StorageWorks Boutique Inc. - Organizing Your Garage

Organizing Your Garage

Your garage is a lot more than just a place to park your car.There are several ways to make your garage functional and still have room for your car. It all comes down to careful planning, and using the right solutions for the right problems.

Most garages become unmanageable because of the accumulation of too much “stuff”. This doesn’t always mean you need to get rid of things but a garage makeover may be due.

Steps to plan and organize your garage:

Prepare for the cleanup. Wear the appropriate clothes to clean that mess. Garages can have dangerous materials and sharp objects so be sure your footwear and clothing are sensible.

Think about what’s in there. Are you going to need somewhere special to store a few things? You may want to look at renting a storage space just to temporarily keep it out of the house.

Sorting is the key. TAKE EVERYTHING OUT. Now sort into categories for like objects and tools. Make categories such as Tools, Hardware, Household Goods, Sports equipment, Toys, Lawn Care, Seasonal Storage, automotive care, etc. Be sure to purge anything that is no longer needed and/or broken. Designate a pile for repair, discard, donate or sell.

Designating areas - garages almost always provide far more wall space than floor, and the ceiling is usually a valuable resource for long term storage space. Think about what you have the most of and if you want to space for workbenches or gardening benches. Some area ideas:

KIDS ACTIVITY CENTER – Include the whole family when developing a plan for your garage. Have an area for each family member to store their items.

Create and install storage systems. From shelves to racks, be sure to choose the systems that will give you the most for what you own. Here are a few options:

SHELVES/SHELVING – there are many different types of garage style shelving, the important thing is that you have enough and that it is strong enough to handle the heaviest of your items. If you have items that will not be required often, such as seasonal decorations or clothes, have shelves installed higher up the wall, giving you plenty of room for more shelves below. When putting your stuff back, make sure each shelf or area of shelving is clearly organized by category – don’t mix your seasonal with memorabilia. (Click here to see the options we offer.

HOOKS AND LADDERS – Larger tools, such as ladders, shovels, rakes etc. can be difficult to store and don’t generally do very well on the shelf. The best way to get these up off the floor is to use hooks and hang them up on the wall. If a ladder is only used once in a while think about suspending it securely from the ceiling. Look at heavy duty utility hooks or specialty hooks for tools to ensure that the items will stay in place and not fall off the wall at the wrong moment. If your garage has drywall, make sure everything you install (or have installed) has been adequately anchored into place to take the weight of your items. Buy a sturdy two or three step folding step stool to reach higher items.

CEILLING LIFTS/PULLEY SYSTEMS – items such as bikes, canoes, and memorabilia can be better stored when up and out of the way. Look for pulley systems that allow you to lift items off the floor and back down easily. Hanging racks will store boxes and containers safely above your head. BE SURE that you have the ceiling space to use these items. Ceiling heights below ten feet could become a problem, as the items will hang too close to head height. Watch that you don’t place heavy items over your car, even if it clears the garage door – this is a potentially hazardous place. (Click here to see our Heavy Lift and Bike Lifts.)

CONTAINERS/BOXES/BINS – rugged clear plastic bins are the best for storing seasonal decorations, clothes or memorabilia, but can also be great for putting bags of loose material such as potting soil, or fertilizer in. Bankers or cardboard boxes are an option, but these containers can become weak and/or disintegrate from water or chemical damage. Glass jars are a wonderful way to store smaller items. (See our selection of totes and baskets.)

BE CREATIVE – Scrap 2x4's, some baby food or jam jars with lids can be an ingenious way of storing small screws, nails washers etc. Screw the lids into the 2x4 or a lip of a cabinet or shelf and then just screw the container back into its lid when you are storing. The jar will hang securely and you can easily see what is being stored in it.

The final touch is labelling. Essential to reorganizing and keeping things clean.

Keep like and like together, it can be very frustrating if your hammer and nails are on the opposite side of the garage. Depending on what you have consider different storage options and plan a budget to get the most out of your garage space.











