Published on: July 2, 2022
Written by Eric Devin / Fact-checked by David Rowan
Are you tired of your garage’s filth and clutter? You are not alone; the majority of individuals have a huge mess in their garage!
The truth is that most people ignore their garages because they believe it is “out of sight, out of mind.” When clutter builds up in your house, where you spend the most of your time, it’s much simpler to notice.
However, if you simply hop in your car and begin unloading additional goods into your garage, things may and will rapidly spiral out of control. And if you’re having trouble finding a parking spot, you know it’s time to take action!
Garage clutter will unavoidably accumulate over time, but with a few easy ideas and tactics, you can turn it into a well-organized place.
What Are Some Effective Strategies for Decluttering and Organizing Your Garage
1. Divide and Conquer – Start by dividing your garage into zones for different types of items. For example, one zone for sporting equipment, one for tools, one for seasonal decorations, etc.
2. Purge and Donate – Take the time to go through every item in your garage and decide what needs to go. Donate or sell anything that you no longer need or use.
3. Store Smartly – Utilize vertical space by adding shelves and wall-mounted storage. Invest in bins and containers to organize small items and keep them out of the way.
4. Label Everything – Label bins and shelves clearly so you know where things belong and can easily find them when you need them.
5. Park Smartly – Utilize a rack or pulley system to store bikes and other bulky items. Store your car in the garage, too, so you can maximize space.
6. Keep It Clean – Designate a day each week or month to sweep and mop the garage floor. Keep plastic bags on hand to collect debris and dirt.
How To Get Your Garage Organized And Decluttered
It is necessary to tidy your garage prior to arranging it. Over the years, your garage has most likely been home to many odds and ends. Cleaning and arranging these goods is a major undertaking, and it won’t help much if things don’t stay neat for long. Begin with these suggestions.
Purge It
Set aside a day or weekend to tidy your garage completely. Go through everything in your garage and organize your belongings into three piles: keep, donate/sell, and toss out. Sort your “keep” pile into categories such as camping equipment, sports equipment, and so on.
Make a Layout for Your Place
Plan how you’ll keep your belongings before you start putting them back. Take measurements and draw a floor design for your garage. Plan to keep goods you don’t use very often, like as seasonal decorations, in hard-to-reach spots and save room near the front for products you do use regularly.
Invest in Storage Helps
Keeping items off the floor is the best way to keep your garage tidy for good. To keep your belongings secure and organized, use shelves, hooks, and overhead storage.
Ideas for Garage Storage
You’re ready for some garage storage ideas now that everything is clean. It might be difficult to keep everything in your garage tidy and accessible. Check out the tips below for some creative ways to maximize the functionality of your room.
Storage in the Ceiling
Don’t squander valuable garage storage space by failing to make use of the ceiling. It’s ideal for storing long, flat goods like ladders. Hanging shelves can be used to store camping gear or other seasonal things. This is an excellent solution for keeping objects off the floor and out of the way. When installing shelves from the ceiling, make sure the garage door will open and close correctly, and that your cars will fit within.
Shelves in Place of Cabinets
Instead of cabinets, use wire or wooden shelves. You’ll be able to immediately view and reach all of the goods you’ve put in your garage if you use open shelves to declutter it. Furthermore, cabinets require clearance room for the doors to swing open, limiting the amount of useable space in your garage. When you don’t have cabinet doors to hide your clutter, you’ll be more compelled to keep things tidy, thus open shelving is a terrific long-term garage organizing option.
Invest in a Pegboard
In your garage, pegboards are ideal for hanging and organizing commonly used goods. Create a display of hand tools, hardware, and gardening equipment by attaching hooks and pegs to a sturdy pegboard. A pegboard storage system is both durable and flexible. If you don’t have a lot of shelf space in your garage, you may use as many pegboards as you like to get the most use out of the wall space.
Set Up Slatwall
A slatwall system is a collection of grooved panels that hang on the wall. The grooves can hold a variety of baskets, hooks, brackets, and shelves, making this system extremely adaptable. Slatwall is generally less expensive and more versatile than cabinets, as well as taking up less space.
Similar Goods Should Be Grouped Together
Divide your shelves into parts and allocate each section to a certain category of products, such as pet supplies or maintenance equipment. Keeping all of your belongings in one place makes it easy to find things and encourages long-term organization.
