10 tips to organize a garage
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Listen up guys: If your wife has been leaving less-than-subtle hints that it's time to get organized, then perhaps it's time to consider an extreme garage makeover. The task of taming a cluttered garage may seem daunting, if not impossible. Luckily, we've provided 10 handy tips that will help make this dreaded chore a little easier.
1. More shelving
Increasing the amount of shelving throughout the garage will help drastically reduce the amount of clutter. Gathering similar items together on each shelf will make a big difference in the overall look of your garage.
2. Storage bins
Consider purchasing an assortment of bins and containers to store loose items. Labeling each bin according to its contents will help to maximize efficiency.
3. Paint the walls and floors
Breathe new life into your garage by adding a fresh coat of paint to the walls and applying a specialized stain-resistant coating to the floor which will help protect it from oil and chemical skills.
"We have a product called Hot Trax which is designed specifically for garage floors," said Tim Cable, the General Manager of ACE Hardware in Fairfield. "It really helps give the area a cleaner look and it creates a non-slip surface too."
4. Build a workbench
Installing a workbench is a great way to reduce clutter. An organized workbench not only provides a central place to store hardware and tools but is also the perfect for working on a variety of projects. Building plans are available at most home improvement centers.
5. Hooks
Try drilling hooks into the ceiling joists to hang bicycles, tools, or other items. Storing these items overhead will help open up additional space for storage.
6. Out of sight, out of mind
Consider moving seasonal or seldem used items into the attic. Doing so will also help to reduce clutter and create more space for frequently used items such as tools and sports equipment.
7. Get Rid of clutter
Reducing the amount of unnecessary clutter is crucial to the success of any garage makeover project. Gather together all of the items that are broken or no longer being used and dispose of them properly. While it may be hard to let some items go, the space you will gain as a result will be well worth the heartache.
8. Have a garage sale
Now that you've gathered up the useless junk that once clogged your garage it's time for a sale. Holding a garage sale is the perfect way turn unused items into fast cash.
9. Add cabinets
Large storage cabinets along each of the walls provide the perfect storage place for garden tools, sports equipment or other loose items. Local homecenters, including ACE Hardware, offer a a variety of prefabricated metal and plastic storage units that are perfect for this type of application, according to Cable.
10. Leave it to the professionals
If you've tried everything but just can't seem to get the garage organized then perhaps it's time to call in the experts. Cherck with local contractors for help with cabinets, shelving or simply to find a crew to haul stuff away.
GarageTek of Ohio-Kentucky in West Chester offers a complete, professionally-installed total garage organization system. "The flexibility of our system is very important," said Marsha Pontius of GarageTek of Ohio-Kentucky. "It is a uniform, complete system can be completely customized to meet any of our customers needs."
