Organize Your Garage

We know how your garage got so bad. Lack of storage, pack-rat pile up and being overwhelmed by the amount of work it would be to get it in order. Well, the time has come to clean it up. Getting your garage in order can be a lot of work, but it can be done.

Give yourself a realistic time frame. For a general clean-up and organize, most garages take anywhere from two to six hours. For a major overhaul, installing cabinets, counters and shelves, it usually takes the better part of two days. Make organizing your garage a weekend project. Enlist the help of family and friends. If everyone has a specific job, it can go really fast. Entice people to help by offering food and refreshments, or motivate them to organize their garages by volunteering your labor. You could both have great garages in the time that you could do your own yourself. Plus, it’s a lot more fun if you have someone there the share in your misery and success!

For a garage clean-up, you will have to make things look worse before they start looking better. Simply drag everything out into the driveway. Rent or buy a canopy cover if you are planning a more than one day overhaul or if the weather is especially hot. Plug in and use all of the fans that you can to make the job more pleasant in the heat. Lots of people dread the job simply because of the weather.

Now, organize the piles. Throw out everything that you possibly can. Many people store things in their garages for decades without getting rid of it. If it’s something sentimental, like your childhood bed, you may still be willing to part with it if it goes to good use in a family member’s home. Or, you can take pictures of it and keep the photos along with a story about why it is special.

If you have a lot of things like this but would love to have your garage as a work area, consider renting a storage unit or utilizing space in the attic. With a sheet or two of plywood, your attic can become a great place to store antiques, furniture and things that you simply cannot part with. Cover them with plastic sheets and staple the edges down to the plywood to keep out moisture and pests. Cedar chips will also deter pests, absorb moisture and further protect your heirlooms.

Okay, back to cleaning. Once you are rid of trash, sweep out and wipe down the garage. Take usable items that you rarely use and have a garage sale or donate them to a charity. Now, all that is left is putting everything back. You can install shelving, cabinets, work space counter tops or whatever else you think you may need. A lot of times, people can get away with simply installing large hooks or brackets on the ceiling for boats, bikes, large boxes and more.

Now that your garage is clear and organized, feel free to stock it with a few gadgets that will make keeping it clean fun. Trade your extension cord for an automatic cord reel. Exchange your coffee can full of nuts and bolts for a useful organization system. You can have fun getting everything organized once it is clean.

About the Author: Stacy Pessoney is an award winning author and writer of web content for many different web sites. She is well versed in many different areas, including gardening, hose reel, lawn care and landscaping.

Garage Makeover Tips

Having a cramped garage can feel like the walls are coming in on you. Getting it organized may seem like an insurmountable task, but you can do it yourself using these simple tips and tricks.

1) Clear out the dust. Choose a nice day and drag everything out into the driveway. Clean out dirt, webs, trash and sawdust. This may be one of the only times that your garage is completely empty. This can also be a great time to paint if you haven’t in a while. Get everything that is trash and get rid of it.

2) Organize your stuff. Consider getting rid of things that you don’t use. Sometimes neighbors and friends will trade with you, or you can sell things off in a garage sale. Anything that is left can be used as a charitable donation. Separate items into logical piles. This way, you can see what you have and what kind of storage you will need.

3) If you think you have too much, don’t worry. Your garage is not the living room, so utilize space that you don’t normally consider. We’re talking about the ceiling here. Large brackets can hold heavy items like boats, bikes, Christmas decorations and more. The ceiling is often overlooked as a storage option, so open your mind to creative ideas.

4) Purchase or build the shelves, cabinets, tool walls and lockers that you will need. It is a good idea to draw a picture of what you imagine the garage will look like and take measurements before you shop. Pile sports equipment, suitcases, garden equipment and tools into the measured space to be sure they will fit. Leave empty space for unanticipated storage if possible.

5) Install cabinets and shelves. The next step is to protect your items from dust and dirt if possible. Certain items can be stored in clear plastic containers instead of just sitting on a shelf. Make sure that you clearly label containers or shelves where things go. This will help you stay organized once you get organized.

6) A general rule of thumb is to try to keep the floor empty. This may not be totally possible, especially if you have to store your lawnmower, table saw or other large items in the garage. But, trying hard to have everything hung, stored away or placed on a shelf will help your garage stay clutter free.

7) Last, you should treat yourself to new gadgets and tools that get you excited about keeping the garage clean. Planning the new items that you want to buy can motivate you to have a garage sale and trade in old tools and garden equipment for new toys. An automatic cord reel for your extension cord, new air compressor, monster power shop vac and diamond plate counter tops are probably in order here.

About the Author: Stacy Pessoney is an award winning author and writer of web content for many different web sites. She is well versed in many different areas, including gardening, hose reel, lawn care and landscaping.