Sometimes the garage can become the “junk drawer” of the house. It tends to collect everything from tools to sports equipment to cobwebs… Whether your garage is bursting at the seams with “stuff” or if you just need some extra space to store items (and get them out of your house), we have some tips on how to tackle the process of getting control of your garage. After all, if it’s one of the first things you see when you get home, wouldn’t it be nice to enter a space that’s organized and clean?
Clean and sort.
Be sure to set aside a full day, or maybe even a weekend, to tackle this first step, which is the dreaded clean-out. However, once finished, it will be worth it! Many times we will find that we have duplicate items, such as four or five tape measures, six empty buckets, three half-empty spray paint cans (of the same color), and so on. Now is the time to pare down and decide what you really need and want to keep. We suggest the three pile approach: keep, donate, sell.
Create three piles on your garage floor or right outside. You can throw down a tarp, grab some oversized trash bags or contractor bags, and start emptying boxes and bags by going through everything in your garage. And we mean everything – from the boxes that have been piled up and untouched since you moved in to the bags of sports gear that get thrown into every available corner of your space.
Once you have your “keep” pile solidified, now is the time to get those items sorted. Organize them into groups. For example, put all of your tools together, put all of your paints and painting supplies together, put all cleaning supplies together, etc. Next, you’ll want to find boxes to put them in or purchase some larger plastic containers. Once you have all similar items in their own boxes, be sure to label them accordingly. Later on, you’ll be glad that you did.
Put items in their new location.
Now that you have everything sorted and tucked away in its new storage home, you will want to strategically put the boxes in their new location. One piece of advice – get everything you can off of the floor. This will allow you to sweep easily and stop tracking dirt into your home, walk comfortably around your vehicles, and (we can’t forget about this one!) decrease the hideout spots for spiders and other creepy-crawly creatures.
Some different techniques to store your boxes and items would be a pegboard, shelves, cabinets, pulley system, etc. Pegboards are great for those often-used tools. As long as they aren’t too heavy, you can hang them on hooks or clips and have easy access.
Shelves are also important for organization in the garage. This is where you can store those boxes and get them off of the floor. Consider putting less-used items in the back of the shelves so that when you’re looking for something, it’s right there and convenient for you.
If you have some extra money in your budget, cabinets are also a great choice! With these, you can put everything behind closed doors. This can add up, but it can be a nice touch if possible.
One last great option that is often overlooked is to use your ceiling or high places in your garage. You will obviously want to make sure this isn’t a daily must-have, but it can be great for those seasonal items, such as Christmas decorations, sleds, or even ladders. You can also purchase pulley systems to hang up those bulky bikes that tend to get in the way or fall over onto vehicles. Make sure you watch out for your garage door and avoid allowing your new storage system to interfere with its functionality.
Be safe.
When sorting and organizing your garage, please remember to be safe! There are some items that do not need to be stored inside the garage, such as gas or propane.
Also, be sure to remember that some items, such as certain household cleaners or lawn care materials, can be toxic to people and animals. Try to keep these out of reach of little ones or your furry friends. The labeling system will help here tremendously.
Another thing to keep in mind is to make sure sharp objects, such as tools, gardening utensils, etc., are put away and out of reach as well. To keep the littles happy, you can always keep some of their toys in a basket or tub within their reach so that they know they have a designated spot that is just for them!
Put on the final touches.
Now that you have things cleaned out, organized, and put away, you can put on the final touches. You can sweep out any remaining dust or grass and wipe away those aggravating, wispy cobwebs swaying in the corners of your ceiling. Wash your windows and doors to make it feel extra clean and fresh. You might also consider getting a new rug or washing your current one so that you can prevent dirt from entering your home.
At this point, the only thing you have left to do is admire your work! 🙂 You’ll be sure to enjoy the drive into your garage each day, and you’ll love how it feels to go to the exact box you need each time you are in the middle of a project!
Looking for more ways to make your home feel more organized and cozy? Read Make Your Home Your Happy Place.