Has your Oklahoma City Garage Floor Coating becomes a glorified storage area, littered with boxes, tools and toys? The only way to reclaim it for its intended use is to take time out to clean and organize your garage.
Organizing your garage is not a difficult task, it just takes a plan, some time, and the desire to get the job done. Here are six simple steps to help you take control of your garage again.
Step 1 – Remove and sort the clutter
Pick a nice day and take everything out of the garage. You can put it in the driveway or yard for now. As you remove the clutter, categorize all the items you remove from the garage by grouping them with like items. This doesn’t have to be fancy. At first you can just make piles of similar items. Keep children’s toys together and separate from gardening supplies or carpentry or seasonal decorations, etc. Identify items that are broken, outdated or no longer used and put that in a discard pile to either sell, give away or trash.
Step 2 – Clean
While the garage is empty, now is the time to sweep, vacuum or mop out all the loose debris, remove cobwebs and layers of dust. Your garage will be more efficient and enjoyable if it is clean. Also, take time to vacuum and dust the items that you took out but will be going back in. You don’t want to put dirty items back in to a clean garage.
Step 3 – Decide where to put things
Now that you have a clean garage, make a plan for where to put things back in an orderly manner. You aren’t putting it back just yet – just deciding where it will go. Your goal is to keep similar things in the same general area. You may want to jot a simple plan on a piece of paper if that helps you visualize it better. Figure out the storage aids you need to help you organize your clutter. For example, you may need to buy some storage bins, shelving, tool chests, peg boards, suspended ceiling systems, hanging bike racks, storage cabinets, etc. Assess your needs and make a list. If money is tight, you may have to postpone more expensive solutions until later. Add a permanent marker and masking tape for labeling if you don’t have either one on hand. Make a trip to a home improvement center and get the things you need.
Step 4 – Spruce things up
I’m not suggesting that you remodel your garage into a living area, but making your garage a more pleasant place to be will motivate you to keep it clean and clutter free in the future. While your garage is empty, consider a new coat of paint for the walls to make things cleaner and brighter. What about the floor? Many people like to paint and seal the garage floor with epoxy paint to protect it from spills and make clean up easy. Simple changes in wall color or floor covering can have a major impact on the feeling of the garage. If this is something you want to do, now is the time. Some people even decide to put outdoor carpeting on their garage floor. This is more expensive but can completely change the aura of the garage. If you plan on doing crafts and hobbies in the garage, this is something you may want to consider.
Step 5 – Organize
Once you have cleaned your garage (floors and walls) and purchased any storage systems you need, it is time to put everything back. In addition to keeping similar items together in the same area, it is best to place regularly used items within easy reach. Store less frequently used items in those harder-to-get-to areas. If you add shelves, place the less frequently accessed items on the top shelf. If you have a garage cabinet system, put frequently used items in the front and at arm level. Stacking plastic bins can be an efficient and clean way to store miscellaneous items. Be sure to label the outside of such bins, as well as any other containers, drawers and cabinets. Just write the contents on a piece of masking tape and affix it to the front. This will save you the trouble of opening each bin to find what you need. If you get a pegboard for your tools, pick those tools that you use most frequently to hang on it. Once you find the best way to hang these tools on your peg board, use a marker and outline the tools so you can see exactly how they should be re-hung.