If your garage has gradually pushed your vehicles out onto the driveway, it's time to get organized. Many homeowners skip out on the safety and reliability of having a garage because they have crammed so much junk into it that their vehicles no longer have a home. In the winter, garages provide theft protection and the ease of access of not having to delete snow from your vehicle.
If you're ready to reclaim your garage, a few pointers are listed here to keep in mind.
- Make a strategy.
A plan is the foundation of good organization. Determine your goal so that you can move through everything with purpose. If you want to throw everything away, your job will be much easier. Most people, however, will have a mix of things they still need or want to keep and things they can get rid of. Before you begin, you should organize the following items:
- Arranging the delivery of a storage bin
- Obtaining a storage unit
- Managing the rental of a garbage can in Toronto
This will enable you to manage your belongings while organizing your garage.
- Establish categories.
Begin by simply deciding how you want to organize everything. Some simple "piles" to make include:
- Things you use regularly
- Something you'd like to keep but won't use
- Items that can be sold, donated, or given away
- Junk
These categories make it easier to sort your belongings and work through them.
- Begin sorting.
First and foremost, be gentle with yourself. Depending on how bad your garage is, this project could take more than a day to complete. Your best bet is to go through everything slowly. Begin organizing everything with your categories in mind. Fill your storage bin with items you want to keep. Anything you want to give away can go in one corner of the garage, while what you need and use can go in another.
Everything else is thrown away in your dumpster. You can only pull everything out if you can move around in your garage. Your goal is to categorize everything so you can decide what can and cannot stay.
- Choose between selling and donating.
You might discover that you have some valuable items that you can sell. You can make extra money to help pay for storage and junk removal services. Another option is to reach out to friends and family through social media and post pictures of the items you want to give away. You can either sell or donate any leftovers.
Make sure to set a pickup deadline, or you may have to store the items, which defeats the purpose of your organization. Consider offering to drop it off as well. The goal is to eliminate anything you won't keep in the garage as soon as possible.
- Make a junk removal call.
Next, contact a professional disposal bin rental company to schedule your trash pickup.
- Contact your storage facility.
Make an appointment with your storage service to pick up your storage bin.
- Deal with the organization.
Now that everything you don't want is gone, you have a blank canvas to organize everything. Some pointers are as follows:
- Consider the items you use the most, such as the lawn mower or bikes, and place them in a visible, easy-to-reach location.
- Invest in essential storage solutions, such as hooks and cabinets, to help organize items such as hoses, garden tools, and smaller sports equipment.
- Use your storage items to sort things logically by size and categorize and group items, making them easy to find.
Your garage walls have plenty of space, so see how high you can put your shelves. Consider adding more frames to the roof area to maximize storage for less-used items such as holiday décor or seasonal sports equipment such as skates and sleds.
- Keep safety in mind.
Make sure your storage solutions are secure by following these guidelines:
- Avoid simply piling and stacking items that are easily knocked over.
- Shelves and storage cupboards should securely fasten to the wall with
- Proper screws prevent anything from falling over.
- Avoid having anything hanging over the shelves to reduce the risk of falling items, and consider securing them with bungee cords.
Also, read the instructions on cans of items like paints, pesticides, and so on, and follow safe storage instructions.
- Disposal alternatives.
Remember that some of your trash may require particular disposal because it contains hazardous materials. In this case, please consult your local waste disposal website to determine what is considered dangerous and how to dispose of it safely. You have two trash removal options: have a junk removal service come in and remove your trash, or rent a disposal bin that homeowners fill on their own and then have picked up.
- Safety.
After you've organized everything, think about the security of your garage. Are your garage doors working correctly? Do they have a lock? How about your back door?
- Garage usage.
Finally, review your completed work and decide whether you want to use the space for something other than vehicle storage. Some possibilities include the following:
- Putting together a gym
- Creating mancave Installing workshop equipment and a workbench
- Having a children's playroom
- Creating an office space
The possibilities are limitless and are only limited by your imagination and budget.
Final Thoughts
Because organizing a garage isn't a one-size-fits-all project, we've compiled a list of our favourite garage storage solutions. Check out these ideas for making your garage more organized and easier to use. Before you buy anything, measure your garage and note the size and location of windows, doors, switches, and receptacles, as well as the amount of space your car takes up. Most garage-organizing system manufacturers provide complimentary space planning, so use their services as you research how to store your gear.
