If you're like many American homeowners, your garage has become a "catch all" room for things that don't have a place in the house. After a time, you've got a real mess on your hands – difficulty finding tools, no place to park your car and even a potential safety hazard. This summer, start organizing your garage to make it safer and more efficient for you and your family.
"Keeping the garage organized and clutter-free is always a challenge," says John Horvath, product manager and garage organization expert for ITW Brands. "But it's easier today than ever, thanks to new ways of thinking about garage storage."
Horvath recommends three easy steps to remove clutter and ensure safety.
1. Keep only what you need.
Decide what you really need, and get rid of what you don't. If you are undecided, you can probably live without it. If something is of sentimental value, box it and store it in a less trafficked area, such as the attic. And if you haven't used something for more than two years, consider donating it to charity or throwing it away. The garage is a place of utility, not a museum for antiques.
2. Plan where it goes.
Once you've determined what you need, map out where things will go. For instance, if you have kids, create a designated area to store all sports equipment, lawn toys and other play items. To maximize space, start looking at the walls as "vertical storage" for your things.
3. Get it off the floor.
Floor space is critical in your garage. After all, it's safer when you don't have clutter to trip over and, of course, you do need to park your car. Use hooks to hang items such as shovels, rakes, sleds, lawn chairs and sports bags. Organizing these items on the walls will keep them in sight and readily accessible, while helping to prevent accidents.
ITW recommends thinking strategically about hook placement, such as placing hooks on the same wall as the side door to allow easy access from the yard to the rakes and lawn chairs. Hanging seldom-used items higher is also a good strategy.
Using these garage organization tips this summer will help transform your garage from a "catch all" room to an efficient storage area that is safer for you, your family and your car.
