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What is one of the most cluttered spaces in our home?
What is the state of your garage? Is it ready to hold all the summer items that need a place to be stored? Do you have a space for lawn and garden tools, bicycles, pool toys, and the lawn mower? Will you have room to pull your cars inside? Perhaps now is the perfect time to organize the whole garage. The autumn weather provides a cooler work environment and those summer activities have come to an end.
Below are some helpful tips to guide you through organizing your garage or any other storage area, such as a basement, attic, shed, or porch.
Consider the size and scope of your garage organizing project and be sure to plan accordingly to ensure you have adequate time to complete the project.
- Light Refresh: 4 hours or less – Moving a few items, light decluttering, donating and recycling items, and light cleaning
- Typical Organizing and Decluttering: 12 to 16 hours – Pulling everything out, sorting, cleaning, and placing items into bins or on shelves
- Heavy Decluttering / Years of Accumulation: 20 to 30+ hours – Sorting through heavy storage, bulk donate/recycle disposal, and minor repairs
**Please note the organizing project listed above was done with my professional assistance which reduced the time required to complete. Also additional hours were needed to deliver donations and address give away items.
Avoid storing items in the garage that are sensitive to extreme temperature changes, high humidity and moisture, prone to mold, mildew, bugs, and pests, or are fire risks. Find alternate storage for the items listed below.
- Photos – store in labeled archival boxes away from sunlight.
- Clothing, linens, leather, fabric – hold in guest room, labeled bins in closet or under the bed.
- Electronics and batteries – keep in media cabinet or office closet.
- Food and pantry items – keep in main living area, pantry or cabinet.
- Holiday decorations & candles – hold in closet or cupboard in the room they’re used or dry basement (between 30-50% humidity and 60-70 degrees).
- Emergency items – hold in pantry, utility closet, or dry basement.
- Flammable and hazardous materials (propane, gasoline) – store in detached garage or outdoor shed.
- Paint – keep in dry basement, utility room, or on floor of closet.
- Firewood – store outdoors in sunny, elevated spot with top covered.
Wondering how to keep the garage organized? Follow these guidelines.
- Schedule a yearly organizing session each September.
- Put it on your calendar and set up reminders.
- Pay attention to items that haven’t been used, touched, or appreciated, as well as anything added since the previous year.
- Resist the urge to store and stockpile.
- Make decisions to get rid of items instead of tucking them away for later.
Helpful related blog articles…
3 Step Organizing Process which discusses how to break down the organizing process into 3 manageable steps.
How to Get Rid of Stuff which discusses resources for donating, recycling and selling items.
I’d sincerely appreciate a review!
If you’ve worked with me in any capacity, I’d be grateful for a review. Simply click on this link and answer 2 questions. Thank you and happy organizing!
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