Have you ever noticed that the more space you have, the more you fill it up? We all have a lot of stuff, and it has to go somewhere. Our garages are designed for car storage; however, most of us use the little extra spots in the garage to store just about everything that doesn’t fit in the house—and before you know it, you may not be able to get the cars in the garage at all. The best solution is to learn how to clean and organize your garage efficiently so you can enjoy the space and have a place for everything you need.
Cleaning the Garage
As with most areas in the house you tidy up, you need a clean slate before you can organize the garage. Let’s look at some helpful hints for cleaning out the garage.
Empty the Space
First, you should empty the garage as best as you can. Choose a nice day to pile things in the driveway or yard.
Create different piles as you go, including donate, sell, trash, and keep. Try to be strict and don’t keep anything that you don’t use or need.
Wash Down the Interior
Once the garage is empty, you can sweep and wash the walls and floor. Cobwebs love garage windows and ceilings, so be sure to get all of those too. If it’s emptied well, you can use the jet spray setting on your garden hose or a pressure washer to spray away dirt.
Organizing the Garage
Once the garage is clean and dry, it’s time to organize. Remove your piles by throwing out the trash and taking care of the items to sell or donate. You can put what’s left back in the garage. Consider designating specific areas for your general items. Garage-storage categories include:
Lawn care
Snow removal
Recreational/sports
Tools
Car care
Other
If you haven’t already, add as many shelves or pegboards in the garage as possible. Remember to measure and add only what allows the vehicles to fit back in.
Start by putting the larger items where you need them and then add in smaller things. If you find labels useful, add those where you can, in hopes that everything always goes back to its place.
For smaller things, such as car cleaning items, keep only the car cleaning tools that you truly need, so you can keep everything in order. Use a clear plastic box for these types of materials so you can easily see what’s inside.
If there is room, a hanging pegboard is excellent for keeping tools out of the way and arranged neatly. It’s also useful for hanging sporting equipment and garden tools.
Use these tips for cleaning and organizing your garage, and you’ll actually enjoy opening the garage door again.
