How Can I Get The Garage Cleaning Process Underway?
How do we get started in this disorganised Garage? It’s best to begin by emptying your house. Yes, really, dump it all. The ceiling, floor, and walls should all be cleaned thoroughly. The most crucial advice for cleaning the garage is to get everything out of there and begin putting items together. It’s necessary to look through your possessions and select what’s essential and what may be donated or sold.
Although garages are supposed to house just cars, they frequently end up harbouring our kids’ outgrown clothes, unused paint cans, and other home stuff we’d rather not deal with. There is a sense of renewal in the air as people come out of their winter slumber and the weather warms up enough for flowers to bloom (hallelujah). The only option is to go outside and ride your bike if you still have it.
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Spending a day or two getting your garage in order will have you prepared for the season’s many outdoor activities. Can you imagine how great that would be? To get the new season off to a clean and clutter-free start, we enlisted the aid of some professionals to help us clean up this often-overlooked area.
Prepare For The Future.
After a long winter, a garage may go through a lot, so your first priority should be getting everything back in order. If you want to get organised, says Marty Basher of ModularClosets.com, you need to have a plan. Do you enjoy gardening? Do you want quick access to your prefered athletic equipment? Or does it double as a Storage and a laundry room? The key to a good spring cleaning is having a strategy for the eventual functionality of the area. Create a to-do list or general outline of what has to be accomplished. Then throw open the doors, roll down the windows, and get started. Tuning in to motivating music or an interesting podcast often helps.
Breathe deeply and enter. To put it simply, that’s the first stage. Have a good look around without worrying about organising or clearing anything out for now; just make mental notes. If making a list or taking pictures makes you feel more in charge of your situation, by all means do it. On this first trip into the Garage, take special note of any really big and bulky pieces: Do you think you might want to get rid of these things? If that’s the case, set aside some time today to investigate where to drop off the items, or (if you plan to sell them) take pictures and make an ad for Craigslist or similar site in your region.
Select Your Method
It’s natural to be daunted by the prospect of taking on a large, open area like a garage, but the first step is always to map out a plan. Maeve Richmond, the creator of Maeve’s Method, recommends starting with the simplest tasks, such as sorting recyclables or labelling items for donation or disposal. The next step will be to remove everything from the garage and then reassemble it. It could take a few days or a few weekends, so try to get everything back in order after each session. You may protect your belongings from curious eyes and the occasional spring shower by laying a tarp over them in the driveway or on the lawn while you’re away. If the whole thing appears too daunting, start with the part that bothers you the most. Try to let go of whatever regrets you may have about the garage’s current state and instead take the initiative to get things moving again “This is what she explains. “After you’ve conquered the hardest part, everything else will be easy. Schedule another chunk of time for next week and continue working in this fashion until you’ve completed the task.
Find a day when the sun is shining and move all your belongings from the garage to the yard. Taking on one section at a time may sound manageable, but in reality? If you pull everything out, you can see what you have, how dirty things are, and how determined you are to keep them from going back where they were.
Initiate cleaning by wiping down or hosing down any dusty or unclean areas.
Have You Actually Used It?
A year is about the most amount of time you should store an article of clothes, and the same rule should be applied to your garage. If no one has used the rollerblades since Obama was president, you can toss them. It’s okay if your family wasn’t as into playing croquet on Sundays as you were. It’s better for them to be put to use by someone else than to collect dust in a storage unit. Be honest about the things you like to do, the things you own, and the lifestyle you lead. On the other hand, are you a fan of skiing? Do you tend to put in long hours fixing things at home? Because of this, the materials employed in them should be treated with reverence and featured prominently. Basher proposes classifying your belongings into the categories of “use regularly,” “use annually,” “never use,” and “sentimental storage” if you have problems letting go of items. Don’t keep anything that you won’t use; check the condition of the things you use frequently; and give serious consideration to the items you wish to keep and the ones you can put away safely.
