Tackle the Garage in Preperation for Fall

As August charges towards the coming autumn and winter months, now is the perfect time to think about organizing your garage before the cold sets in. If you are like me, you have patio furniture and garden pots that live outside during the summer that will need to come inside the garage soon where they live out the rest of the year.

For many people the thought of having to make space for all this outdoor paraphernalia provokes a great deal of anxiety; so much for any thought of getting the car in the garage this winter! However, it is not necessary for this twice-annual ritual to cause panic, all you need to do is prepare a little in advance and get organized.

First things first, let's evaluate what is taking up all that space in your garage. Now is a great time to go through all your treasures and make three piles; DONATE, DUMP, KEEP. Start in one corner of the garage and work your way systematically around the room. It is extremely helpful during this overwhelming stage of the project to either hire a professional like myself or recruit a friend to help keep you motivated and on track. As you evaluate each item remember to be realistic; are you ever REALLY going to use that extra coffee pot that has been sitting in the garage for the past three years? Really? A good rule of thumb to keep in mind is if you haven't needed or used an item in the past 2 years, you will probably get along just fine without it. You will be amazed how great it will feel to clear the clutter that is taking up valuable space while at the same time offering some great stuff to Goodwill. And don't forget to get a receipt, it's tax deductible!

Once you have sorted through and purged all the stuff that needed to go, take a little time to wipe down shelves and sweep out those corners before you start re-organizing. Don't panic if your garage looks like a bomb went off in it at this point, it will come back together much quicker, this is the rewarding part!

You will want to categorize your stuff to make it easiest for you to access. Here is a sample list of potential categories:

• Camping/Recreation Gear
• Holiday Decorations
• Tools
• Gardening
• Painting Supplies
• Cleaning Supplies
• Pet Products
• Patio Furniture/Cushions

Think about the things that get used most frequently and make them the most accessible, including putting them in closest proximity to where they will be used. Don't forget to utilize your walls and ceiling if it is practical to do so. Do you have a bunch of drill bits rolling around? How about putting a magnetic knife strip on the wall where they are visible and useful. The magnetic strip also works great for holding paint brushes!

Picture Courtesy of Better Homes & Gardens.

Or do you have a large variety of nails, screws and hardware that needs to be corralled? Think about re-purposing those old jam jars and screw the lids to the underside of a shelf and fill the jars with your odds and ends. This provides an easy way for you to see what you have.

Screw organizing , originally uploaded by Chez Larsson.

When it comes to getting your holiday decorations organized I recommend using clear totes so you can see what's inside. If you have lots of decorations for different holidays you might try color coding the lids according to the holiday. Being that these are items you will likely use only once a year they should go in an out of the way spot.

One great product I love for the garage is the Gladiator Claw, an excellent and easy way to get your bike up and out of the way. With a push lock mechanism all you need to do is push up the clasp is released.

Once everything is in its new place stand back and admire your work and breath easier knowing when its time to put away the patio furniture and garden pots you'll be ready for them!