add to that, it can also cause people to trip over it. If left out in the winter, ice can start to form inside these hoses, so it’s best to take them inside. Store them in a safe place and use them as required.
Sunscreen
This one may sound silly to you because it is essentially what protects you from the sun, but trust us when we tell you that it should not be left out on your front porch. To begin with, when exposed to the sun or hot temperatures, your sunscreen could change consistency and therefore lose its effectiveness. Leaving it on your porch also makes it accessible to your pets and kids, which can be highly poisonous for them both. It is best to store it indoors in a cool, dry place.
Yard Tools
Your yard products and power tools shouldn’t be left on your front porch as these could be dangerous. Some examples of these are fertilizers, paint thinners, etc. Being outdoors can cause them to rust and deteriorate. With power tools, it is hazardous because if water seeps into the battery or in the other electrical areas, they could go bad and stop working altogether. In addition to that, leaving them on your front porch is also a safety hazard for your kids and pets who could be poisoned by it if accessible to them.
Firewood
Firewood is a common item that is often left on your front porch. It is convenient and used for bonfires, etc. The problem with leaving it outside is that it acts as a sponge for moisture from the soil when it’s on the ground. This will, in turn, cause it to be damp and not usable for fire, making it useless. Another danger with leaving it on the ground is that it often tends to stick to the ground and takes pieces of your lawn with it when taken inside. Firewood should be stacked on concrete quite a fair distance from other structures. A shed is the best place to store it.
I plan to print this out and bury it in my tomato garden next spring as fertilizer, especially the part about the firewood on the ground on the porch. Termites would be of greater concern, especially if left there for years.