You're probably familiar with this scenario: there's a project that you've been meaning to get done for ages, and you're determined to do it this weekend.
All of your tools are in the garage. The problem is, your garage is a gigantic mess. It's going to take you longer to find your tools than it is to actually complete this project.
Don't let a messy garage stand in the way of getting stuff done. Read on to learn some tips to help you conquer the chaos once and for all (and finally complete those projects, too).
Why You Need to Organize Your Garage
How cluttered is your garage? If the answer is, "It's so full of stuff I can't even park in it", you've got a problem.
Parking outside might seem like a convenient solution to your garage's organizational problem, but it's not good for your vehicle. Leaving your car, truck or van exposed to sunlight, rain, snow, bird droppings and tree sap causes damage. The elements can't get to your vehicle if you leave it parked in your garage.
And going back to the issue of completing weekend projects, you'll get much more done if you can find your tools or whatever else you need. Feeling as though you've accomplished something, however small, is priceless.
How to Get Organized
Mickey Goodman from This Old House Magazine offers some tips to overcoming the untidiness. Really messy garages can be overwhelming. That's why it's important to mark off a day or two on the calendar when you're going to tackle it. Don't be afraid to enlist your family or friends to help out.
Sort out the items into three piles: "keep", "donate or sell", and "throw out". Bear in mind that if you've got products which contain chemicals that are beyond their expiration date (such as cleansers), you might need to dispose of them specially.
Next, create a floor plan. Measure how big your garage is. Be sure to include where the doors and garbage bins are. Once you've figured that out, decide where you're going to store things.
It's helpful to store like with like; for example, put your lawn tools with your fertilizer, and store your hardware in one place. Goodman recommends storing bulky equipment such as lawn mowers in a corner where your car can't bump them. And seasonal or rarely used items should be out of the way and not taking up any prime real estate. Whenever possible, keep things off the floors. You'll have more room for your car.
What You'll Need
Organizational tools are a must‑have during the cleanup process. Goodman has a few suggestions.
Clear, stackable plastic boxes with lids are very helpful. Their transparency lets you see the contents, and the lids keep dust and bugs out. Moreover, plastic boxes with lids come in a variety of sizes, and you can buy them pretty much anywhere.
If you have empty glass jars or clear plastic containers, those will come in handy as well. They store smaller items, such as screws and small hardware.
Goodman prefers shelving units without doors; it's easier to see what's on the shelf and you can't hide the mess behind doors. Cabinets with doors are the most useful when you need to store things that shouldn't be exposed to the air too much.
Pegboards and hooks are an inexpensive and easy way to hang lightweight objects. You'll need sturdier shelving to hang things such as bicycles and other heavy items.
Don't Forget about Safety
Goodman urges people cleaning out their garages not to forget about the vital issue of safety. Most people might not think about it, but their garage doors are a safety feature. And if they're not maintained properly, they can turn into a hazard.
Springs, pulleys, cables and rollers can wear out. You need to inspect them monthly for signs of deterioration.
As of 1991, garage doors are required to come with an automatic reverse system. An automatic reverse system is fairly self‑explanatory: the garage door has a sensor that detects whether a human or object is in its path, and if it detects that someone or something is in its way, it will go back up. If your garage door was installed before 1991, Goodman strongly suggests you get a new one. Does your garage door have an automatic reverse system?
Test how well it works by putting a roll of paper towels in the garage door's path. If it doesn't reverse when it hits the paper towels, you need to get the garage door checked out.
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Does your home need a new garage door? Contact Environmental Door at 616-453-0164 today. We've got styles to suit every taste.
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