The garage is one of the biggest rooms in the majority of houses, and practically every member of the family uses it. Sadly, this also implies that random items frequently end up being put there by default, regardless of whether they belong there or are valuable.
It makes sense that 50% of homeowners name their garage as the most unorganized part of their home, according to a National Association of Professional Organizers survey. A survey by the U.S. Department of Energy indicated that 25% of people with a 2-car garage don’t have enough room to fit even one car inside, which is even more alarming.
Taking the Lead
If you recently finished a long-distance relocation, you likely got rid of a lot of items that were located in garages. But couldn’t be transferred legally in a moving truck. For this post, we’ll presume that you’ve already seen some storage issues developing in your new home. We’ll also refrain from undertaking major tasks like constructing a workshop, adding insulation, or engaging in pricey renovation work. You need to keep in mind the Big Three to take control of the issue right now:
1. Reducing Clutter
Start by organizing the garage as a whole. Even while it’s the most difficult of the Big Three, it’s also the most crucial. Especially if you’re serious about recovering unused space. Use your driveway as a staging area to sort through the items. If it’s possible to do so, of course.
Start by getting rid of low-hanging fruit, such as old first aid kits, home cleaners, outdated pesticides, outdated toys, and damaged items that you never quite got around to fixing. A helpful hint: if a “repair job” has been sitting in the garage collecting dust for more than two years, it probably has to be removed. Despite this, you should still be thorough and inspect every packaged item in case something stumbles into the garage.
After everything has been taken out, make a list of everything you own and select what you want to sell, keep, or throw away.
2. Moving
After separating the “keepers” from the rest, it’s time to consider what belongs in your garage and what doesn’t. For instance, partially used paint cans frequently end up in the garage. But they can be damaged by excessive heat and cold and become useless as a result. Think about moving them to a more secure area of your house, such as the basement.
Paper products draw insects, rats, and other critters from the outside, who build nests there and spread disease. It’s far preferable to swiftly recycle old magazines and newspapers as will fit in your bathroom closets or pantry. Keep pet food inside, preferably in a sealed container, as this is another item that will draw unwelcome bugs.
To complement kitchen storage, many homeowners opt to keep an old refrigerator or freezer in their garage. But, this equipment will undoubtedly increase utility expenses because they were not intended for rooms without heating or air conditioning. Consider moving these appliances to the basement or a utility room if you need more room for your perishables.
3. Planning
See your garage as a succession of zones where you can swiftly get what you need rather than a “catch-all” area. Use a preliminary floor layout to designate various areas in your garage. Have separate spaces for items like auto care supplies, sporting goods, Christmas decorations, and gardening tools. And keep commonly used items like bicycles close to the door. Long, flat objects like ladders and surfboards hang well from overhead space. Just make sure you purchase any mounts properly and install them. And that there is enough room for the roof of your car.
Lawnmowers and leaf blowers are frequently kept in garages. They need to be put in slightly awkward spots, like a corner, where they have a lower chance of being accidentally hit by a car. Also, keep in mind that anything that runs on gas, as well as the gas itself, could be a fire hazard. We advise getting a little U.L.-listed fire extinguisher and installing it next to your mower and your gas/oil cans.
To Sum Up
Installing pegboards with hooks and attachments so that you may hang things on the walls directly might be a good idea. Cabinets that are mounted on the wall are a terrific method to optimize space. Repurposing old kitchen cabinets can be a cost-effective and environmentally friendly method. Especially to get smaller objects off the floor and into a more secure position. Especially if you’ve recently finished a kitchen renovation. To make finding things easier and prevent potential infestation issues, we advise removing the cabinet doors. One or two lockable cupboards for hazardous products like lawn pesticides that you don’t want children to access would be the exception to this rule.
We wish you luck and easy sailing on your quest to find a home. And keep in mind that Dream Moving will be by your side every step of the way, regardless of where you are in the moving process.
