When it comes to organizing your home, your garage can get neglected in the process. A lot of homeowners are guilty of simply storing items in there and allowing them to get cluttered over time. If you’re ready to sort your garage out, where do you start? Here are some tips that will help you clean and organize your garage.
Start With A Thorough Clean Out
The first thing to do is get stuck and start cleaning out everything in your garage. Go through all the items that are stored there, and think about what can be thrown out or removed. As you go through items, you’ll be surprised at what you kept when it needs to go in the trash.
If you are going to trash items, then you’ll need to consider how to do so safely. You’re most likely storing some chemicals that need to be disposed of in a certain way. For example, if you have any old cans of paint, these will need to be disposed of at a paint disposal center. Make sure you do a quick search online before you put something in the garbage can so you know you’re getting rid of it in the right way.
Also, when doing this initial clear out, be ruthless about what you keep. Your garage can quickly become a dumping ground for items that you may need ‘some day’. If you’ve not looked at those items for at least 12 months, then you most likely don’t need them at all.
Get Rid Of Items You’re Not Keeping
Once you’ve sorted through all the items in your home, you’ll need to get rid of the items you don’t want any more quickly. You don’t want to hang onto them for long, as they’ll simply hang around in your garage and take up room.
An excellent way to do this is to set up three piles: Trash, Donate, and Sell. If you have items that are in good condition that you know others may want, you can sell them. Some items may be better suited to donation. If the item isn’t in good condition, it can go in the trash.
Remember That Renting Is An Option
Your garage is often a dumping ground for tools that you use around the home. While there’s always going to be some tools you’ll need, such as screwdrivers or a hammer, there are going to be others that you won’t use very often. If you have tools that have a very specific use that is just taking up space, consider selling them on or donating them. You may need them in the future, but if you do, you’ll typically be able to rent them. That way, you can still carry out the project you’re thinking of while clearing out space in your garage.
Clean The Garage
Now that you’ve removed all the items that you don’t need, you’ll need to clean the garage until it sparkles. Again, we don’t often think about cleaning the garage, so it builds up dust and dirt over time. Remove as much as you can from the garage, so you can access all the nooks and crannies. It’s a good idea to pick a dry day and pull everything out onto the driveway, so you can get full access to the garage as a whole.
Now, you’re ready to get cleaning. Start from the top and work your way down, so you can remove dirt effectively. Sweep or vacuum to get rid of loose dirt, cobwebs, and other grime, and then get ready to start scrubbing. A mixture of water and bleach will work on the walls and floor to get them pristine again. Remember to clean the garage door and any windows you have in there, too.
Try The Tennis Ball Parking Method
One good way to keep clutter to a minimum in your garage is to use the tennis ball parking method. This helps you find the best parking spot in your garage by tying a tennis ball to a string and hanging it from the ceiling. When you drive in, you’ll be able to stop when the ball touches your car. This helps with clutter as you’ll need to keep the space around that parking space free, so you can get your car in there. It’s an excellent way to ensure that you don’t let it build up again over time.
Find Homes For The Items That Need Them
Since the garage has been cleaned out and you’re down to the items that you want to keep, you’ll need to find homes for all of them. Ideally, these should all be items that you want to keep and use often, so you want to be able to access them easily. As such, you’ll want to organize your garage storage with this in mind.
- Move items elsewhere: There will be items that will actually be better off somewhere on your property. If you have oils, paints, and other chemicals, these can give off VOCs that can actually be harmful to you. As such, you’ll want to consider keeping these in your shed in the yard, away from the house.
- Store play equipment where kids can access it: If your children keep play equipment in the garage, you’ll want to keep it low down, where they can easily reach it. That stops accidents from children trying to climb shelves or having items fall on them.
- Use wall space: There’s lots of wall space in your garage, so put it to good use. You can add hooks and shelves to hold items out of the way, leaving lots of floor space. Pegboards are another good option for holding tools.
Conclusion
These are just a few tips on how to organize your garage effectively. Once you’ve done this, you’ll be able to find and use the items in there much more easily. You’ll also, of course, have much more room to park your car. If you’re ready to upgrade your garage door, Your Garage Door Guys is ready to help! We are available in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.