How to Organize Your Garage
A garage can serve many purposes. It might be a storage space where all of your tools, holiday decorations, and gardening supplies go to hide. It may be a makeshift recreation room where you hang out with your friends, play ping-pong, or jam out on the weekends. It could simply be the place you park your car.
But no matter how you use it, if you’re like most Americans, it’s probably not the most organized and well-kept area in your house. And there are probably times when you get the sudden itch to do a complete overhaul and clean it.
Well, if that’s you, then you’ve come to the right place. We’ve created a step-by-step guide to organizing your garage this spring. Let’s get started.
Carve Out Plenty of Time
Don’t underestimate how much time this will take you. The worst thing you can do is give yourself three hours for a three-day project. That’ll make you feel defeated, and then you’ll never be able to get this done.
Start by assessing the damage. How big of a mess are you dealing with? If your garage has accidentally become a hoarder’s nightmare, then you should probably give yourself a little more time to fix it. For your average garage, though, we’re thinking about 1-2 days should be plenty.
Adjust according to your mess and your schedule. Be flexible. No one’s forcing you to do this, so try to have some fun with it.
The Planning Stage
Once you’ve assessed the damage and carved out enough time to clean your garage, it’s time to start planning. There’s that old saying: “How do you eat an elephant?”
“One bite at a time.”
That’s how you should approach this. It’s best to tackle a garage spring cleaning project in small chunks, knocking it out area by area until it’s completely done. Attempting to tackle everything at once is overwhelming. This will allow you to keep your sanity, and you’ll be finished before you know it.
Gather Your Supplies
Once you have an idea of the route you want to take, it’s time to gather your supplies. You’re going to need a few things when you’re cleaning out your garage:
- Trash Cans, Bins, and Bags.
- Cleaning Supplies.
- Empty Boxes for Organization/Storage/Donation.
- Plastic Storage Containers.
If you’re lacking storage space, you might also think about purchasing shelves and pegboards. These can serve as great tools for organizing a garage and can help you minimize the amount of space you’re occupying.
Once you have a plan and all your supplies, it’s time to get to work.
Minimize and Organize
Organizing your garage should be no different than organizing any part of your house. Just follow these three basic steps: locate an item, decide whether it’s trash or treasure, and find a place for it. It’s that simple.
Since a garage serves as a catch-all for the entire house, you’re likely going to come across of bunch of stuff you need and a bunch of stuff you don’t need. If something’s broken, throw it away. If an item is important or holds sentimental value, find a place where it belongs. If something doesn’t have a home and you can’t think of what to do with it, ask yourself: do I really need this? If you don’t, then get rid of it. Don’t allow junk to take up space in your home or your mind.
Once you’re finished deciding what you want to keep, trash, or donate, then you’re almost done! Take the garbage out to the dumpster. Donate what you plan to donate. And once you’ve minimized all the stuff you aren’t keeping, organizing is a piece of cake.
Pro Tip: Don’t Forget to Use Wall Space
This is essential. You cannot forget to utilize wall space. With things like pegboards, shelves, closed cabinetry (for more delicate or toxic items), and wall panels, your garage can become the most organized room in your entire house. These items allow you to get everything off the ground, giving you plenty of space to walk or park your car.
Remember: Safety First
This is just a friendly reminder. While you’re cleaning out your garage, you might come across items that are dangerous to handle or unsafe for pets or children. Remember to wear gloves, especially when you’re dealing with sharp edges. Gasoline should not be stored inside a garage because it’s flammable, and one spark can spell disaster. And, of course, if you’re dealing with toxic chemicals, store them in an area that children and pets can’t reach.
Once you’ve finished cleaning your garage, you’re going to feel amazing. An organized garage reduces stress and gets rid of allergens. Plus, it’s an essential step for showing off your home.
If you’re looking for homes in Jacksonville or anywhere in Northeast Florida, contact the Welch Team. We’d be happy to help you find the perfect home (and garage) for you and your family.
