Organizing Your Garage

Sometimes it seems like the garage is where all of your junk ends up. If you don't know where to put something, you throw it in the garage. When you break a piece of furniture but don't have the heart to throw it out, it goes in the garage. You organize your home, but aren't quite sure where to put the stuff you don't use anymore. Guess where that stuff usually ends up—the garage.

The place where you're supposed to keep your cars can quickly turn into a storage facility for things you don't necessarily need. Of course there are probably things in your garage that you do need, but with all the other junk blocking the way you can't even get to the useful items anymore. When your garage looks more like a garbage dump than a garage, it's definitely time to organize it.

If the thought of organizing your garage sends chills down your spine, you aren't alone. It doesn't have to be a terrible ordeal. Follow these steps to make the process simple and easy:

1. The rule of three. First of all, get into your garage and organize everything into three piles. Have one pile for items you absolutely need to keep, a second pile for those things you aren't sure about, and a third pile for the possessions you just don't need. Once you have the three piles, look at the second pile and force yourself to put these items in either the first or third pile. Donate or toss the things in the third pile. Be ruthless, and this step will be much more productive.
2. Box it by type. Find boxes or bins for the smaller things you have decided to keep. Organize the items by type so they are easier to find when you need them. Putting labels on your storage bins and boxes can help you remember what is in them. Find specified places for the larger items.
3. Clean the garage. Sweep out and clean your garage. Ridding the area of dirt and debris can help it look much nicer, and it will be a healthier place to be as well if you aren't breathing in dust every time you go in your garage.
4. Use shelving. Consider buying some shelves to set up in your garage if you have a lot of boxes in there. This will make boxes easy to access and quick to find, if you need them.

Following these steps will make your garage more organized and clean. Hopefully you will now be able to find the things you need when you need them.