When we are looking at homes we find that garages are an important feature to many buyers and some builders are no longer putting just a one car garage on a house, many have 3 car garages as standard! Does that mean we are driving more cars? No I think it means we have more “junk” in our garages!
So let’s talk about how we can “de-clutter” our garages and make better use of that space – like for parking our cars!

1. Give junk a heave-ho!
“Before anything else, toss stuff that’s beyond repair or hopelessly outdated,” says the president of the National Association of Professional Organizers. Be sure to have a ‘donate’ pile and a ‘throw out’ pile. Throw away broken toys, almost empty cans of paint, and rusty garden tools. Donate sports equipment your kids have outgrown or that extra lawn edger. Do you save things for parts & pieces that you might use some day – donate it or trash it!

2. Zone in!
Divide your garage into zones: one for lawn and garden, one for sports equipment, one for seasonal items. Then only store items in the right zone. This also makes it easier for all family members to find things!

3. Find the secret storage space!
Install shelves on the often-over-looked space on the wall above where the garage doors roll up. There are many “systems” out there today that can help you store stuff up and out of the way.

4. Hook it up!
Place hooks on the wall to hold everything from ladders to folding chairs to sleds.
1. TIP: Hang heavier items near the floor so they don’t hurt someone if they fall.

5. Contain it!
Keep stored items neat with clearly labeled plastic containers - to prevent needless rummaging around.

6. Create a mini parking lot! Designate “parking spots” with colored tape on the garage floor for kids’ bikes and wagons.

Protect what’s precious!
Most garages experience extreme temperature fluctuations, so store heirlooms or family keepsakes elsewhere.

Happy Spring Cleaning!