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At Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc., we understand the frustration of planning a weekend camping trip only to discover your gear is lost in the clutter of your garage. Use these tips to organize your garage so you can find everything you need, maximize your home’s square footage and still have room to park your car.
1. Gather your supplies ahead of time
Make things faster and easier with a little planning. Before you start, track down all the supplies you’ll need as you work. Here are a few things to have on hand:
- Cardboard boxes for donated items
- Work gloves
- Trash bags
- Vacuum (so you can clean as you work)
- Storage bins (but don’t buy extras until you have a better idea of the number and sizes of bins you need)
- Small container for things like nails and other tiny objects you find as you go
- Speaker with your favorite music or podcast
2. Categorize your belongings
The easiest way to see everything in your garage is to take everything out of it. Use your driveway or front lawn to group items into categories—sports gear, tools, gardening supplies and car equipment, for example.
If you find items that don’t go in any of your categories, toss, donate or relocate them.
3. Plan for the seasons
If you’re organizing in warmer months, leave space for things like patio furniture and outdoor kids’ toys you’ll want to store in winter. If winter is on its way, make sure things like ice melt and snow shovels are accessible. If you still have weeks of summer ahead of you, store your lawn mower in easy reach.
4. Give yourself a break
Garage organization can be labor-intensive, so take a breather every half hour or so to drink water and rest. You’ll have more stamina and won’t burn yourself out.
It’s okay if you don’t finish the project in a single day. Give yourself plenty of time to move at a pace that works for you to minimize the stress.
5. Find a place for everything
Once the garage is empty and you’re ready to put things back, decide where you’re going to store everything. Consider installing furniture that uses vertical space to maximize your square footage:
- Built-in cabinets
- Pegboards
- Shelving units
- Ceiling racks
- Bike hooks
6. Prioritize safety
Lock dangerous chemicals and tools in a secure cabinet or shed to keep them out of children’s and pets’ reach. And don’t store things like propane or paint in the garage. Paint is sensitive to temperature fluctuations and is best stored indoors in a temperature-controlled area. Propane tanks are safer in a shed away from sparks.