Garage Organization Tips for Messy Garages
Modern garages have become just as messy as closets, despite being built to store vehicles. A crowded garage can lead to a number of issues, from misplaced tools to a lack of parking space, as well as a place for rodents and vermin to make a nest. As a result, garage organization has become a big business.
Companies now specialize in cleaning up messy garages and creating organizational systems—and with good reason. According to a variety of surveys:
But before you pay for custom cabinets or for a company to clean out the space, consider these cleaning strategies and garage organization tips.
Strategy for Cleaning Out Your Garage
Here are three garage cleaning tips before you tackle the task of organizing your garage.
Move Everything Out
The first step in cleaning your garage is finding out what’s in it. Start with a small section of your garage and move things out onto the driveway to sort through. This garage cleaning tip will not only make it simpler to work, but it will also help you to see how much space you have to deal with and what sorts of storage will work best when it comes time to organize the stuff you want to keep.
Clean the Garage
After you’ve cleared the tables and ground, it’s time to clean your garage. Start by sweeping and vacuuming. Dust off and wipe down the tops of your cabinets and shelves. Consider using a disinfectant to clean all surfaces, including walls and floor.
Sort Everything Out
While your garage airs out after the cleaning, start making a few piles. There are various strategies for sorting everything out, one easy method is to make four piles and sort everything into these piles:
- Keep
- Sell
- Donate
- Toss
You can list the items in the sell pile on marketplaces, such as Craigslist, Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace.
You can take the donation items to your local charity and throw the ‘toss’ pile right into the garbage bin (or drive it right to the dump).
The next step is to start organizing the garage. What’s the best way to keep a garage organized? It all depends on what you want to store. Keep reading to discover the best garage space-saving tips.
Tips for Organizing a Messy Garage
Garages are known for housing all of your random items, but that doesn’t mean they have to be a cluttered mess. Follow these garage organization tips to quickly arrange your cluttered garage and add lots of storage space.
Keep Your Garage Floor Open
Having too many goods on the floor is one of the first things that make a garage feel cluttered. You’ll have a lot more room for your automobile and won’t have to deal with sloppy, impossible-to-sort mounds. If you buy prefabricated cabinets or shelving, make sure they’re on high legs so you can clean the floor beneath them.
Set Up Wall Organizers
Your walls are excellent for saving space. Don’t limit yourself to a storage cabinet; Use garage wall storage items like racks or hooks to hang things. Hanging your power tools or keeping smaller things on shelves or in garage cabinets gives you a lot more storage possibilities in your garage.
These wall hooks are popular since they are less dusty than shelving units, let you see what you have in your garage, and are simple to put together. They are also available in various sizes and forms, allowing you to choose the perfect solution for your specific requirements.
Sort By Purpose
When it comes to garage organizing, you want everything to be easy to find. It’s usually a good idea to plan out your garage layout ahead of time, so you know what to put where. For example, save a portion of the wall space for most often-used tools or children’s toys.
You may hang the ladders and fishing rods from the ceiling on the opposite side of the wall, and storage bins for seasonal items can be placed on higher shelves out of the way. You should, however, consider the availability of free space when organizing the pieces.
Consider Overhead Garage Storage
It might not be easy to store everything you need without taking up valuable floor space. Thankfully, you may be overlooking another storage option: your garage ceiling space.
For more overhead storage, use ceiling-mounted racks. In fact, you may use these ceiling storage systems to store a variety of light and heavy items, such as sleeping bags, foldable chairs, beach equipment, and even camping gear, enabling you to get things out of the way while keeping your garage clean and clutter-free. Just make sure you’re using sturdy overhead storage racks or have a safety net underneath if you live in an earthquake-prone zone.
Add Pegboard Organizers
Pegboards are a terrific way to quickly alter your garage organization to your changing needs. Pegboards are inexpensive and simple to set up, and they help you keep track of all of your tools. Everything is within arm’s access and maybe grabbed at any time. They can be cut to fit and even painted to give them a unique design.
Add and Use Storage Bins
If you only have a minor clutter issue, you may need to reorganize your stuff into stackable plastic storage boxes. Bins can be stacked on wall-mounted shelves or tucked away in a corner. They will help protect your belongings from insect damage from mice or moths and mould spores. Use clear plastic storage bins and label them well to ensure that nothing gets lost in the shuffle.
Use the Vertical Space
After organizing all of your cleaning supplies, sports equipment, and yard tools, you may discover that your bicycles are cluttering your new wall storage. What is the solution? Store them vertically.
One of the simplest and cheapest ways to store your bike vertically is using heavy-duty rubberized hooks designed to screw into a rafter or stud. Use a single hook for vertical bicycle storage, while for horizontal bicycle storage, use two hooks spaced a bike’s width apart. They’ll be out of the way and off the floor, and they’ll be easy to take for those last-minute weekend rides.
Get Magnetic Boards
If you’re the person who loses nuts and bolts all the time, a magnetic board will come in handy. This handy magnetic tool rack looks like the knife holders found in kitchens. Except that they’re designed to hold nails, drill bits, wrenches, and any other tool you can think of.
Allow small metal and steel bits to magnetize to the board, mainly when working on anything. And the best part is that you won’t have to delve into the dark to find what you’re looking for; it’ll be right in front of you.
Use a Workbench
Workbenches are an excellent addition if you enjoy undertaking DIY projects. If you don’t have enough space for a full-size permanent workbench but still need to spread things out, a foldable workstation is a good option.
A folding workbench may help you save a lot of space while still allowing you to work inside your garage whenever you choose. Choose those that you can fold after each use and wall-mounted. This folding workstation is simple to set up.
Consider An Outdoor Storage Shed
Adding storage space elsewhere is sometimes the ideal remedy for garage mess. The tractor or lawnmower, wheelbarrow, and other yard equipment can take up most of a single-car garage or a significant portion of one side of a two-car garage. Outdoor storage can store equipment, garden tools, and other non-essential goods, freeing up space in your packed garage. Transferring these goods to a shed can significantly improve your storage situation.
Final Thoughts
Most of us have a home garage primarily to store our automobiles. However, if you can properly use the garage space, you will be able to keep a range of things in addition to your automobile. Keep your garage organized and maximize your space by using your ideas.
Apart from the above garage storage ideas, think outside the box. Consider additional options for saving space that keep your style and tastes. Discover what works best for you, and you’ll be pleased with your newly arranged and tidy garage.