GARAGE CLEAN-UP:TIPS TO KEEP YOU ORGANIZED THIS WINTER

For many people, a garage is more like a giant dumpster for everything from Christmas decorations to sporting equipment, tools, lawn equipment, empty cans, and other miscellaneous items not quite ready for the trash can.

With winter already being a messy season, here are some useful tips for keeping your garage organized.

Start with a plan

Having a clear layout of your garage and its contents will make it easier to organize.  Before you start moving anything, think about the main use(s) of your garage and storage needs.

Once you’ve determined the main uses of your garage, it’s time to plan. Make note of things like:

• How much space you need for your vehicle(s)
• What you’re currently using often vs. less frequently (e.g. shovel, gardening tools)
• What works best where (e.g. trash can near, seasonal stuff stored away)

Time to sort

Start by removing everything from your garage. Toss away or donate items you don’t use anymore—toys, décor, broken items—and then organize the remaining items by season and frequency of use.

Store items you won’t be using for several months, like gardening tools, camping gear and summer sporting equipment.

Repeat this process at least once a year (we recommend doing it each spring/summer and fall/winter) to ensure your garage remains organized year-round.

Get cleaning

During the winter, garages often get neglected, which is why it’s important to clean this space as well as possible to remove snow, mud, dust and grime.

Do a thorough sweep of your garage floor and rinse off afterward. Squeegee the floor to remove moisture and ensure your floor is free of debris.

Go vertical

Using your garage walls for storage not only frees up valuable floor space for parking, but it also helps vehicles warm up faster because they won’t be exposed to extreme weather.

Hooks, shelves, brackets, baskets, and bins are useful ways to utilize wall space for tools, sporting equipment and more.

Think up, not down

 The ceiling of your garage is a great place to store seasonal items, including winter tires. Overhead storage options, such as roof racks and heavy-duty wall-mounted tire racks are space saving saviors that help create ample floor space for your vehicles.

Consider cabinets, bins, and shelves

Cabinets maximize storage space and come in a variety of sizes for all your tools, gear, and equipment.

Bins make use of the vertical space in your garage by stacking easily. And shelves are an affordable way to help keep things off the floor and are great for storing items you access regularly.

Try and store the wettest items in your garage the furthest from your house’s entry, keeping the closer space for items you need to access more easily, like recycling or outdoor clothing.

With the winter certain to deliver slushier, snowy weather ahead, a well-organized garage will help keep the weather outside where it belongs—and not inside your home. For durable residential garage doors that stand up to the harshest of temperatures, contact us today for a free quote.