9 Things You Should Never Store Under the Firewood Rack
If you’re stacking firewood off the ground—great. But the space under the rack isn’t bonus storage. It’s often damp, dark, and home to more critters than you think. What you stash there could become moldy, attract pests, or flat-out become a fire hazard. Here’s what needs to stay out from underneath for good.
Bags of Charcoal
Charcoal absorbs moisture fast, and once it’s wet, it’s ruined. If you leave it under the rack thinking it’s dry enough, you’ll be disappointed next time you go to use it.
Charcoal should be stored in a sealed bin, ideally in a dry shed or garage. Under the firewood rack is too exposed for long-term storage.
Tarp or Fabric Covers
Folding a tarp or storing extra covers under your firewood rack sounds convenient, but they hold in moisture and create the perfect spot for mold and bugs.
Keep tarps hung up or rolled tightly in a dry, enclosed space. Don’t let fabric sit where mice and spiders can move in.
Fire Starters or Matches
Anything flammable should be far from your firewood pile. That includes fire starters, kindling soaked in wax, and old boxes of matches.
Moisture and heat swings can ruin fire-starting gear or even spark a problem. Store this stuff in a metal container away from your woodpile entirely.
Gardening Supplies or Tools
The last thing you want is to reach under the firewood and find rusted tools or chew marks. Rodents love to nest under woodpiles, and they’ll gnaw anything nearby.
Hang tools on a wall or keep them in a proper bin. That space under the rack should stay clear.
Dog Food or Animal Feed
Even if it’s sealed, feed of any kind attracts pests. Rodents, raccoons, and even snakes are drawn to the smell, and firewood stacks already make good shelter.
Keep all feed inside a shed in a sealed container. Storing it under the rack is asking for a pest problem you won’t like dealing with.
Propane or Fuel Tanks
Even small camping tanks shouldn’t be tucked under the firewood. It’s too close to open flame and there’s always a chance of heat buildup.
Treat fuel like fuel—store it well away from anything flammable, including your stacked wood.
Spare Bricks or Concrete Blocks
Heavy items under the wood rack can trap moisture and make airflow worse. Firewood needs to stay dry, and anything that blocks airflow underneath creates problems.
If you’ve got leftover bricks or blocks, store them somewhere else. Under the firewood isn’t helping anything.
Old Blankets or Towels
Some people throw old blankets over the woodpile or tuck extras under for covering gaps later. That’s a great way to create a moldy mess.
Once a fabric item gets damp under a woodpile, it doesn’t dry out. You’ll be throwing it away anyway—might as well keep it out of there to begin with.
Cardboard or Paper Storage
Even flattened boxes or spare newspaper shouldn’t go under the firewood. It attracts bugs and soaks up moisture like crazy, leading to a soggy pile of rot.
Keep paper products away from the elements. If you need to save cardboard, store it indoors—not under a stack of logs.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
