It “just ain’t what it used to be.”
When I was growing up, we had a garage with one car parked in it. What a concept!
Now, our garages are stuffed with boxes, mowers, bicycles, Christmas ornaments, camping equipment, old files, our children’s teddy bears and hundreds — if not thousands — of other items that we’ve long forgotten.
So how do we return the garage to its original purpose? By eliminating and organizing all the stuff stacked and crammed along its walls and in its corners.
Follow these steps to make your garage clutter free. The time needed to organize a garage is 4-14 hours. The time is determined by 1) how much stuff you have and 2) how many people are helping.
- Purchase boxes from an office supply store or ask your grocer for free boxes to use for storing your stuff in the garage or attic. Xerox boxes are super.
- Purchase transparent plastic boxes if you need to see the contents of each box.
- Employ shelving. The key is to go UP not OUT. Box up everything and place on shelving.
- Use magic markers to label each box.
- Throw away or give away everything you will not use. Ask yourself “what will happen if I throw this?” If the answer is nothing, toss it or take it to a needy organization!
- Assign in each box only one type of item such as sports equipment, memorabilia, or games.
- Hang everything on the walls that will not box such as chairs, backpacks, or tennis rackets.
- Use the ceiling to hang bikes and ladders.
- Hang your rakes, brooms, hoes on the wall using pegboard. Don’t have a pegboard, turn them upside down and insert into a large trash can.
- Make your system efficient with one-movement motions. Everything should be at your fingertips.
- Drive your car into the garage – or use for a game room!
Congratulations!
You have a spanking new garage with tons more space. You know where everything is and can reach it in seconds.
And if you’re in need of compliments for all the effort you put in, just leave the garage door open.
Your neighbors will walk by and ooh-and-ah!