5 Steps to an Organized Garage
In Michigan, the weather is warm and the sun is shining. It is also the time of year when you need to access items in your garage more often due to outdoor entertainment, sports, gardening, and mowing the lawn. For many of us our garages became a catch all space over the long winter, so it is time to get your things in order so you can sit back and relax the rest of the summer. You can tackle this overwhelming task quickly and efficiently by following these five steps.
1 - Declutter and Categorize
As with organizing all spaces, it’s crucial to start with decluttering and categorizing. Get some boxes and contractor trash bags and buckle up!
Start by taking EVERYTHING out and place items in sections as you go – Trash/Recycle, Sell, Donate, Keep.
Immediately dispose of items being trashed/recycled and donated and list your items for sale on your preferred online platform.
Categorize the items you are keeping by placing like items together. Categories vary for everyone, but here are general ones I regularly see – Sports, Gardening, Lawn, Tools, Holiday.
2 - Create Zones
Now that your garage is empty, designate zones in your garage according to how many items are in each category and the space you need to effectively store and access them.
Zones vary for every household, but common zones are Sports, Gardening, Tools, and Holiday.
If you need to use part of your garage for shoes or a drop zone, make sure to mark that off as you don’t want to take your shoes off next to your gardening items.
3 - Plan for Storage
I always recommend using walls for vertical storage since it frees up floor space to make cleaning significantly easier.
Storage space high up or overhead is typically a great place to store camping gear and holiday items that are not regularly needed.
4 - Invest in Storage Solutions
Having storage for your items keeps everything organized and in place. Look at what you have on hand and use those items THEN buy what you need.
General storage recommendations:
Shelving with wheels for storing bins and boxes. The wheels allow for easy movement needed to access items and make room for vehicles.
Closed cabinets are great for keeping poisonous and hazardous items away from children.
Tool racks, pegboards, and rolling tool storage are great for keeping your tools organized and easily accessible.
Bins keep like items together.
If you have children who play sports and enjoy outdoor activities, investigate specially designed storage. I love the selections from Gladiator as they enable you to store equipment on the wall.
5 - Label
Labels help you and those in your household easily access and place items back where they belong – saving time and keeping things in place. Consider taking the time to label boxes and locations.
With a neat and organized garage, you will no longer buy duplicates of items you have but can’t find, keep your items safe and easy to access, have more space for your car, and decrease your stress level when you come home.
Happy Organizing!