Spring Cleaning: How to Organize Your Garage

Many people use their garage as a home gym or a workspace, but the space can quickly get cluttered, making it challenging to use the area as desired. As spring rolls around, it’s the perfect time to clear out your garage and organize, utilizing various storage materials to make the most of the space.

This article provides garage storage tips and a garage cleaning checklist to help you learn how to organize a garage and prepare for the spring season.

Create a Game Plan

Before you jump in and start organizing your belongings in your garage, you’ll want to come up with a plan to tackle the clutter. First, take a look at your floor plan to determine how much space is available inside your garage. Take measurements so you don’t buy something that won’t fit within the dimensions. Decide what you want to keep and what you might want to throw out or put away in an attic or storage facility.

When creating your plan, try to set aside an entire day for the organization if you can. When you spend a whole day dedicated to organizing your garage, you’ll find that the time goes by quickly, especially when you’ve got a plan.

Categorize Your Items

Everything inside your garage can fit into a category, and it will be easier to store and find items if you sort them by category before putting them away. You can sort your belongings into categories such as:

• Tools
• Recycling
• Sports equipment
• Camping gear
• Decor

Other items, such as paint or luggage, are better stored elsewhere, especially if your garage doesn’t have temperature control. After you have everything sorted into categories, it will be easier to organize the items in that category into a designated space. Organizing your belongings by category will make it easier to find the items you need rather than trying to dig through a pile of stuff.

Gather Organization Materials

Once you’ve sorted everything into specific categories, you’ll want to find the appropriate storage and organization materials for each category. Here are a few organizational materials you should consider:

• Stackable bins: You can store just about anything in large bins, from recreational equipment to recyclables. Stacking these bins on top of each other will open up more space in your garage.
• Clear jars: You can use clear jars to store pens, small tools and other items. You can see everything inside to find what you’re looking for with ease.
• Lockable cabinet: A cabinet with a lock is an excellent way to store lawn chemicals and other materials you don’t want your children to get a hold of.
• Label maker: Once you’ve got everything in bins, it can be challenging figuring out what’s inside if the container isn’t clear or labeled. Use a label maker to make your items easier to find.

Coat the Floor in Epoxy

When you’ve cleared away all your belongings, you may notice that the concrete slab floor looks bland. Unless your home is brand new, you might see scuffs or stains from projects in the past. Covering your garage floor in an epoxy coating makes it resistant to oil stains and as easy to clean as your kitchen counters. No matter what work you plan on doing inside your garage, you can clean up messes or spills will ease.

An epoxy coating will also improve the appearance of your garage floor, making it feel more homey and comfortable.

Seal Gaps and Air Leaks

Rainwater, insects, pests and leaves can find their way inside your garage if a gap exists between your garage door and the floor. You can seal this gap by attaching a rubberized strip on your floor where the garage door closes. By sealing this gap, you’re protecting the interior of your garage and your projects from damage.

You’ll also want to seal any air leaks between your home and the garage. These leaks often appear in the walls or ceiling, and hot or cold air can seep through, making it difficult to maintain humidity control. When humidity increases in your garage or home, it can damage your home and belongings.

Install Vertical Shelving Units

Vertical shelves are widely available and simple to install on your own. Various systems are available based on how much weight the unit will need to bear. One of the main benefits of vertical shelving units and wall mounts is that they utilize the maximum space, allowing you to use more of your garage for projects or additional storage.

Vertical shelves and racks can store bins, tools, sports gear and other items. You’ll have easy access to each of these items, so you can quickly find what you’re looking for when you need something.

Utilize Cabinets and Overhead Storage

Storage cabinets are an excellent way to store supplies for your next home improvement or gardening project. You can often lock these cabinets, keeping your children from dangerous tools.

A significant amount of space that goes unused in your garage is over your head. You can install overhead storage to store items you don’t use as often, such as a ladder or seasonal items. When installing overhead storage, ensure you have enough room for your garage door to open and close as it should and clearance for your car if you prefer not to park in your driveway.

Build a Workbench

If you plan on using your garage for home improvement or creative projects, you’ll want to have a place dedicated to your work. Building a workbench is an excellent way to create a designated space for your projects.

You can make your workbench portable by adding wheels if you want to be able to roll it around or move it out of the way when you’re not using it. You can also add shelving and hooks to store or hang your tools and projects currently in progress. The last step is to find a comfortable stool you can keep under your workbench.

Invest in a Garage Door and Window Locks

Thieves often target garages as a way to break into your home, and keeping the door open or not securing your garage door can leave you vulnerable to a break-in. Once you’ve spent considerable time organizing and sorting through your belongings, you want to keep them safe.

Invest in a high-quality garage door with the proper security measures. You can also buy a smart garage door opener that will automatically lock your door when it closes and allow you to monitor when the door is opened or closed from your smartphone.

If you have any windows leading into your garage, you’ll want to get window locks so burglars can’t pry open the window to get into your garage. Remember to lock the door connecting your garage to your home and consider using a deadbolt as an extra layer of protection.

Plan Ahead

When you’re organizing your garage, you’ll want to plan for future storage needs. If you’re buying more seasonal decorations or using garage space in the winter to store outdoor furniture, you’ll need to dedicate some space for these items. If you live in a colder climate, you may also store outdoor furniture or toys during the summer.

You can dedicate space by purchasing storage containers ahead of time and placing them in their dedicated area, even if they’re currently unused. Once the seasons change, you’ll have the space you need for storage.

Invest in a Garage Door at Door Pros

Garage doors are the line of defense between your belongings and thieves. Ensure that your organizational efforts don’t go to waste by investing in a quality door and improving your security. Door Pros offers high-quality garage doors from Clopay® to ensure your belongings are kept safe from prying eyes.

Our experienced technicians can help you with all your garage door needs, whether you need assistance with installation or repairs. We can provide around-the-clock availability and same-day service to our residential clients. Request an estimate from us today to get started.