The Baby Boomer's Garage Is Like Going Back In Time
Step into a boomer’s garage and it’s like going back in time. Boomers come from an era where you kept everything and never dared throw an item away, even if it was practically useless. So the result is a garage that’s cluttered to say the least. Here’s a list of 25 things you’re always going to find in a boomer’s garage.
Fishing Rods
Some are neatly racked, others leaning in a corner, but they all have stories. Just ask Grandpa! That one caught the “biggest fish ever” back in ’78, for example, and that one was a gift from Great-Grandpa. It’s worth keeping the old things around just so you can bond over them.
Manual Jack and Tire Iron
Long before roadside assistance apps, you had to fix a flat yourself. That’s why the manual jack and tire iron are forever kept in your grandad’s garage. They’re not as safe as calling for help, but there they are nonetheless, daring you to use them.
WD-40 Spray Cans
Every boomer garage has at least two cans of WD-40 - one in use and one backup for emergencies. To be fair, WD-40 is truly wonderful for fixing squeaky doors. Fun fact: You can also use it in acrylic pouring art – it separates the paint.
Pegboard Tool Walls
Pegboard is the ultimate boomer garage organization system - at least in theory. Every tool has its place, outlined in marker so you know where it goes. The reality? Half the board is empty because the tools are somewhere else. Oops.
Glass Jars of Bolts
Clear glass jars, often from old pickle or pasta sauce containers, get lined up on a shelf and left behind. Each jar holds an unpredictable assortment of bolts, nuts, washers, and mystery parts from projects long forgotten. It’s like being in a weird metal-themed haunted house.
Old License Plates
For some reason, old license plates get a pass from the usual decluttering rules. Boomers keep them like a dragon keeps its hoard of gold. Maybe the plates are from their first car, a long road trip holiday, or something else that holds a lot of sentimental value.
Coffee Cans Full of Screws
Back before plastic storage bins took over, coffee cans were the go-to container for every loose screw, nail, or random hardware bit. Boomers never threw them out because “you never know” when you’ll need that one odd-sized screw. Now they serve time as advertisements for old coffee brands.
Portable Work Lights
Usually bright orange or yellow, these lights have seen countless home projects, car repairs, and power outages. For all you know, they might even have lit up the garage since before you were born! Be careful when handling them.
Garage Fridge
The garage fridge is where the good stuff lives - extra drinks, frozen meat, and maybe a stash of ice cream. Sometimes it’s the retired kitchen fridge, now humming away in its second life. Never ask a boomer to get rid of this one, they’ll just stare at you in horror.
Jumper Cables
The jumper cables in a boomer’s garage could probably start a tank. They’re heavy-duty, long enough to jump a car from halfway down the block, and kept in the same spot for decades. They’ll never get used, of course, they’re just a good insurance policy.
Paint Cans With Dried Lids
Some cans date back to paint jobs from the Carter administration. Boomers keep them just in case they need to touch up a wall… even if the color was discontinued decades ago. The lids are fused shut, the contents are more solid than liquid, and yet there they sit. Maybe you could convince your grandad to throw them away?
Garden Gloves
Some are leather and worn soft, others are disintegrating cloth with rubber grips, but they all carry the marks of years of yard work. Boomers don’t throw these away as long as they can still use them. Why waste good money on new ones when the old ones are fine?
Magazine Stacks
Whether it’s National Geographic, Good Housekeeping, or (whisper it) Playboy, boomers have a stash of magazines in the garage. They were saved for “reference” or because they had a good article worth keeping. Now they’re dusty and slightly curled from the heat – but no-one else will take them.
Push-Reel Lawn Mowers
Believe it or not, this things are actually starting to make a comeback. You see, they’re very eco-friendly, and people want that these days. So your grandad or father might actually be able to sell that lawnmower in the garage, if only he can bear to part with it.
Junk Drawers
Every garage has at least one in an old wooden cabinet, though “junk drawer” is a bit misleading. It’s really a treasure chest of random parts, keys, tape, batteries, and things you didn’t even know you owned. Sorting them out can be a really fun way to spend an afternoon with your grandparents!
Workbench With a Vise Grip
The workbench is the heart of the garage – countless projects have sprung to life here, from fixing bikes to building shelves. And the reliable vise grip is there to hold everything steady while you drill, saw, or sand. Make no mistake: the workbench may be old, but it’ll never be useless.
Manual Grass Trimmers
Before weed whackers, there were manual grass trimmers - scissor-like tools for edging the lawn. They require patience and a strong grip, which is probably why your grandfather (or grandmother!) likes them so much. They also work without gas, batteries, or noise, which some people love.
Christmas Lights
Maybe your grandparents were big Christmas fans, but they simply ran out of room for all the decorations? Some of them got stuffed in the garage and there they remain, all tangled up and probably not working anymore. See if you can convince the boomers in your life to throw them away!
Spare Fan Belts
Boomers keep fan belts for cars, lawnmowers, or maybe even a tractor - because they simply never know when one might break. These belts are kept for years, often still in the packaging, and never get used. You never know, though, their day might still come.
Old Radios
These radios once blasted music during garage projects. Even if the speakers crackle now, they’re too full of memories to toss. Let your grandfather keep it around and don’t tell him that you can get radio shows through your mobile phone now.
Extension Cords
Long, chunky, and usually bright orange, extension cords are coiled up on hooks or tossed in bins. They’re essential for outdoor work, garage projects, and holiday lights. Of course, they also seem to tangle themselves when no one’s looking.
Plastic Buckets of Junk
Paint buckets, utility buckets, or old ice cream tubs always ended up filled with odds and ends too random to categorize. Maybe it’s scrap wood, tangled cords, or metal brackets from who-knows-what. Unfortunately, spiders and other bugs sometimes make a home in these too.
Mason Jars
Mason jars aren’t just for canning - boomers use them to store nails, screws, buttons, and just about anything else small enough to fit. Good luck if you want to use those same mason jars for Instagrammable wedding décor, a boomer will never part with theirs.
Folding Workbench
Perfect for projects when you need extra space, the folding workbench pops up, does the job, and disappears until next time. It’s always ready when a little extra workspace is needed, so no wonder baby boomers like them so much.
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Boomers take pride in a clean, shiny car, and that means keeping a full wax kit on hand. Bottles of wax, applicator pads, microfiber cloths, sometimes even a buffer machine can be found in pride of place in the garage. It’s a whole weekend ritual for your average baby boomer.