How Can I Maximize Space in My Garage
1. Utilize vertical space. Install shelves, racks, and wall-mounted storage systems to store items off the floor.
2. Hang bikes and other bulky items from the ceiling.
3. Designate zones in the garage for different activities. Place a workbench for repairs, a storage area for large items, and a designated space for sports equipment.
4. Consider using a track system and sliding door for easy access to items.
5. Use stackable containers and bins to store smaller items.
6. Label the containers to make it easier to find items.
7. Use pegboards to organize tools and other items.
8. Install hooks and hangers to hang items like ladders, brooms, and shovels.
9. Re-evaluate what you store in your garage. Consider donating or selling items you no longer need.
10. Utilize the space under the stairs or in corners with built-in shelves.
How Can I Get Myself to Clean Up My Garage?
Cleaning and Organizing Your Garage in 7 Easy Steps
- Use Top Shelf Garage’s movable shelves to vertically organize and optimize your garage inventory. Vertical shelving maximizes garage space, while rolling shelf makes cleaning your garage a breeze. You may move all of your belongings into the driveway, organize what’s left in the garage, and then clean the garage floor when it’s time to clean and organize it. Simply wheel all of your shelves back into the garage when you’re done.
- Invite a neighbor, a family, or a friend. Tell them that if they assist you in cleaning your garage for a certain number of hours, you would assist them in cleaning their garage for the same number of hours.
- Put your headphones on your ears. There are a plethora of things a person may listen to to keep their mind occupied while doing filthy or tiresome chores. Fill your music player with all of your favorite tunes. Books on tape might also help you pass the time. Alternatively, tune in to one of your favorite discussion radio shows.
- Do not surrender easy. Look for a photo of a clean, well-organized garage. As you clean and tidy your garage, print it out or rip it out and store it somewhere visible.
- Arrange a summer get-together in your garage.
- Take frequent breaks and eat well. Food and beverages will provide you with the energy you need to continue.
- Make sure your garage doesn’t get out of hand again!
When Is the Best Time to Clean Your Garage?
The answer is every six months, as a general rule of thumb. This is the ideal length of time: it prevents debris from building up or embedding itself in your concrete, but it’s not so seldom that you’re paying for useless services.
How Long Should a Garage Cleaning Take?
Organizing and thorough cleaning your garage may seem daunting, but if you approach it with a strategy, you should be able to do the majority of the work in a day or two.
What Is the Best Way to Store Boxes in a Garage?
Keep anything cardboard out of your garage. Rather than storing your belongings in cardboard boxes, move them to plastic bins and boxes. It’s worthwhile to invest in high-quality containers since they will keep everything organized and protected.
What Is the Cheapest Method to Arrange a Garage?
Plastic bins are a simple and cost-effective solution to organize your garage. After you’ve sorted your items into categories, place them in a container and name it. Are you unsure what you require? Before you put items into the first available bin, consider these guidelines for selecting storage boxes.
What Should I Do With the Space in My Garage?
The garage is perfect for tools and appliances that are only used outside. Shovels, hoses, outside extension cables, lawnmowers, gardening equipment, flower pots, and other items are just a few examples. Bags of potting soil, buckets of ice melt, and other bulky outdoor goods are all excellent options for garage storage.
Can I Use Different Styles of Garage Doors when Decluttering and Organizing My Garage?
When decluttering and organizing your garage, consider using different types of garage doors to enhance the overall look and functionality. Incorporating various styles of garage doors can help create a cohesive and visually appealing space while maximizing storage and accessibility.
What Is the Best Way to Clean a Garage Floor?
As an all-purpose cleanser, combine a half-cup baking soda with a gallon of warm water. You may also form a paste with baking soda and a few drops of liquid soap and use it to scrape light spots. Warm, soapy water has a lot of power when it comes to keeping your floors clean and removing tiny stains.
Putting It All Together
Keeping your garage tidy will make your life simpler. When it snows, you won’t have to spend hours looking for stuff, and you’ll be able to park your car inside. But keep in mind that decluttering is a continuous process. An yearly cleanup of your garage will prevent clutter from re-accumulating.
Sit down and establish a plan immediately if just thinking about how much room you might free up by clearing out your garage makes you feel better. Get rid of the clutter in your garage and proudly open your garage doors.
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About This Writer
Hi, I am Eric Devin and I am a professional interior architect. Since childhood, I've always enjoyed DIY projects! And, I have loved to solve simple household problems using essential tools and equipment. I have also acquired a lot of information about basic household tools settings by working with contractors.
