An Organized Garage Brings Peace
Winter will be winding down soon, and it will be time for that spring cleaning. What better place to start than that scary garage of yours? Sure, it’s a big job, but if you break it into small, manageable tasks, you will have it finished in no time!
The garage presents an interesting problem because it is supposed to not only “store” your car, but also to provide a place for tools, garden equipment, sports equipment, paint and maybe even the dog food. The best way to approach this multi-use space is to define a zone for each type of item – sports zone, car zone, garden zone, etc. That way, you can set up storage systems that best accommodate each zone.
The first thing to do when tackling the garage is to declutter. This is going to be a big, dirty job, so wait for good weather, put on grubby clothes, and turn on some be-bopping music to get you moving. Identify space to group like-items for your garage zones, and also make piles for items to toss, donate, sell, and pass on. Large boxes come in handy to collect the piles. Be sure to plan for trash removal.
Start at one corner of your garage and as you pick up each item, decide what to do with it:
- Keep - put the item in one of the piles corresponding to a garage zone
- Toss – put the item in the trash
- Donate – put the item in the donate pile
- Sell – put the item in the sell pile
- Pass on to someone else
You may find it hard to part with things, even though they have outlived their usefulness. If you answer “no” to any of these questions, the item needs to go.
- Have you used the item within the last two years?
- Is it in good working condition and can it be fixed?
- Do you still need it?
- Do you have a place to keep it?
- Would it be better used by someone else?
OK, let’s fast forward several hours. You have decluttered your garage by sorting everything into piles. The garage is empty and cleaned. You have disposed of the toss, donate, sell, and pass-on piles. Now it’s time to set up storage systems in each garage zone. First, you have your car zone, so leave that space open along with plenty of space to get into the car. Next, determine the most efficient storage systems for each of the other zones and install those systems. You may need to install a workbench, shelves and pegboard for your tool zone. You may need hanging bike racks and shelves with bins for the sporting goods. You may need to install cabinets and tool hooks for the garden zone. Good sources of storage units are Home Depot, Lowe’s, the Container Store, and Craigslist. Your home or garage might already have some storage units that can be re-purposed in your new zones. After the storage systems are installed, give each kept item a “home” in the appropriate zone.
Now, step back and admire your great accomplishment! It’s time to pour that margarita and congratulate yourself for a job well done. Your payoff will be the peace and harmony you feel when entering your garage.
But wait! Organizing is not a one-time process! Remember that each item has a home now -- take a minute to put it back where it lives when you are finished with it. Keeping things orderly only takes a minute, and will prevent you from ever having a scary garage again!
