Clear the Clutter – Organize your Garage

For too many of us, the garage becomes sort of a dumping ground for items that we don’t want in our house. Before long, you may find that you have less and less room to park or get out of your car. When it gets to that point, it’s probably a good idea to take some time and organize your garage. Here are few suggestions to help you clear the clutter:

Start with basic cleaning. Sweep or vacuum the floors to clean an area for organizing. Be careful not to step on any loose nails or screws that may be lying around. Also, steer clear of any oil stains that are in your garage. Kitty litter makes a good absorbent for heavy oil stains or spills. While you are cleaning, make note of any spiderwebs or evidence that any creatures, such as bats, have taken up residence in your garage.

During the basic cleaning, you can begin the decluttering process by tossing anything you know you aren’t going to keep in the trash. This way you don’t have to deal with it during the decluttering/decision making phase of what to toss and keep.

The decluttering process will allow you to assign a value to items in your garage. We suggest using the following values for items to help organize your garage:

  • Toss
  • Keep
  • Donate
  • Sell on Ebay / Garage Sale
  • Trash

If you have space, move all the items into your driveway. It’s a good idea to create zones to sort items. Use zone designations such as car supplies, sports equipment, tools, recycle center, Ebay, etc. to help organize. Some organizers like to divide their garages into department store zones (garden, automotive, paint, etc).

Once you have your items sorted into the proper categories, it’s time to assess how much space you will need to store the items back into your garage. Be sure to utilize your vertical space in your garage by using pegboards and shelving for storage space. It’s a good idea to have a lockable cabinet if you are storing any potentially harmful chemicals, especially if children are present.

Once you have everything stored in it’s proper place, be sure to take any items you plan on donating to a donation center right away. Return any items you may have borrowed from neighbors or family. Any left over items, consider a garage sale or even selling on Ebay.

Do you have any ideas for organizing a garage? Please share you comments and photo’s with us!