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When houses are built, they tend to have garages for the purpose of storing cars. However, the reality is for most people it is a large storage room. The way you organize your garage storage can be essential when you’re looking for something like tools or to ensure you don’t create a fire risk. Here I want to share with you some tips for organizing your garage storage on a budget!
Plan to sort out the large garage
When you decide that you need to sort out the garage, the first thing you should do is take stock of the size of the task. Be honest with yourself. Will you need a skip or trips to the local tip? Is there anything in there that you know you could sell or give away?
Thinking about these things while you make tea, watch TV or drive to work will help you sort out the garage storage when the day comes. You will have already planned how you are going to dispose of larger items or valuables that you no longer need.
Before you start the big sorting out, make sure you have permanent markers, large stickers (or paper and tape) and plenty of bin bags. Stop throwing away any boxes that come with deliveries from Amazon etc and look around the house for unused storage boxes, cans etc. You may need it in the big sorting out!
The best buys for garage storage
There shouldn’t be too much that you need to buy for your garage storage, as most of it you probably already have and just need to organize more effectively.
A large garage shelving unit is very important here, ideally one that covers the entire height of the garage wall to maximize the space you have available. This storage should be securely attached to the wall if possible to ensure you can use the storage efficiently while keeping it safe.
If you don’t want to use garage shelving or want to see a bargain on a standard shelving unit, this will also be helpful. The most important things to look for are that it doesn’t rot easily when damp or flooded (some garages flood easily depending on the area), and to ensure that it is strong enough for heavy tools and boxes.
Another good thing to buy are large hooks for things like shovels and even wheelbarrows to hook onto. It should be fairly cheap to buy but will make all the difference.
Things you don’t need to buy for garage storage
You don’t need to buy any storage boxes to sort out your garage if you already have them, so make sure there aren’t any around the house that aren’t being used before you buy them.
Another item you don’t need to buy is special storage solutions for things like nails, screws, etc. If you don’t already have something like this, you can probably get away with using bowls of chocolate at Christmas and similar containers. Pringles tubes are great for things like this.
It’s unlikely you’ll need to buy any tools for the job, but if something might be needed to mount shelves or drill the wall for hooks, why not try borrowing it from a neighbor?
Sort out your garage storage
If you have a skip it’s probably just outside your garage which is perfect, if not you should have some garbage bags there or your car trunk open ready to load with stuff for the tip. Your wheel holder will also be handy for throwing in smaller pieces.
Start at the front and move the larger items you like to one side and the larger items you don’t like to your trunk, car boot or bins. By starting with the largest items you give yourself more room to work in.
Now start a couple of piles, one for tools, one for garden items, one for household items and one for car/bike products. Don’t worry too much about sorting out the items at first, just place them in the right piles. This should be a pretty quick job and add as many piles as you need depending on what you store in your garage.
Once everything is in piles, you can gather any new storage you have and see where the big items go. It is then easy to start working on each pile at a time and sort the items into storage boxes, label them and place them on the shelves as appropriate. At this point you should have something like an old box or bowl to hold brushes etc in if you can’t attach it to the wall and put hooks on the wall for all those larger items.
Your plan should be that everything is around the sides of the garage and everything has a place. If anything is not clear on the site as to what it is, you must label it. Don’t think you’ll remember, you won’t!
When your entire garage is organized, you can decide what you want to do with the empty space in the middle. Is there room for the child’s bicycles, or a small car? You may even be able to get rid of the garden shed and add those items to the garage, in an organized manner of course.
Stay on top of garage organization
Every month you need to make sure that everything is straight in the garage and anything you hurriedly put back needs to be put back in its place. An easy way to do this is perhaps every time you mow the lawn. This may mean doing it weekly in the summer, but if there isn’t much to put away, if anything, then that’s not a bad thing, is it?
Once a year you have to have another big sort out and see there is nothing you can get rid of, either by taking the tip or selling. This will ensure that you don’t have this huge task again!
How do you organize your garage? Is it an area full of massive clutter or is it already neat and organized? Let me know in the comments below if my tips helped you.
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