Are you looking high and low for a tool you know you have in your garage but can’t find? Would you instead run away from tidying and arranging it than do it? Perhaps you’d like to spring clean your workbench area, but you’re unsure where to begin.
Often, garages are more than just places to park cars. Chaos can ensue when you use it as a tool shed, an attic overflow, or a storage space for snow skis. The good news is that you can learn how to deal with the mess, get the proper organization tools for the job, and choose the organization method that suits your stuff.
Based on a Wall Street Journal poll, 11% of homeowners are satisfied with their garages and don’t want to make improvements. Could you guess how the other 89% of homeowners perceive their garages? So, is there a way to resolve this? Fortunately, there is. In this post, you’ll learn how to organize your garage in a few steps. But first, let’s determine its benefits.
What Are the Benefits of Organizing Your Garage?
There are several benefits to organizing your garage, including the following:
1.Cleaner and More Spacious
Even if you sweep the floor daily, clutter looks dirty, attracting creepy crawling critters like bugs and mice! Organizing your garage keeps it neat and dirt-free. When it’s tidy, it becomes more spacious.
2. Protecting Expensive Items
Even though the garage is messy, it may store some expensive items. A well-organized garage keeps costly things safe. You won’t have to worry about your motor’s paint chipping if your kids “accidentally” drive their scooter, electric toy car, or tricycle into it.
3.Protect Yourself from Dangerous Tools and Equipment
Garages also contain dangerous equipment you should keep away from children’s prying eyes. You may own an electric or gas-powered hedge trimmer or chainsaw. It’s best to take the same precautions with power tools, like drills and circular saws.
4.Everything is Easier to Find
How often do you search for your head screwdrivers, rolls of duct tape, or attachments for your utility vacuum? Messy garages can conceal little things. A tidy space makes things easier to see. As a result, you will spend less time searching for your belongings.
How To Organize Your Garage In A Few Easy Steps
You can take 3 steps to your dream of an organized garage for the above benefits. They include the following:
Step 1: Sort and Declutter
Having a disorganized and cluttered garage can contribute to stress and frustration. Despite this, you can achieve your goal of turning your garage into a functional and organized space by using the right approach. This process begins with sorting and decluttering.
An excellent way to begin organizing your garage is to group items into categories. Sort everything from the garage into piles according to its similarity. You could dispose of or relocate these items as soon as possible:
- Paint — It is always best to store paint in a temperate room to avoid compromising its quality.
- Paper — Wet paper attracts cockroaches and other insects. It would be best to keep them in an indoor cabinet or recycle it.
- Propane — Small sparks can ignite massive fires. It is best to keep the tanks indoors.
- Refrigerator — The refrigerator in the garage can be a considerable power guzzler, especially if it does not have AC.
Grouping items into categories will help you eliminate things that no longer work or you don’t need. There are some challenges associated with this step, but it can also be an excellent way to reduce clutter and free up space. Consider whether each item has a purpose in your life. You could also consider whether you have used it in the past year. If it’s not, then let it go.
Step 2: Maximize Your Storage Space
Maximizing storage space is the next step in organizing your garage. It would help to invest in weather-resistant outdoor storage and utilize vertical space. Maintaining and cleaning it is easier if you use vertical space to reduce clutter and keep items off the ground. For things you don’t frequently use, shelves, hooks, and overhead storage can provide ample storage, allowing floor space for more oversized items.
Outdoor items exposed to the elements also need weather-resistant storage options. You should store your items in containers made of weather-resistant materials. By doing so, you will ensure that your outdoor equipment will last for years to come.
You could also maximize your storage space by:
- Installing a pegboard — Pegboards are ideal for hanging hand tools and gadgets to make it easier to find them. Invest in some pegboard baskets and wire brackets for hanging essential tools. You can store things like glue bottles or nails in them.
- Adding a folding table — If you have two vehicles in the garage, there won’t be much room for anything else. It might be a good idea to create a folding table with a drop-down top. You can mount it on hinges if you fold the table’s legs under and against the garage wall when it’s not in use.
- Incorporating a garage ski rack — Our winter sports gears if not given a proper storage space can hinder the walking spaces and be a cause of clutter. A garage ski rack utilizes the often-underutilized vertical space in your garage. By mounting the ski rack on the wall or ceiling, you can free up valuable floor space for other items such as bikes, tools, or storage bins.
Step 3: Maintaining Your Organization
An organized garage is beautiful, but maintaining it takes ongoing effort. Maintaining an organized garage requires labeling, grouping, and regularly reviewing and adjusting your setup. You can ensure everything has a place and is easy to find by labeling containers and shelves. It would be best to use clear containers that let you see the contents of each container and rack. As a result, you will spend less time looking for items and will be less likely to misplace them.
It is also beneficial to group like items together in your garage to maintain a streamlined appearance. For example, you could keep your gardening supplies in one area, your sports equipment in another, and your vehicle repair tools in another. Doing this will make it easier to locate your needs and see what you have.
A regular review and adjustment of your organization are also critical. You may acquire new items in your garage, or disorganized items may accumulate as you use them. You should evaluate your organization every few months and make any crucial adjustments you need to make. It may take effort to keep your garage organized by maintaining organization, but the results will be worth it.
Conclusion
With some patience and consistency, you can achieve your goal of organizing your garage. Maintaining an organized and functional garage will make your life easier and more enjoyable by sorting and decluttering, maximizing storage space, and supporting organizational practices.
Jessica is a content specialist in different niches from the last 5 years. She likes to read and travel in her free time. She has worked with Elite Garage Door & Gate Repair.
