Is your garage overflowing with stuff? Is it unorganized, dusty, and unable to stay neat for more than a week? Believe me, I know how overwhelming it can be to organize your garage. It’s the place many of my clients don’t want to touch, let alone look at for too long.
Why? Because too often we let our garages become a dumping ground for things we don’t want to deal with. Or things we don’t know what else to do with. So why not store it away in a place where other questionable items flock to?
I say no more! I’m going to teach you how to finally get that garage organized and clean. Better yet, the systems you put in place will help you keep your garage in order.
Ready to dive in? Me too!
Deep cleaning your garage
Before you can organize the space, you need to first give it a good clean. This will liven up the area, giving it a fresh feel and look. Since deep cleaning your garage is quite a large undertaking, schedule plenty of time to work on it. Choose a weekend or two to do nothing but this.
Will you be tired? Yes. But trust me when I say getting your garage clean and in order for good will be worth it.
In order to deep clean your garage, follow these steps:
1. Remove everything
Yes, everything. If possible, move your cars out onto the road and use your driveway. Will your neighbors think you’re crazy? Maybe. Will they think you’re having a garage sale? Possibly. But don’t worry about them. Get every single thing out of that garage so you have access to every inch.
2. Start at the top
Once everything is out, start dusting. Begin at the top. Shelves, cabinet tops, etc. Whatever is the highest point, start there and work your way down. This means less sweeping since you’ll have knocked all the dust off of surfaces. The last thing you want to do is sweep more than once.
After you’ve dusted and swept, vacuum any remaining dust particles. Finally, consider mopping the floor. Depending on the type of floor you have, you can use a damp-mop or do a full-on soaking. Either way, give the floor a few hours to dry after you’re done.
3. Seal and repair
Now that everything is clean, let’s work on some repairs. Do you have any cracks on the floor? Seal them up. Are the door sweeps or weatherstripping loose? Repair or replace them. A lot of dust can come through ill-prepared door seals so make sure those are sturdy.
4. Install an air filtration system
The reason most dust hangs around garages is because of the poor air circulation. Consider installing one to keep the air circulating in a way that limits the amount of dust. You should also get a dehumidifier. This will prevent mold and condensation as well as help with dust.
A simple solution is a box fan. We usually have one running in the garage, especially during the summer months.
5. Paint
This step might not be something you want to do and that’s fine. But sometimes when you’re reorganizing a room a fresh coat of paint can make it feel brand new. Use paint that can stand up to humidity and moisture. Remember, even with an air filtration system your garage will get humid. Be sure to protect your walls as best you can.
6. Assemble
This might be another step you decide to skip. We’ll talk more about shelving and storage solutions later. For now, if you’re interested in putting in new storage space, now is the time to assemble them.
Sorting and purging items
How amazing does your garage look? Almost brand new, right? It’s crazy how a good deep clean can give a space a facelift.
If you’re thinking it’s time to bring everything back inside, hold on a second. First, you need to sort through your things and purge what you don’t need or want.
Create three designated areas on your lawn:
Donate
Sell
Trash
If you haven’t looked through your garage stuff in a while, this may take some time. Be ruthless. Don’t keep anything you haven’t used in a year or more. Throw away anything that’s expired. Don’t keep equipment that doesn’t work. Sell things you don’t use, but are in pretty good condition.
Check local hardware stores. Some will buy back used equipment. Home Depot has a rental program for used tools and equipment.
For the tools and equipment you’re going to keep, clean them. You don’t want to bring dirty items into your freshly cleaned garage. All you need is a damp rag with a little cleaning solution on it.
After you’ve decided what you’re keeping, create categories. You can make a garden zone, a tool zone, holiday decoration zone, etc. You get the picture. This will make storing your stuff a breeze. Not to mention it’ll keep all like items together.
Photo by Anete Lusina from Pexels
Storage solutions for your garage
You worked hard cleaning and purging your stuff. You’re ready to bring everything back inside. But before you do, let’s take a quick look at the zones you’ve created and the storage solutions you have.
Depending on the size of your garage, you should aim to have the following types of storage:
Overhead. Perfect for off-season equipment and sporting gear.
Wall-mounted. Perfect for often-used tools, bikes, suitcases, and food.
Cabinets & Shelving. Perfect for tool cases, food, gift wrapping, and smaller containers.
Air-tight containers. Perfect for decorations, winter coats, and smaller food items.
Your goal for storage is to try and keep similar items together. If possible, have a sporting corner, a tool wall, a decoration cabinet, and whatever else you might need. It’s okay if some things can’t be stored together because of space.
This is why creating these piles outside is an important step. You’ll be able to physically see how much of a certain category you have so you can adjust storage as needed. Plan where you think things could go before putting them away. You might have to move things around if one section doesn’t work, but that’s part of the fun.
Know that deep cleaning your garage isn’t something you need to do as often as cleaning your house. You should clean and sort through your garage items at least once a year. You’ll be surprised by how much you might acclimate in that time.
By dedicating one weekend a year to cleaning and purging items from your garage, you’ll stay on top of it. It’ll be organized and stay that way.
If you know someone who’s been meaning to tackle their garage, but needs some help, consider buying them an organizing gift certificate. I’d love to help get their garage in order once and for all. And don’t forget: I also offer contactless donation pickup. Let me take those unwanted items off of your hands.