How organized is your garage? If you needed to find any item you stored in it, would you be able to find it easily? Or better yet, would someone else in your home be able to find it on their own? It’s cold outside, you have some free time during the holidays, and you want an indoor project. We have an excellent project for you that will bring benefits in the year to come. Let’s get started on garage organizing!
Set a Time and Make a Plan
Set aside enough time to conquer this project when you can give it your complete attention. At least one full day, or even two back-to-back days, may be needed depending on the number of items being stored and the extent of their current organization state. Protect the time you have blocked off and keep going until you have finished the project. Otherwise, items may be left sitting in piles for a long time. If the weather is dry, you will be able to pull things out of the garage to give you more room to work. But if not, set aside ample time if you will have to shuffle things around inside as you progress.
Recruit some helpers – either an expert or family members and plan to direct them throughout the project. Working alone may turn the project into an overwhelming task abandoned halfway through. The work will go by quickly when you have a plan in place, one or more helpers, and your favorite music playing in the background.
Take Inventory, Create a Design, and Gather Supplies
Categorize the items in your garage, such as sports equipment, toys, automotive, holiday decorations, recreational equipment, and tools. Next, sketch out a design of where and how you can store them. Consider the frequency of use and the available space and create sections for the different categories. Consider all usable space and remember to think vertical – hanging from the ceiling and the walls.
For the Wisconsin winter, consider reserving space to store outdoor summer items or furniture that must be taken inside during storms or for the season. Assigned places to store bicycles and sporting equipment will keep your garage tidy. Each person could also have their own space outfitted with cubbies, hooks, and baskets where they can drop bags, coats, or random items in a way that keeps the garage neat and everyone respecting each other’s space.
Take a scouting trip to your hardware store to collect ideas for storage products. Consider using various products such as pegboards on the wall, shelving, cabinets, baskets, hooks, ceiling storage racks, and plastic bins with lids. Labeling boxes and bins will identify their contents without pulling them down or opening them, so pick up some labels and a permanent marker from the store. When you do purchase, be sure to keep the receipt so you can return any unused storage products.
Put your cleaning supplies together that you will need on the project day. These items include trash bags, cleaning products, and cardboard boxes to collect donation items. Remember to put out your trash and recycling cans on the collection day just before your project workday so that they are empty and ready to be filled.
Get to Work and Organize
Now that you have a design plan, storage products, cleaning supplies, and helpers, it’s time to get to work. Clear out a space to work and create zones for trash, recycles, donations, and the items to organize and store. Using your list of categories, start moving things into separate sections. To keep from being overwhelmed, tackle sorting through one group at a time, moving items into storage, trash, or donations.
Remember that you cannot throw certain items in your home trash can. Create a collection of chemicals, electronics, and large items that must be transported and disposed of properly at the dump. Commit a date on your calendar to do this chore, or they will remain in your garage collecting dust and imposing danger.
With dedicated time to knock out this task, you will create orderly and functional storage in your garage that will benefit everyone in the house. Encourage household members to keep the garage tidy all year long by putting things away promptly after using them. While you are marking your calendar to organize the garage, schedule a date to have Joe Wilde Company perform an annual maintenance service on your garage door to ensure it continues to function properly all year long. Joe Wilde Company services all brands of garage doors and openers, and our professionals are dedicated to performing your garage service at the highest standard. Call us today at (262) 782-0500, or contact us online at joewilde.com.