StuffBusters Blog

Has your garage become a “catchall”, preventing you from parking inside? Do you feel confused and overwhelmed when you enter your garage to find something you know is stored there? Here’s how to organize your garage so you can make room for your car and find what you’re looking for:

Planning Phase

• First, schedule a day and time to tackle the project. Even when you minimize distractions, it will probably take longer than you think.
• Look around your garage and decide how you want it to function. Then envision your garage organized…a place for everything and everything in its place.

Action Phase

• Begin in one corner and proceed clockwise around the garage, sorting as you go.
• Sort items into categories: keep, toss, donate, recycle, and move.
• The goal is to park your car inside, so get serious and keep only those items you really need or use.
• Label trash bags “Toss”, “Donate” and “Move”.
• Toss items that are worn out.
• Donate items that are lightly used.
• Put recyclable materials into a recycling bin.
• “Move” items are things you’re keeping that belong somewhere else.
• Repeat the sorting process with each wall and area of your garage; keep, toss, donate, recycle, move.
• Continue sorting through every single item in your garage, whether it’s on the floor, shelf, hook, or bin. Leave no stone unturned.
• Move all “toss” bags to the trash. Place the “donate” items in your vehicle if you will be dropping them off, or move these items out of the way and call for a charity pickup. Put all “move” items in their rightful places.
• Now you’re seeing progress! Continue by organizing the things you’re keeping.
• Sort like items together…toys, sports equipment, auto care, garden tools, seasonal, etc.
• You can easily see how many of each item you have. If you have duplicates, now is the time to consider donating them and any other items you don’t really intend to use.
• Purchase bins and label each bin with its contents. Labels make it easy to quickly find what you’re looking for.
• Use shelving, cabinets, boxes, hooks, bins and baskets to give everything a designated home.

Maintenance Phase

• To keep the garage looking like a “dream” remember to put everything away after use.
• Every month or so take 20 minutes for a quick garage “once-over,” spending the time to reorganize and put everything back in its home so you continue to know where everything is stored.

When your organizing project is complete, you’ll not only feel great, but your garage will look great, and you’ll smile each time you open the garage door and park your car inside! The time you spend organizing today will save you from freezing in the cold, while scraping your windshield this winter.