If you’re anything like the majority of us, you can’t live without your car, which is a five-figure investment. Why keep it outside where it could be harmed by the sun, among other things?
It will be much cleaner and last longer if you store it in a garage. The problem is that many people often neglect the organizational needs associated with keeping stuff in the garage. The result is a garage that is both unsightly and practically useless.
To get rid of clutter and maintain a safe, tidy floor space, follow the step-by-step recommendations in our DIY garage storage ideas guide below.
Garage Storage Ideas
Only 30% of us, according to organising experts, keep our automobiles in the garage. The cause? Too much stuff! You may get rid of everything you don’t need with the aid of this garage storage system:
-Give yourself at least a full day, or maybe a weekend or two, to complete the task.
-It will go much more quickly if you make decluttering a family affair and get a few friends to help out.
-Look through everything, even the boxes you didn’t open when you first moved in; you never know where that treasured family artifact may be hiding.
Sort everything into three piles: to keep, give away or sell, and discard. They can be set up on special tarps or in designated spots on your driveway that you have marked out with chalk.
Outgrown toys, broken-beyond-repair objects, outdated home chemicals (which may require specific disposal), and anything you haven’t used in two years or more should all be thrown out. Take photos as souvenirs if you have trouble parting with cherished items.
Sort the items worth keeping into broad categories (such as garden tools and power tools), and then store them in clearly designated cardboard boxes or, even better, stackable clear plastic bins that you may use later. Restore the keepers to the garage for the time being.
What Belongs In A Garage Space and What Doesn’t?
You shouldn’t keep these things in your garage for safety reasons:
-Extreme cold or heat can harm paint, so store it properly. Cans should be kept in a cooler environment.
-Propane storage bins: The vapours could catch fire with a spark. Tanks for propane should always be kept outside.
-Paper products: Roaches and other pests are drawn to them like a magnet. Place them in the pantry.
-In rooms without air conditioning, the refrigerator is a significant energy guzzler.
-Possums and other animals will smell pet food and enter. Keep it inside in a closed container.
The Benefits Of Open Shelves and Wire Shelving Over Closed Cabinets For Storage Space
Shelves (such as some options available from garage shelves in Oakville) are more affordable, and easier to reach (you don’t need extra clearance to swing the doors open), and they make it possible to scan your stored items and gardening tools with ease.
Doors on cabinets allow you to conceal the evidence, which makes them easily degenerate into a disorganised mess. When keeping items that need to be shielded from airborne dust and filth, use them sparingly.
Make Wise Use Of Overhead Space Rather Than The Garage Floor
Hanging long, flat items you don’t use every day, like ladders and seasonal sports equipment, from the garage ceiling is a terrific idea.
Make sure there is adequate vertical space between any shelves you hang from the ceiling and the roof of your car to prevent them from obstructing the operation of your garage door.
Purchase Window and Door Locks
Whenever the garage is left open and the main door is unlocked, break-ins can occur. Always lock the garage windows and secure the entry door with a deadbolt or other effective locking mechanism.
Install a garage door lock that fastens the door to the sidewalls and make use of it if you will be gone for a long time. And no matter if you are just mowing the lawn in the backyard, always shut the garage door.
Keep It Clean, Always
Regular garage organization is the best way to maximize wall space and ensure things stay organized. There’s no sense in pushing for garage organization if you’re just going to let it descend into bedlam again at the end of the month.
One of the best ways to make sure everything stays organized is to set up a regular cleaning routine. If you have a family, it’s also good to delegate some of the organizational tasks to your spouse or children, as long as it is safe to do so.
Maintaining a regular cleaning schedule will ensure that your garage shelves stay organized year-round, and not just for the first few weeks after you organize them.