As the days start to lengthen and we turn our thoughts to warmer days and everything the summer holds, it is a good time to start thinking about a spring clean inside and out, including the house, garden, and garage.
Many of us want a garage when we move; however, few of us keep a car in it. It is more space for storage and garden equipment, and anything else that won’t go in the house.
Declutter
Don’t underestimate the time decluttering will take. You will need a full day or perhaps even a weekend, depending on the size of the garage and the state of the clutter. Getting the whole family involved will help to speed things up and engage everyone to participate in the new system. If there are items to be discarded, it can help if everyone is in agreement; however, there should not be a lengthy debate on whether to keep something.
Divide everything into four piles: things to keep, things to give to charity, things to sell, and things to the bin. If you need help allocating something to a pile, ask whether it has been used in the last year. If you think you might need it one day, ditch it now – it will take up too much space for a might use this in ten years time.
Organize
Once you have decluttered, the next step is to organize everything and stay organized. If you need some pointers, DIY Network has a guide on how to arrange the space in your garage.
The old saying ‘A place for everything and everything in its place’ is key for organizing your garage, so adding some Longspan Shelving is vital. Check out a specialist at links such as https://www.rackzone.ie/pallet-racking/long-span-shelving and find a solution that fits your needs. Put the items you use most regularly in the easiest to reach places, hooks beside the door, and shelves at chest height. Put bulky items, such as the lawnmower, in a space in the back corner, with other heavy or bulky items on the floor or bottom shelf.
Create zones for things that are used together, such as gardening equipment, and place the items you don’t use frequently on higher shelves.
Once your system is in place, ensure all users are aware of the organization so that nothing is dumped and everything is returned to its place.