Discover Practical Methods Of Storing
Given the current state of your garage and the objects you wish to keep there, you may face some unusual storage issues. It seems like most of the garage’s contents are of weird shapes, whether it’s a big, awkward tool like a weed trimmer or a little, easily misplaced tool like a screwdriver (like screws, nails, bits or gardening markers).
Check out garage shelving solutions
The Closet Maid’s innovative, long-lasting garage storage solution was one of the highlights of our time spent working with them. Easy to assemble and relocate, the wire shelves also allow for air circulation, which is especially important in humid climates like Florida.
Rather than utilising a workbench, we found it helpful to store our tools in a variety of containers, and many experts on organisation advocate for this method. Tools and their many accessories can be easily organised in small, properly labelled jars. Tools like saws and electrical instruments are large and may be housed easily on shelves. Containers for storing things should be kept dry and off the floor.
Ball bins, large totes, and even repurposed trash cans can be used to store sports gear like tennis rackets, baseball bats, balls, and the like. If you get rid of anything you don’t need, you should be able to fit it all on one small shelf.
Take stock of your current storage alternatives and think about what you’ll need in the future. Prepare your remaining clean garage equipment for storage by setting up your storage bins and hooks.
Classify; Get Rid Of; Give Away; Or Market
After you’ve removed everything from the garage, you can sort it into three piles: keep, donate/sell, and trash. Eliminate any unnecessary items first, and then sort through the things you plan to keep finding more to discard.
Ask yourself, in all honesty and practicality, if you’ve used the item in the past year, and if so, how often. Don’t want to throw away your tennis racket in need of new strings just in case your youngster decides to take up the sport down the line? This kind of thing tends to accumulate and make things uncomfortable. Sporting goods stores typically purchase back or accept consignment of gently used equipment. In the best-case scenario, you’ll make a profit and be able to treat the whole family to something they’ll love.
Determine the most often used tools and if it would be better to buy, rent, or borrow them. Many of us (including many spouses) have fantasies of being “Bob the Builder” or “Rosie the Riveter,” and as a result, we have a propensity to hoard tools. If he is a handyman, especially if it is a hobby, he should be allowed a tool bench or workstation space, but it should be well-organized and serve a purpose.
You should get rid of your old junk immediately if it is broken, rusty, or has served its purpose. Just let go of the broken things you’ve been hoarding in the naive hope that you’ll get around to fixing them.
If you have a garden, you need to make sure you have at least one of each tool that won’t rust. Discard any seeds that are older than a year (they won’t sprout at that point, and bugs LOVE them), and wash and dry all planting pots, hoses, and garden decorations before putting them away for the winter.
It’s not safe to store automotive fluids indefinitely because some of them go bad after a certain amount of time. Oil rags are very combustible and should never be left unattended in a pile. To properly dispose of used chemicals, paint, and other materials, follow the appropriate protocols. The local recycling and trash management or municipal government can tell you how chemicals should be disposed of in your area.
Purge your home of all extraneous items. Even if it’s “great stuff,” it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter how precious something is if you aren’t putting it to good use. Some things, including photographs and keepsakes, are an exception to this rule. An item that hasn’t been used for a year is probably useless (except for very expensive equipment, or if you have been too ill or work-swamped to get to a hobby). Get rid of large items like desks, storage bins, vacuums, and the like to make more room for tidying up. Smaller objects, such as tools and decorations, should be picked up and placed in their own containers.
Create generic bins for all of your possessions, such as “tools,” “Christmas decorations,” “collectibles,” “pet supplies,” and so on. It will be a lot easier to decide what to keep, what to keep multiples of, and what to get rid of if you are methodical and sort items into heaps based on their likeness. What you’re seeking is probably here.
If you have something of value to sell, you should think about using an internet marketplace like eBay, Etsy, or another similar platform. It’s simple to list objects, and you might have something valuable hiding in your garage that you’re not even aware of.
Check the value of a comparable item on the market first.
See what a similar item is selling for on the market.
Help those in need by getting the donations to them as soon as possible. Just don’t let things sit. Decluttering your garage (and the rest of your house) means getting rid of things you no longer need or want.
