Organize Your Garage

As the time of year has come to think about spring cleaning, the garage may be the perfect place to start.  A quick glimpse into many homeowners’ garages may show a cluttered and unorganized mess, which can be unappealing to look at, difficult to navigate through, and downright dangerous.  While few would say they do not want a more organized garage, the task can be overwhelming.  Yet there is a new trend in home improvement to create a garage that is not only more functional, but one that extends your living space.  There are more products available today that are designed specifically for garage organization and storage than ever.  Here are some basic tips:

The first step is to determine your overall goal and then where you want to focus first.  Giving your garage a makeover can be achieved in steps, so you can do a complete overhaul or take one step at a time. 

Get Organized: Start with the big things and sort items into categories such as garden tools, sports equipment, and automotive supplies.  There should also be a pile for items to be thrown away and one for items that can be given away.

Achieve a clean floor: Once the floor is accessible give the floor a thorough sweep to remove dirt and other items. Even after floors are swept, they are often dirty and stained with hard-to-remove substances like oil and gasoline. There are products available to shield and protect garage floors from spills such as oil or antifreeze.  Floor mats are also available for a quick fix.  They simply roll out over the floor; they are made of absorbent fabric and are easy to clean.

Install an organization system:  utilize any available space such as walls, corners, overhead storage, back of doors and crawl spaces. Consider installing organization solutions meant specifically for the garage environment. Pegboards, direct-to-wall items such as baskets, bins and hooks, as well as other free-standing units make your garage safer and more efficient.

Neat and safe: The final step is to return items in their new proper place.  Always keep safety in mind; for example make sure anything that is large and heavy and is off the floor is securely positioned, also it is a good idea to keep liquids such as oils, antifreeze, and cleaners up high and out of the reach of children.  When deciding where to put what think about an efficient garage.  Often used items should not only be easy, but also in a place where you would easily return it to after use.