Smart Ideas to Better Organize your Garage
Make a Plan. This might sound strange. But a plan is a great idea because it will help you organize your garage. Your plan should be to fit your needs. If you do a lot of storage for your garden tools, you should have them all in a certain area and not spread out all over the garage. The same is true with mechanical tools. I often blame my sons when I can’t find a tool. as it turns out, I had set it down in a different place myself. So a plan helps you keep track of things.
Clean it out. Take everything out into the driveway. It may look like a yard sale and people may stop to ask what is for sale, but you need to do this to clean it out good. Take a broom and remove all cobwebs. Dust off the ledges, sweep the floor, wash the windows, wet mop the floor. If it is a concrete floor, you might want to consider putting down a floor sealer. If you have oil stains on the floor, get them up. It is very easy to slip on them.
Check your garage door. Make sure it works easily. Oil or lube the pulleys if they need it. Make sure all the wheels are in their tracks for easy operation.
Check the wiring. If you haven’t done this, this is very important. It will protect your building from fire. Change the lights or lighting system. A well lighted garage is helpful when you are checking your oil or looking for things.
Put things back. Now you are ready to start moving things back in. Keep your tools in one specific area of the garage. If you have a tool box, organize so that you know where your wrenches, screwdrivers, and hammers are located. Try to keep them locked up so children can’t get to them, especially older children.
Poisons should always be kept together and under lock. Have a cabinet or closet and keep all poison’s together. This would be insects, mole, and weed poisons. It would be great, if you could also put these up high. Do not leave them out thinking, “oh they won’t come in here.”
Keep all wiring rolled up and located together. Extension cords and general wiring should be kept together. Do the same with garden hoses. Roll them up and hand them up. You can buy spools for them at a local Lowe’s or Home Depot. You can put them on the wall for storage.
Store hardware in small drawers. When I say hardware, I mean things like screws, washers, nuts, and bolts. Keep nails by the sizes the same way but, away from the screws. some garages are set up with a wood area and some for metal. A wood area is for things like saws and hammers. A metal area would be anything related to sheet metal. Depending on how organized you want to get, you can sort screws and nails by their sizes.
Keep your garden tools together in one area of the garage. Many times you see people throw these in a corner out of the way. This is a bad idea if you have children around. Hang them up high or put them in a closet. Many like to hang them on a wall were little hands can’t reach them.
Keep all power tools safe. Take off the blades, drill bits, and other fixtures on your power tools. Keep the cords wound up and place them safely away. If you have electrical outlets, put those little plug covers in them. You won’t regret it and they are very inexpensive.
Sharp objects should have special attention to them. Shears, axes, trimmers, are very dangerous. Place them under lock if you can. Once again keep them away from little hands.
Ladders can be stored overhead or along walls. You can get ladder holders. Don’t use nails. They aren’t strong or big enough.
Paints and other liquids. Individuals have a love for keeping paints. One reason is that the trash haulers won’t take them. Another idea is oh I will use it for touch up. Either store them together and label them or get rid of them. Most people when they repaint go to a different color anyway. Once paint freezes, it is never the same. Gasoline is hazardous in many ways. Just keep what you need under lock, too. If your mower tank is low, store it in the tank and keep the can empty. Usually a closet or small cabinet is best for storage. Definitely keep it away from furnaces or heaters.
Set up a mobilized light. You always need extra light. You can have a utility that hangs from the ceiling or one that comes from the wall. Be sure it is rolled up. You don’t want extra cords hanging out or laying on the floor. This light should be able to go anyplace in your garage.
These are the basics. Other things to consider is radio location. Is it good and secure so that it won’t fall? Anything on wheels like bikes and scooters need their place,too. Trash cans should be kept in the same proximity as well. Don’t let the trash build up in them before you take it out. they can be a breeding spot for insects.
Well there’s the idea. Now all you have to do is get to work. Too much work for one person? Why not have the family help and then take them out for a pizza afterward.