Put shelves or a monitoring system on the walls to make the most of the available room.
If you need more space, you can instal shelves in the ceiling. Think carefully about what you put in there, and make sure it will be easy to recover. Things should be lighter and less fragile in order to be stored higher up.
Determine Distinct “Zones” For The Remaining Items.
After you have cleaned out the majority of your garage (and ideally gotten rid of a lot of unnecessary goods), you can take stock of what’s left and figure out where everything is going to live. Organizing your belongings into logical groups (such gardening, sports, holidays, and tools) will make finding what you need much quicker. Then, place the remaining items in groups that make sense to you.
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Patch Up Any Holes Or Potential Dangers.
The worst weather usually hits garages the hardest. They typically lack heating and cooling, which invites problems like mildew and leaks because of the constant exposure to changing temperatures and humidity levels. Many of these problems go undiscovered until they become difficult to repair because most of us don’t spend enough time in the Garage.
When there are no automobiles in the garage, it is much easier to see what needs attention. Spray-in foam or sealant can be used to fill up cracks, and then a protective covering like LeakSeal can be sprayed over the top to keep water out.
Also, check the wiring in and around your garage for evidence of chewing or damage that could lead to a fire. Don’t forget to look around for any dangers, and if you see any, let someone know.
Inspect the area around your garage for water damage and clean the gutters if necessary. Check the weatherstripping, latches, and lighting in the windows while you’re at it. Making sure your house is protected from the elements and intruders is a top priority.
Put Things On Hooks
Using a pegboard with hooks to hang things vertically is a great solution for when floor space is limited. Because of their handles, gardening equipment like shovels and trowels are ideal for hanging on the wall. If you don’t use your bike every day, you can store it on a hook just like your golf bag or tennis rackets (a floor parking rack is perfect if you ride frequently). Bike parking is never more nerve-wracking than when the bike is leaning dangerously against the garage wall.
Use a stud finder to locate a screwable stud in the ceiling, and then suspend your bike from the hook by the tyre. This is the most efficient method of eliminating them, and they will no longer be an obstruction. Balls and other sports equipment can be easily located by storing them in mesh bags hung at eye level, or by using mesh storage containers.
Bring It Home On Wheels
The garage can serve as a makeshift garden shed if you lack a dedicated structure. Soil, containers, and planters can be kept in a potting shelf, while tools can be kept in a wheeled bucket or wheelbarrow for easy access when it’s time to pluck some weeds. A lean-to structure attached to the outer wall of your garage is another alternative if your gardening tools are taking up too much room inside. Small sheds like this can serve multiple purposes depending on your preferences.
Find Alternative Storage
It’s so easy for the garage to become a catch-all place, but we’re not looking for a life-size junk drawer – and some things are just not suited for Garage living. Things that are used frequently should be stored at home. A coat rack in the garage could seem like a smart idea at first, but your garments will be at risk of being damaged by the elements and any insects that may be lurking around. Furniture, stuffed animals, and photo albums all fall under this category. Also, the garage is a bad place to store dry products or any other kind of food due to the risk of pests. Keeping bird seed and other animal feed dry is essential, thus a metal bin is the ideal option for storage. He also warns that fuels and flammable liquids should be stored safely, in a location where they won’t be knocked over or spilt.
Consider Placement
A garage should operate similar to Storage inside your home, so be thoughtful of placement and make sure the items you use more often are in more accessible areas. No amount of advice will assist if you have to go against your natural habits to complete the task. Design a method of organisation that highlights your tendencies. It would be convenient to have a shoe basket outside the garage door if that’s where you tend to take your shoes off. Install hose storage on the patio if you use the hose there on a regular basis so you don’t have to lug it back and forth or leave it in the grass.
Think About The Seating
Make good use of that broom! Cover your face with a mask. Make sure there is no dust around and that the walls are spotless by giving them a good washing. In doing so, you will avoid bringing all of that grime inside your home.
