Oily Rags
Oily rags from painting should not be left on your front porch. When they are stacked in a pile, they can become dry or heat up, causing oxygen to get confined inside them. This combination of heat, oil, and oxygen can be super dangerous and can lead to combustion. Oily rags can be deadly and a great safety hazard, so it is recommended to dispose of them off in a responsible manner. You don’t want any accidents, so it’s best to take precautions beforehand.
Garbage
This is probably convenient for you, but don’t give in. Not only will it kill the ambiance not just for you but for the entire neighborhood, it will also invite creatures that you don’t want, such as rats and raccoons. It won’t be long before they ruin your porch and cause havoc. Of course, do we even need to mention how it’ll cause the place to stink up, especially when left out in the heat? Avoid all of this by only putting it out on the front porch on your designated trash day.
Bicycles
Another item that is convenient to leave on your front porch. You might be wondering what the harm is in leaving your bicycle out there, but it’s better to be safe than sorry! Bicycle theft is a real thing, and when left out on the porch, you invite someone to steal it. Theft isn’t the only problem; a bike left outside can be damaged from weather conditions such as rain, extreme sun, hail, bird droppings, etc. Keep it safe and protected inside your home.
Shoes
We often end up leaving our dirty sneakers on the front porch because we don’t want to bring them into the house. However, this isn’t the way to go about it. Your shoes should never be left outside. Except for obvious reasons such as animals getting a hold of and attacking them, they can also get damaged because of the morning dew, rain, hail, etc. Apart from that, tiny insects and creatures may use them to make their home, so don’t be too surprised. It’s, therefore, better to be safe and take them inside instead of leaving them out there.
Spare Key
Last but not least, do not leave your spare key on your front porch! We know this is a common one, but we cannot emphasize how dangerous it can be. Even though it’s probably super convenient for you whenever you end up locking yourself out, it also sets your home as a giant target. Studies have also shown that homes with spare keys on their porch are more common burglary targets. A better alternative would be to leave the key with someone you trust, but the front porch is the last place that this item should be.
After reading this, you probably won’t leave any of these items on your front porch, and you shouldn’t! It’ll save you a lot of time and hassle, and you’ll thank yourself later.
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.