There’s no denying that the garage is one area of our home that can get rather messy. It acts as a dumping ground for seasonal items, and for those that love projects, it can be a nightmare to keep clean.
Luckily, it is possible to create a space that stays in excellent condition. You just need to know where to get started and be prepared to make a few practical changes.
Below we are going to talk about eight tips to help you keep your garage more organized.
Have dedicated spots for all of your tools
One of the best ways to ensure that your garage stays tidy is to make sure that everything has a dedicated spot. From your socket wrench to your tape measure, drill, and vise grips – everything should have a place, whether it be in your toolbox or hanging on the wall.
This will also prevent equipment from going missing. You’ll always be able to find what you need, provided that you are putting everything back straight after you have used it.
Clear out unnecessary clutter
Over time, many things get thrown in our garage that we don’t really need. While you’re organizing, take the time to go through everything and get rid of unnecessary clutter.
You could consider donating to your local charity shops or even have a garage sale if there are items still in excellent condition. You’ll have more space to work with and earn some extra cash all at the same time.
Prioritize locations based on usability
When choosing where to place your belongings, you want to keep usability in mind. For example, whatever you reach for daily should be placed centrally, while other items can be put in higher locations.
Don’t forget to have an area for your gardening equipment too. Near the door is best so that you can quickly use them as needed.
Install overhead storage
If you have long items such as a canoe or ladder that you don’t use all the time, overhead storage is your best friend. The ceiling has so much unused space, and you can get all of those bulky items off your floor.
Just make sure that you are careful during the installation. It’s also best to keep your equipment secure with straps in case of any accidents.
Utilize open shelving
You may feel tempted to gravitate towards closed shelving in an attempt to hide things, but open shelving is much more practical. You’ll be able to see when you’re running out of something and can grab what you need without searching through multiple cabinets.
If you do want to use baskets, look for wire ones with rolling access so that you can still see what’s inside. The higher they can stack, the better, as you want to take advantage of that vertical space.
Protect belongings in air-tight containers
When storing all of your belongings that you don’t use regularly, it’s worth investing in some air-tight containers. This way, you can be sure your possessions remain safe, secure, and, most importantly, pest-free.
Another great way to save space is to use canvas storage bags for things like decorations. They won’t take up as much room and will still stop items from gathering dust.
Label everything
Once you’ve placed everything in their dedicated spots and set up all of your different storage areas, it can be challenging to remember where you have put your essentials. So, to make things easier, label absolutely everything.
Whenever a holiday or camping trip comes around, or if you have to make an unexpected repair, you’ll be much less stressed. Trust us when we say you won’t regret it.
Follow a maintenance and cleaning checklist
Lastly, while all of the above is great, you don’t want to let things get back to the way they were. Print out or create a maintenance list that you follow so that you don’t need to worry about doing such an extensive clean again.
It won’t need to be as frequent as the other areas of your home, but it will come in handy. We all need a bit of motivation sometimes!
Final words
And that’s it! These were eight tips to help keep your garage more organized. So, while the task may seem overwhelming at first, it’s not impossible. Once you’ve gone through everything above, you’ll not only have a fantastic workspace but will also be able to keep it clean consistently.