Kitty litter can be used to great effect to clean up oil spills on the floor and restore its original appearance. To prevent further damage, you may choose to lay down an affordable garage floor protection or an indoor/outdoor carpet or rug.
Mildew can be avoided, and surfaces can be kept appearing like new with white latex paint. It is important to caulk the frames and seals of windows and address any leaks. Curtains and wall decals aren’t required, but if you’re in the mood, they can help you feel more at home and motivate you to keep things neat.
Find A Place For Everything
The whole family may be on board with (and pleased by) the new organisation system if you label everything from hooks and pegboard stations to the Storage containers. Using this procedure will also ensure that everything is put back where it belongs. Despite how ridiculous it may sound; they will appreciate being able to quickly find their soccer shoes before practise. It will be a tremendous aid in keeping the garage clear and the foyer and floor uncluttered all year round. One method of fostering participation is to assign each family member a specific task in the garage. It’s not enough to just clean your house once a year in the spring. This routine requires consistency, much like a fitness regimen. See to it that everyone’s most valued possessions have a home, or at least that they know where to look for them. If you offer your child (or your partner) specific tasks and a game plan on how to complete them, they will take pride in maintaining your possessions.
Once your Garage is cleaned and organised, it’s important to keep up those habits. Put things away promptly and be conscientious when shopping. Create a home for new items right away.
The difficulty may appear high at first, but it will be well worth it to succeed. You’ll be able to take on projects you’ve always wanted to try, but never had the space for, while also saving money and making less of a mess around the house. Reason being, your vehicle, bicycles, and other possessions will be kept in a safe, secure, and dry location.
Conclusion
Spring cleaning requires a purpose. Maeve Richmond, the creator of Maeve’s Method, recommends starting with modest tasks like sorting recyclables or labelling donations or trash. Next, disassemble and reassemble the garage. Finally, Basher proposes categorising items as “use often,” “use annually,” “never use,” and “sentimental storage” if you have problems letting go. The Closet Maid’s innovative, durable garage storage solution was a highlight.
We gather tools to be “Bob the Builder” or “Rosie the Riveter.” Gardening requires at least one rust-proof implement. Remove cumbersome workstations, storage bins, and vacuum cleaners. Tool and decoration cleanup are essential. Sorting your belongings will help you find them faster.
Inspect and clean gutters near your garage to prevent water damage. A pegboard with hooks is great for maximising space above your head but lacking horizontal space. A lean-to attached to the outside wall can store gardening equipment if your garage is too small. The garage should store your most-used items like the rest of your home. Cleaning and dusting will make the walls look new.
Content Summary
- The most crucial advice for cleaning the garage is to get everything out there and put items together.
- Spending a day or two to get your garage in order will prepare you for the season’s many outdoor activities.
- To get the new season off to a clean and clutter-free start, we enlisted professionals’ help to clean up this often-overlooked area.
- The key to a good spring cleaning is having a strategy for the eventual functionality of the area.
- Create a to-do list or general outline of what has to be accomplished.
- If that’s the case, set aside some time today to investigate where to drop off the items, or (if you plan to sell them) take pictures and make an ad for Craigslist or a similar site in your region.
- It’s natural to be daunted by the prospect of taking on a large, open area like a garage, but the first step is always to map out a plan.
- Maeve Richmond, the creator of Maeve’s Method, recommends starting with the simplest tasks, such as sorting recyclables or labelling items for donation or disposal.
- The next step will be removing everything from the garage and reassembling it.
- Find a day when the sun shines and move all your belongings from the garage to the yard.
- It’s okay if your family wasn’t as into playing croquet on Sundays as you were.
- Don’t keep anything you won’t use; check the condition of the things you use frequently, and consider the items you wish to keep and the ones you can put away safely.
- Given the current state of your garage and the objects you wish to keep there, you may face some unusual storage issues.
- The Closet Maid’s innovative, long-lasting garage storage solution was one of the highlights of our time working with them.
- Take stock of your current storage alternatives and think about what you’ll need in the future.
