Garage Organization: How to Organize your Garage Properly
Many garages are not properly organized or maintained because most people have trouble finding a place for everything. When there is no more space in the house for storing things, we start moving them into the garage until we get to the point where we can no longer find anything because the garage is too messy. Garage organization is not that difficult if you have firm determination and a bit of time on your hands. It is crucial to have proper lighting in your garage. That way, you can see everything and decide where everything goes. By following a few easy steps, your garage will end up spic and span.
Make a Plan
When it comes to garage organization, it is important that you set a specific date and time for yourself. That should motivate you to finally take action and get to work cleaning your garage. Do not spontaneously decide to clean the garage on a weeknight because most likely you will not continue the task the next day. Make a plan and stick to it. The weekend is considered the best time to attack the garage because you have back-to-back days, and that should give you enough time to complete the work. Take a good look at the garage and you can probably estimate how long it will take you to sort it out. Having one or more people to help is a plus; let them know about your plan before you start.What Do I Throw Out?
That is the frustrating question when you are contemplating the organization of your garage. The trick is to go with the flow. A lot of what you usually find in the garage is garbage and can be thrown away; therefore, many items and objects will have to go. If you think you do not need the item, you probably do not. Once the discarding is done, the important mission begins.Garage organization begins by arranging everything in different categories. When you categorize, the task is made easier because you can see exactly what you have, how much space it will take, and where everything can be placed. When you are finished grouping, it might be a good idea to put small objects of the same category into labeled boxes to avoid losing them, and to take up less space in the garage. With the boxes labeled, it will be easier to find a specific item. Creating a box with mixed objects could pose a problem in the future as it would eventually get full and you would have to re-organize again.
Where to Place your Stuff
Look for potential space when trying to figure out where your items should go. Perhaps you can install a few more shelves on the walls for boxes, or screw in hooks on the ceiling for bicycles and other objects that can be hung when out of season. Where things go is really up to you. However, there are common places for the usual items found in any garage. It is typical to place garbage cans and recycle bins outside next to the garage, or inside, close to the door, tools in the back of the workbench, boxes on shelves, and so on, so forth. Remember to try and keep everything off the floor because if you do not do that, the next thing you know, the floor will get cluttered and you will soon be back where you started!A Final Note
If you have garbage that is too big to haul out of the garage, there are companies such as 1-800-GOT-JUNK? that will take it off your hands for a price. You do not have to throw away everything you do not need. Charities and garage sales are a smart way to get rid of your unwanted items. When done cleaning and organizing your garage, remember to keep it that way by putting things back in their proper place after using them so that you will never have to do that dirty work again.
Written by John Mann
John Mann is an experienced home renovator and webmaster. Visit his website Workbench Ideas for workshop tips."A workman is only as good as his tools and a handyman as productive as his work space."
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