Take Charge of The Garage

Now that the weather is warmer and the days are longer, you’ve finally got time to clean out the garage. If that doesn’t exactly excite you, think of how nice it will be to finally be able to park cars in it again.

The biggest problem most of us have with cleaning out the garage is that we expect it to take less time than it does, and we don’t have adequate storage solutions for the things we need to keep there. We know it’s a big job, so we tend to procrastinate doing it. The trouble is, the longer we wait, the bigger the mess becomes.

Most garages barely have enough room for your vehicles. If you intend to store anything else there, you need to get creative with space. Mounting shelves high in the garage is a good way to get things off the floor. Some people even mount storage units to their garage ceilings.

When you are creating storage space on the walls, remember that you’ll need to be able to walk past the storage units when you are getting in and out of your car. Hanging a pegboard on the wall is a great way to organize your tools because it keeps things flat against the wall.

Defining storage solutions for your garage is typically considered the final step to garage organization, but it’s something you should consider before you begin, so you can plan for them while you clean.

Empty

The first thing you need to do when your clean your garage is find it. Pull everything out of your garage and place it in piles on your driveway and lawn. If your piles make sense, it will be easier to get everything back where it goes later. You may choose to keep all your power tools in one pile, hand tools in another, pet supplies in another, etc.

Deep Clean

Sweep the floor, wipe down shelves, and make room for all the things that you’ll need to store in your garage.

Improve Storage Solutions

Make places for the things you can’t seem to control. If your outdoor cooking supplies tend to roam, make a container or designate shelf space just for them. Sometimes it helps to build more storage space. That’s why we mentioned it earlier. As you clean things out, you’ll want to consider the best ways to store and secure it. You may need to take a trip to the hardware store for building supplies or storage units. If you have a lot of small items that need to be organized, consider the Panel Bin 9 Pocket by Safco. It’s a great see-through way to store your stuff.

Consolidate and Move Items Back Into Your Garage

Before you return your things to the garage, decide if any of that stuff is junk. Throw away, recycle, or donate anything you don’t need, so you can maximize your space. Load up your newly created storage units in an orderly manner so you can quickly find what you need later. If you have extension cords, ropes, or other items that you need to secure, consider using Gear Ties by Nite Ize.  These reusable, durable twist ties will work wonders for all sorts of things.

Maintain

Now that your garage is clean and orderly, the best thing to do is to maintain what you’ve created. When you use a tool return it to its proper place. Periodically sweep the floor and wipe down shelves. As you do this, double check that things are in their proper place, so your garage won’t overwhelm you again.