- Prepare your remaining clean garage equipment for storage by setting up your storage bins and hooks.
- After you’ve removed everything from the garage, you can sort it into three piles: keep, donate/sell, and trash.
- Determine the most often used tools and if it would be better to buy, rent, or borrow them.
- You should immediately get rid of your old junk if it is broken, rusty, or has served its purpose.
- Follow the appropriate protocols to properly dispose of used chemicals, paint, and other materials.
- Get rid of large items like desks, storage bins, vacuums, and the like to make more room for tidying up.
- It’s simple to list objects, and you might have something valuable hiding in your garage that you’re not even aware of.
- Decluttering your garage (and the rest of your house) means getting rid of things you no longer need or want.
- Inspect the area around your garage for water damage, and clean the gutters if necessary.
- Making sure your house is protected from the elements and intruders is a top priority.
- Because of their handles, gardening equipment like shovels and trowels are ideal for hanging on the wall.
- Bike parking is never more nerve-wracking than when the bike is leaning dangerously against the garage wall.
- The garage can serve as a makeshift garden shed if you lack a dedicated structure.
- A lean-to structure attached to the outer wall of your garage is another alternative if your gardening tools are taking up too much room inside.
- A coat rack in the garage could initially seem like a smart idea, but your garments will be at risk of being damaged by the elements and any insects lurking around.
- Also, the garage is a bad place to store dry products or other food due to the risk of pests.
- Keeping bird seed and other animal feed dry is essential. Thus a metal bin is an ideal option for storage.
- A garage should operate similarly to Storage inside your home, so be thoughtful of placement and ensure the items you use more often are in more accessible areas.
- Design a method of organisation that highlights your tendencies.
- Having a shoe basket outside the garage door would be convenient if that’s where you tend to take your shoes off.
- Cover your face with a mask.
- Make sure there is no dust around, and the walls are spotless by giving them a good washing.
- Curtains and wall decals aren’t required, but if you’re in the mood, they can help you feel more at home and motivate you to keep things neat.
- The whole family may be on board with (and pleased by) the new organisation system if you label everything from hooks and pegboard stations to the Storage containers.
- It will tremendously aid in keeping the garage clear and the foyer and floor uncluttered all year round.
- One method of fostering participation is assigning each family member a task in the garage.
- It’s not enough to clean your house once a year in the spring.
- See to it that everyone’s most valued possessions have a home or they know where to look for them.
- If you offer your child (or your partner) specific tasks and a game plan on how to complete them, they will take pride in maintaining your possessions.
- Once your garage is cleaned and organised, it’s important to keep up those habits.
- Put things away promptly and be conscientious when shopping.
- You’ll be able to take on projects you’ve always wanted to try but never had the space for while saving money and making less of a mess around the house.
FAQs About Garage Cleaning
How should a garage be cleaned?
The best way to clean a garage is typically from the ceiling down. First, clean the tops of your cabinets, shelves, and refrigerator (if you have one) by dusting and wiping them off. Finally, use a warm damp cloth and a gentle home detergent to clean the walls and doors of your garage refrigerator and cabinets.
When should you clear out your garage?
As a rule of thumb, the time frame is every six months. You won’t have to worry about trash piling up or being embedded in the concrete, and yet every few months isn’t often enough to feel like a waste of money.
What is the best way to clean the floors in the garage?
Cleaning your garage floor on a regular basis with a combination of baking soda and water will help maintain it clean by removing grime and oil. Use a solution of half a cup of baking soda and one gallon of warm water for general cleaning.
How much time should I allot to organise my garage?
While the prospect of cleaning and organising a whole garage may seem insurmountable, the vast bulk of the work can likely be completed in only a day or two with a methodical approach.
Can white vinegar be used to clean concrete?
Remove rust stains from concrete with less effort and minimal environmental impact by using white vinegar and a brush. White vinegar can be used to remove stains if poured directly onto the stain, let to soak in for 20 minutes, then scrubbed with a stiff-bristled brush.