Did you know messy garages can lead to preventable accidents? Also, most people don’t know where they put things in their garage? This can lead to frustration and wasted time.
Keeping your garage well-organized will help when you’re working on projects. If you need some help with cleaning out your cluttered garage, keep reading.
In this guide, you’ll learn some garage organization tips. Keeping your garage clean and free of clutter can prevent accidents and stress.
Check out our tips below.
Remove Everything From Your Garage
To declutter your garage, you initially need to assess everything you have stored.
Choose a part of your garage and begin putting things in your driveway. This will make it easier to sort through the items. You will also better understand how much storage space you have in your garage.
Remove items from the garage floor first. Clean near the outside door and move inward, continuing to focus on the floor.
Make a few different piles. Have a donation pile, a garbage pile, and items you’ll keep. The items will get separated in piles outside of your garage. Ask a friend or relative to come over and drop off donations to a shelter.
What Will You Keep?
After pulling items out of the garage, you should consider what you will keep.
What are your criteria? Having some ideas will help you during the sorting phase. You don’t want to get slowed down by a nostalgic gift from a friend.
Keep the items that you have used in the last year. You know you will need them again for a specific project.
You’ll also want to hold onto things that remain in working condition. Get rid of the items you have been planning to fix for years.
You may want to hold onto items that aren’t easy to rent or purchase. For example, if you’re a gardener, hold onto your different gardening tools.
Where Will You Store Your Items?
While cleaning out your garage, consider picking up some bins.
Identify what you’re going to donate or sell. Begin sorting through these items. Having some cotton bags or plastic containers will make it easier to transfer.
Bag or box up any junk items. You can bring them to the local dump or rent a dumpster.
Start Deep Cleaning Your Garage
After you have removed items from the entire garage, you should do a deep clean from top to bottom. Dust off the ceiling, walls, and all your shelves or cabinets. Wipe down the walls and doors of the cabinets with a mild cleaner.
Sweep up or vacuum away the dust on the floor. Mop and hose off the floor and let things dry for a few hours.
You might wonder how to get rid of stubborn stains. Get rid of any signs of the mold with bleach or vinegar-water solution. You can use soap and a wire scrub brush.
If you have water damage, you could always call in a water remediation company to help you. They can also make suggestions on what kind of floor coating to choose.
Begin Organizing Your Stored Items
After narrowing down your inventory, start thinking about unique storage options.
You should assess your garage and what you need to store. Do you have different-shaped items like garden tools and woodworking workstations?
Your garage storage system will depend on the items you use. Pick up peg boards, and place them over your woodworking workbench. You can get different types of clear collection bins.
If you are a large family, store sporting equipment in clear containers and keep them off the floor. This will prevent any moisture build-up.
Bikes, kayaks, or other large items should not lay on the floor. You can get strong ceiling hooks and fasten them on a large support beam in your garage.
Make use of shelving units. Put frequently used items nearby within arm’s reach. You can place less essential items in a cabinet or closet.
Try picking up a pegboard to sort your hand tools. A wall hook can work for large items like shovels and rakes.
Group your items into categories. Place garden items together and woodworking supplies in another nook. Get rid of cardboard boxes. Pick up clear plastic bins and label them.
Next time you ask the kids to get something from the garage, they will have an easier time finding it.
Don’t Rush the Process
You may get overwhelmed by the amount of work you need to complete. You shouldn’t aim to finish this kind of project in a day. Use these tips and plan your garage cleaning project.
You could also reach out to relatives or friends. Ask them if they would be willing to help you with this project. You could help them with their garage another weekend.
Spend Time Sealing Cracks
Garages tend to get the brunt of bad weather and storms.
You usually don’t heat the garage. This is why garages experience fluctuating temperatures. Climate changes will cause mildew, cracks to spread, or leaks to creep inwards.
Most homeowners don’t spend much time in the garage, so they may not notice the problem until it’s too late.
After cleaning out your garage, you should examine the floor. Are there any areas that you need to touch up or fix? Try sealing the cracks with a spray-in foam or sealant.
It would help if you also looked around for any loose wires presenting as a fire hazard. Call in an electrician to handle these problems.
Clean Out the Gutters
Make sure you spend an afternoon cleaning out the gutters surrounding your garage. Try tidying the gutters near your garage. Look out for signs of water damage, as well.
You might need to replace the gutters to protect your garage.
Dust, Wash, and Paint
Depending on the last time you completed a deep clean, you might need to do some washing and painting. You don’t want to inhale harmful contaminants or dust. Wear a mask while you complete this step.
Focus on deep cleaning the corners and ceilings. Ensure you get rid of all the dust so you don’t track it into your home later.
Some homeowners will want to put in an epoxy floor coating. You could also look into a coating that’s stronger than epoxy.
Epoxy or other coatings will protect your floor from oil spills. You could complete this task with the help of a friend throughout the weekend
Some homeowners will paint a layer of latex paint across the garage floor. Try to caulk around the windows or any cracks. This will help keep your garage looking fresh and help to deter mildew from growing.
Continue With Maintenance Tasks
It would help if you tried to get into the habit of cleaning your garage at least once a month.
Go through the space and notice if you have any unused items creeping up again. Donate these items or pass them on to a friend who can use them.
Sweep regularly and put tools back where they belong. This will ensure they are where you expect them to be for your next project. Ask your family or roommates to do the same.
Repair Garage Doors
If you notice your garage door is no longer working, you should consider replacing it. Getting a new garage door will protect your items from the elements, and increase the curb appeal of your home.
Get Garbage Bins
You should also put a few garbage bins in your garage. This way, it is easy to dispose of rubbish while working on a project. You won’t end up with debris littered all over the floor.
Make sure you get into the habit of emptying the bags.
Hire a Cleaner
If you need more time to deep clean your garage, you can always hire a professional organizer or cleaner. Someone can come to your home and finish this lengthy task for you.
Contact a few different cleaning businesses. Ask if they have experience handling various tools and materials.
Don’t Fret About Your Cluttered Garage
Did you find this guide helpful on how to revamp a cluttered garage? If you don’t have the time to tackle this project, don’t worry. Call us today and we will help you with this significant project.
Find a location near you. We’d love to help you with this project and improve your home’s value.