The Ultimate Guide to Organizing Your Garage: Tips and Tricks

Garages are often the most cluttered spaces in homes. A National Association of Professional Organizers survey found that 50% of Americans believe that their garages are the most disorganized areas in their homes. While most people think that removing unused things will help them organize your garage, that is not the case. 

Instead of a quick fix like selling things, which is only bound to help you for the moment, you should opt to structurally fix the issue of a dis organize garage by integrating a range of tools and spaces for specific elements. 

Essentials First: Cleaning The Garage

Before beginning to organize your garage, it is crucial to take everything out and clean it. While people think they can easily do it with the clutter around, it is nearly impossible and ineffective to properly sort things out and clean like that. Hence, even though it feels like a daunting activity, take it step by step without any pressure. 

• Take out adequate time to clean out the whole prefab garage. It is vital to know that it could take a few days to get it done, so set aside time accordingly.
• Make an inventory of all your items. This will not just help you in knowing what you have or need to house within the garage but also will help you in managing your budget and keeping a track of things. Moreover, you can also install storage equipment accordingly. 
• You should first sort everything into three different piles — keep, donate/sell, and throw. Other than beyond-repair items, you can keep or donate mainly everything. 
• Once you have donated or tossed items, focus on the things you plan to keep. 
• It is crucial to make a list of all the things and sort them by their use or type, like sorting all gardening equipment together or all longer tools together. This will help you in storing things efficiently. 
• If possible, sweep out any dust or debris and reseal the steel garage floor. 

Top Tips For Creating An Organized Haven In Your Garage

Your metal garage can often seem to act as a magnet to random junk, which can often lead you down a spiral with a huge mess that you don’t know what to do with. It can be highly overwhelming to sort it out. That is why the biggest tip is to take it slowly and deal with one thing at a time. Here are a few tips for making your garage more efficient, practical, and functional:

Separate By Category And Create A Floor Plan 

Once you have sorted through the clutter, it is crucial to create separate items by category. There will always be several items that you plan to keep in your garage and various hobbies that you take part in. This can also help you visualize where do you want different items to go and create a floor plan. A few things that can be incorporated are:

• Items that are used together should be kept together, like gardening tools and lawn chemicals.
• Keep bulky items away from the reach of your cars to avoid bumping. 
• You can create a workbench for your tools and a crafting corner. 
• A dedicated area for your seasonal items is preferable. 
• Install ski racks for winter gear and sporting racks for sports equipment. 

Depending on the quantity and type of belongings you plan to house within the structure, you can accordingly dedicate space to them.

Off The Floor

As much as possible, you should try to keep things off the garage floor. This will significantly help you in getting clutter-free parking space. Along with getting adequate room for your vehicles, you can also avoid sloppy piles forming on your garage floor over time. 

There are a range of storage solutions that you can invest in to avoid keeping anything on the garage floor. 

Storage Solutions 

Open shelves:

You can use open shelves to store items for daily use. These shelves serve great benefits as you can easily see and access items that you have stored. You can use clear jars and labels to enhance the functionality of the shelves. 

Use vertical space:

These are highly helpful as they help you efficiently store items without taking up the floor space. You can use pegboards, panelized walls, hooks, track-based systems, and magnetic strips for proper storage. Wall-mounted racks can help you in housing your bikes and heavy equipment like lawnmowers.

Overhead space:

For seasonal or holiday items, you can utilize ceiling-mounted cabinets or bins. These can store your things without getting in the way for months at the end and are also easily accessible at the same time.  

Corner storage:

People often overlook corners. You can use tiered storage shelves in corner spaces to keep chemicals, cleaning supplies, and paints.

Workshop Within The Garage

If you are a car or DIY enthusiast, then setting up a workshop within the parking garage is a great idea. If you have one already, then it might be a good idea to upgrade it. To avoid getting your tools in the way, there are a few things you can do:

Workbench with storage:

Consider setting up a workbench with built-in storage. This can easily house your tools and equipment. You can also set up pegboards and magnetic strips for easier access. 

Mobile carts:

These are an excellent addition to your garage if you have limited space to work with. These carts have wheels attached, so you can easily move them out of the way when not working on your projects. 

Retractable cords

If you don’t have enough electrical outlets within your garage, then instead of an extension cord, consider investing in retractable cords. You wouldn’t have to sort your wires constantly, and they can automatically retract instead, keeping your garage clean and tidy. 

Most Crucial Tip: Keeping It Clear For Good

Tidying up your garage once is not enough. You have to maintain it to keep it organized and functional forever. A few tips that can go a long way are:

• While metal garages are resistant to pests, you can use pesticides to keep insects at bay in the summer and spring seasons. 
• Tidy up after you finish working in your garage using a broom or a vacuum. 
• Clean any oil and grease spills immediately to avoid staining the floor. 
• Wash the floor regularly using a hose. 
• Sort through your things and practice the sell, donate, or toss trick at least once a year. 

Functional Garages Offer Greater Benefits

Metal garages are not built with better functionality, they have to be designed so. It is crucial that you also think about the right flooring, insulation, and ventilation to enhance the comfort within your garage. 

The flooring should not just be sturdy but also easy to clean. Insulation should be installed, looking at the R-value it keeps the structure warm in winter and cool in summer. Moreover, you can install a combination of natural and artificial ventilation for the best results. 

Begin organizing your garage, one step at a time!