	Last Chance/Clearance Shelving/Shelving Systems Closets Kitchen Laundry Bathroom Garage Hooks Cleaning Supplies Office/Media Storage Car/Travel Seasonal Testimonials Download and Print Product Instructions Download and Print Organizer Sheets						Organizing Your Garage Your garage is a lot more than just a place to park your car.There are several ways to make your garage functional and still have room for your car. It all comes down to careful planning, and using the right solutions for the right problems. Most garages become unmanageable because of the accumulation of too much “stuff”. This doesn’t always mean you need to get rid of things but a garage makeover may be due. Steps to plan and organize your garage: Prepare for the cleanup. Wear the appropriate clothes to clean that mess. Garages can have dangerous materials and sharp objects so be sure your footwear and clothing are sensible. Think about what’s in there. Are you going to need somewhere special to store a few things? You may want to look at renting a storage space just to temporarily keep it out of the house. Sorting is the key. TAKE EVERYTHING OUT. Now sort into categories for like objects and tools. Make categories such as Tools, Hardware, Household Goods, Sports equipment, Toys, Lawn Care, Seasonal Storage, automotive care, etc. Be sure to purge anything that is no longer needed and/or broken. Designate a pile for repair, discard, donate or sell. Designating areas - garages almost always provide far more wall space than floor, and the ceiling is usually a valuable resource for long term storage space. Think about what you have the most of and if you want to space for workbenches or gardening benches. Some area ideas: KIDS ACTIVITY CENTER – Include the whole family when developing a plan for your garage. Have an area for each family member to store their items. Create and install storage systems. From shelves to racks, be sure to choose the systems that will give you the most for what you own. Here are a few options: SHELVES/SHELVING – there are many different types of garage style shelving, the important thing is that you have enough and that it is strong enough to handle the heaviest of your items. If you have items that will not be required often, such as seasonal decorations or clothes, have shelves installed higher up the wall, giving you plenty of room for more shelves below. When putting your stuff back, make sure each shelf or area of shelving is clearly organized by category – don’t mix your seasonal with memorabilia. (Click here to see the options we offer. HOOKS AND LADDERS – Larger tools, such as ladders, shovels, rakes etc. can be difficult to store and don’t generally do very well on the shelf. The best way to get these up off the floor is to use hooks and hang them up on the wall. If a ladder is only used once in a while think about suspending it securely from the ceiling. Look at heavy duty utility hooks or specialty hooks for tools to ensure that the items will stay in place and not fall off the wall at the wrong moment. If your garage has drywall, make sure everything you install (or have installed) has been adequately anchored into place to take the weight of your items. Buy a sturdy two or three step folding step stool to reach higher items. CEILLING LIFTS/PULLEY SYSTEMS – items such as bikes, canoes, and memorabilia can be better stored when up and out of the way. Look for pulley systems that allow you to lift items off the floor and back down easily. Hanging racks will store boxes and containers safely above your head. BE SURE that you have the ceiling space to use these items. Ceiling heights below ten feet could become a problem, as the items will hang too close to head height. Watch that you don’t place heavy items over your car, even if it clears the garage door – this is a potentially hazardous place. (Click here to see our Heavy Lift and Bike Lifts.) CONTAINERS/BOXES/BINS – rugged clear plastic bins are the best for storing seasonal decorations, clothes or memorabilia, but can also be great for putting bags of loose material such as potting soil, or fertilizer in. Bankers or cardboard boxes are an option, but these containers can become weak and/or disintegrate from water or chemical damage. Glass jars are a wonderful way to store smaller items. (See our selection of totes and baskets.) BE CREATIVE – Scrap 2x4's, some baby food or jam jars with lids can be an ingenious way of storing small screws, nails washers etc. Screw the lids into the 2x4 or a lip of a cabinet or shelf and then just screw the container back into its lid when you are storing. The jar will hang securely and you can easily see what is being stored in it. The final touch is labelling. Essential to reorganizing and keeping things clean. Keep like and like together, it can be very frustrating if your hammer and nails are on the opposite side of the garage. Depending on what you have consider different storage options and plan a budget to get the most out of your garage space. Web Design and Content copyright ©2010 July 8 Storage Works Created by LostAngelGraphix.com