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. And it doesn’t take long before this domestic dumping ground becomes such a cluttered mess that locating tools is impossible, and parking the car there becomes a pipe dream.
“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 these three steps to conquer garage clutter.
Number One: 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.
Number Two: 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.
Number Three: 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.
