Garage Sales

Brian Jenkins asked:


There are many houses with a two car garage that have never had two cars in them. Instead of using that space to shield cars from the sun and harsh weather, the garage has become home to a collection of gardening and lawn equipment, tools, woodworking equipment, cast-off furniture and things that are no longer used, but are not throw away.

Finding items that are needed in a cluttered garage is a complicated process. Usually, it starts with edging between the stacks of boxes and miscellaneous equipment. If the home owner’s lucky, they may remember where this particular item was last, or which box it might be in. More often, it’s a process of elimination that involves knowing what went into the garage during which time period and playing ‘hot, hot, cold’ until that person what they’re looking for.

Garages used to be a place to store your vehicle. These days, garages have become an extension of the house. They’re used as catch-all storage units, workshops, laundry rooms, offices and outbuildings. If the garage mentioned before sounds familiar, here are some tips to help you get a handle on organizing your garage into a successful storage area for all the things you need.

Getting Back to Basics

Organizing your garage storage starts with having the right tools. In the case of organization, the tools of the trade include hooks, shelves, closets and storage bins.

- Get rid of useless clutter.

Use the two year method. If there is something in your garage that you have not used in two years, chances are good you will never use it again. Spend a day sorting through the clutter in your garage and deciding what to keep and what to get rid of. Once you’ve got it all sorted, pack it into your trunk and take it to the recycling center, thrift store or have a garage sale. When you’re done, you’ll have a far better idea of just what you have to tackle.

- Start with a plan.

Measure your space before you start buying so that you have an idea of how much space you have to work with. There’s no sense in buying shelves and storage boxes that won’t fit the space you have available.

- Decide on storage options that suit what you have to store.

Vertical storage is a great space-saver. That means getting boxes and equipment up off the floor whenever possible. Invest in storage shelves that turn your wall space into storage space. Hooks are another way to get things up off the floor. Specialized hangers that hold handles of gardening equipment are a great way to get hoes, spades and rakes out of that tangled – and dangerous – mess in the corner.

- Invest in utility cabinets to hold smaller items.

Need somewhere to store those jars of nails and screws, extra glass coffee pots and other things that you’re holding onto? Utility cabinets with adjustable shelves will let you arrange your important clutter in a way that makes sense for you. While you’re at it, pick up an inexpensive labeler so that you can label shelves and make it easy for others to keep your space neat, too.

- Collect and Organize tools.

If you use your garage as a workshop, organize with tool boxes and tool chests,

and a workshop table that’s designed with storage in mind.

- Step back to the past.

for an excellent and very low cost method of storing tiny screws, nails and other

essentials. Mount a board above your work space and nail baby food jar lids to the

board. ***** the jars into the tops and voila! Neat, easy to find, and up out of the

way.

- Don’t waste the space above your head.

There are a variety of ways that you can turn unused space overhead into useful

storage space. One of the easiest is with a set of overhead metal hangers that hang

from the ceiling joists. They’re ideal for big and bulky items like lengths of

plywood. Look for specialized hangers for things like bicycles and sports

equipment.

- Make use of garage rafters.

The second way that you can use overhead storage space is to make use of the

garage rafters. Just slide board over them to provide ‘floor’ space and you’ll have

created a ready-to-use attic to store things like Christmas decorations up and out

of the way.



YOUNG

Brian Jenkins asked:


Everyone’s garage inevitably ends up a mess from time to time. There is something about the convenient storage spot that compels homeowners to pile their stuff inside. Many people’s cars have not seen the inside of the garage in many years. Others fear opening the door and causing an avalanche of junk.

The worst byproduct of having a messy garage is not being able to find anything. Some people don’t know where their circular saw is or how many weed whackers they have. This leads to frustration, procrastination, and the accumulation of more stuff. Wouldn’t it be nice to know where everything is? It is easy to organize a garage and keep it that way. It just takes some determination, planning, and time.

Step 1: Clean it out

There is no way the garage can be put back together if it has not been ripped apart. It may take sometime, but pulling everything out and sorting it will make it easier to thin down the mess and continue with the next step.

Chances are half of the things that have piled up are junk. Anything someone is willing to leave in a pile in the garage for a few years probably isn’t worth keeping. If it is, it should be taken inside and used. Family heirlooms should be neatly packed away and kept in the attic or basement where there is less chance they will get shuffled around.

All the things that are not worth keeping can be recycled, donated, and sold. A good old-fashioned garage sale will save the trouble of moving unwanted items and bring in some extra cash.

When the cleaning is finished, only items that are necessary to have in the garage should be there. What’s necessary? Anything that the family might need occasionally that should be kept outside. This includes tools, car accessories, bikes, and yard equipment, but it is ultimately up to the homeowner.

Step 2: Plan

The only way to keep a space organized is to organize it in the first place. There can be no organization without a plan. Plans are doubly important in garages, because of large items stored there. In order to fit things in and have access to them, the homeowner should designate sections for different types of items.

Start by taking stock of what is left and separate it into different groups. Assign each of the groups an appropriate space in the garage. Remember that there are many ways to maximize storage. There are many storage solutions available online and at stores that are cost effective, streamline the planning process, and save space.

Adding shelving or bike hooks are a great for keeping items accessible while freeing up space. Look into buying a chest or pegboard to store tools. The key to making the space look tidy will be to reduce loose items as much as possible, so purchase some clear storage boxes. These plastic boxes will protect items and allow the owner to see everything inside. Try putting all things of the same category (car cleaning products, pool toys, etc.) in a box on a shelf and labeling them. They will be out of sight, but still easy to find.

Step 3: Put it all up

This step is as simple as it sounds. If there is a plan, putting everything in its place should be easy.

Step 4: Keep it up

Initially, the excitement of pulling the car into its new spot in the garage will provide the motivation to keep the place in check, but that feeling will fade away. Sometimes it will be easier just to throw the tools on the workbench or park the bike by the door. Beware slipping back into these messy ways. It is always better in the long run to put things up as soon as one is finished with them. Keep in mind that neglecting to straighten up will require another complete overhaul of the garage.

If there is no time to clean up, schedule a few minutes each week to check and make sure things are in order. Just make sure the place does not get out of hand in the meantime.

The best part about keeping the garage up is that an effective plan will make it easy. When there is a place for everything, there is no wasted time trying to fit things in. If things get out of hand, try revamping the plan and looking at better storage options. It is never too late to reorganize. Once an effective system is in place, it will be hard to mess it up.



TIMMY