You’re driving home after a hard day at the office, and you just want to chill out in your favorite comfortable chair in front of the TV. You pull into the driveway, though, and it starts to rain cats and dogs. The problem: Your garage is such a cluttered mess, your car hasn’t seen the inside of it in years. So, instead of getting to a nice, dry house, you’re forced to make a decision: wait out the storm behind the wheel in your driveway, just a few feet from sanctuary, or make a dash for it and get soaked.
Of course, having a tidy garage would have prevented this scenario (except for the rain.) But what do you do with those old cans of paint, plant containers, broken hammers, and other items you can’t live without?
Sometimes what a really disorganized space needs is beyond the realm of the person responsible for the disorganization. What should be kept? What should be tossed? This is when a professional organizer might be needed.
The National Association of Professional Organizers says some organizers specialize in organizing collections and memorabilia, while others help people prepare for moves. Whatever you need, NAPO has a list of topics a client should discuss with a potential organizer. They include what’s involved in a typical working session, the types of specialized services, fees, and references. A professional organizer, NAPO points out, should be a good listener and recommend a variety of solutions, suggestions and alternatives.
Categorize, categorize, categorize
If you want to organize the garage yourself, set aside an entire weekend so sorted items don’t have to sit out too long. Separate garage items by category, including recreational equipment, seasonal decor, tools, etc. Can your store your luggage somewhere else? (It helps to have an organized house, by the way.)
Another tip is to throw away or donate items that don’t fit a category. However, do you have random motorcycle parts or bicycle accessories you want to keep? Put them in a similar category or a visible place so you can remember you still have them.
The third step in garage organization is lay-out. Place tools by the workbench, and recycling near the entrance to the house. Think about how much you use these items. Built-in cabinets might help, as would pegboards to hold items such as garden tools vertically. Don’t forget about overhead space, with strong shelves mounted to the ceiling.
Re-use, re-use, re-use
Leftover PVC plumbing pipe can hold landscape tools. Old kitchen cabinets are handy for storing items. Bungee cords can be used to hold basketballs and other similar round recreational objects, since anything in that shape tends to bounce around.
Here’s an idea for that old crate: use it as a bicycle rack and helmet cubby. “Repurposing” old items can give them new life with a new purpose. Then, you can keep your garage uncluttered in the long run.
One final step: Hold a garage sale. Someone might actually want that purple beanbag chair from the 1970s.
Do you have tips for tidying up the garage? Share them in the comments.
Creative Commons image by Paul L Dineen