Every household stores things in its own unique way. More often than not, garages can
become central hubs for various miscellaneous items, stored amongst each other without order. This ends up
creating something of a wayward dumping ground for everything, from beach lawn chairs to spare tire covers, without any real
rhyme or reason. Finding simple order in garage organization is a lot easier than you think, and with these tips
to guide you, you’ll find the empowering encouragement to get the job done.
Declutter By Demand
Organizing your garage can present some unique challenges. How do you seamlessly fit
cars with toys, tools, sporting equipment, beach chairs and cleaning supplies together in one space? Taking it
step by step is the best way to tackle the task. Get a head start on the process by sifting through your
inventory, so you can get an idea of exactly what you’re working with. If possible, remove everything from your
garage and sort the items into categories. This helps you divvy the project into sections so that the work isn’t
as daunting as it could be. Doing it
yourself should be easy and accessible.
- Keep items that are essential to your household. These might include tools,
exercise equipment, or even keepsakes and memorabilia. - Recycle items that might find secondary life in a new household. These might
include clothes, old holiday decorations, or under-used exercise equipment. These items are plum for
donation at a local thrift store. - Throw away or recycle items that have little or no value to you and your family,
such as items that are damaged or too hazardous for donation.
This step is the crucial first step in achieving complete garage organization. By
sorting items into categories, you’ll find the rest of the process to be much easier, and maybe even fun.
Cleaning is Key
Once you have everything in your garage cleared and decluttered, it’s time to give it
a good deep clean. This process might sound taxing but it’s necessary in moving forward with a nicely organized
space. Clean up permanent fixtures with wipes, removing excess dust and grime. Mop floors with a cleaning
solution of water and disenfectant, ensuring the floor is spick and span for organization. You might even
consider lining the floor with non-slip garage mats.
- Dust first with a proper duster before going back over shelves and other fixtures
with a rag, removing those pesky dust bunnies. - A capful of bleach goes a long way in cleaning floors, They don’t have to
sparkle. You just want a sense of fresh cleanliness. - Revisit this process in small doses once everything is organized to maintain a
clean garage.
Divide and Conquer
Your keep pile is about to get a whole lot smaller and a whole lot bigger in one fell
swoop. Group the items you’re keeping by likeness, even making a section for items that defy categorization.
This will help you to sort them in the garage. Plastic bins and wicker baskets are your friend. Clearly labeling
each box with an identifying category helps to maintain order when the time comes to put everything back into
the garage. For larger items, like log splitters or pressure washers, it’s okay for them to be left out. Though
you might want to consider personalized pressure
washer covers and log
splitter covers with a clearly identifying label printed on them for both safety and easy identification
when looking for what you need.
Back to Basics
The time has come for you to move back into the garage space. In doing this, be sure
to think out a methodical system ahead of time. A unique method for this is dividing the garage into “zones”
similar to those in a department or big box store. These zones can range from “automotive” to “seasonal
decor”. Zones help to distinguish where things go, giving everything a place.
- Start with four basic zones that house major items. From these, you can divide
the sections further. - Add additional zones as you see fit.
- Organize the zones in a manner that makes them accessible. This allows you to
find items when you’re looking for them.
Move & Maintain
Doing it yourself is not something to fear. With home organization comes order and
with order comes balance and a sense of clarity. If you find the organization in your garage isn’t working out
the way you hoped it would, try switching things up! Find the right balance that works for you. In doing this,
you are paving the way for easy maintenance to keep things in ship shape. Maintaining your newly organized
garage ensures that everything has a place and a reason for being there, and you’ll never have to worry about a
cluttered garage again.
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