This guide will show you precisely how to properly clean your garage and keep it organized, without creating clutter.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Carve out some time
Step 1. Reserve a whole weekend for this activity
Get your family involved, too, unless you think it might hinder you from being meticulous, and assign tasks to each one. Offer a sale of your garage items and claim the proceeds as a reward for their help!
Method 2 of 4: Get organized
Step 1. If you don't already have shelving in your garage, consider buying a modular piece of durable shelving to place along the walls
All hardware department stores sell various types of hardware. Placing objects on the floor is precisely the negation of the organization.
Step 2. Next, buy a good number of plastic containers with lids that fit well inside the shelves
Measure the height of the shelving compartments and make sure the bins are not too high to fit into. You can find the containers at Target, Wal-Mart, or similar stores.
Step 3. You will need three zones or containers for the following categories:
- Waste.
- Things to give or sell.
- Objects to arrange. The latter include items you have borrowed and need to return, items that need to be repaired, and items that should be somewhere else in the house. If you can, use a large bin, boxes, or large trash bags for items to give to charity and for items you want to repair or return.
Method 3 of 4: Clean up the Garage
Step 1. Now, take on the garage
First, throw away what are obviously junk scattered around and that you never use. It doesn't matter if they are "still good" things. If you don't use them, it doesn't matter how much they are worth. The exceptions, of course, include photographs and other mementos. Adopt the rule that if you haven't used an item for 12 months, you probably don't need it (excluding very expensive equipment, or what you didn't use because you were too sick or listless to pursue a hobby).
- Remove all large items, such as work tables, bags, vacuum cleaners, etc., to free up as much space as possible.
- Collect smaller items like tools and decorations and set them aside.
Step 2. As you go through all your stuff, you may want to organize them into broader categories
for example: tools, Christmas decorations, collectibles, pet supplies, etc. Be methodical, as the more you group, the easier it will be to decide what you want to keep, what you have double, and what you no longer want or need. You will probably find something you have been looking for for a long time!
Step 3. Also consider using eBay or Etsy to sell anything with commercial value
It's pretty easy to post products, and you may have something in your garage that's worth more than you think. Look for items similar to yours to see what potential value they might have.
Step 4. Start storing these groups of items in the separate containers you purchased
Step 5. When one container is full, label it clearly, place it on one shelf and start filling the next one
The goal is to have everything you want to keep well placed inside a container, clearly marked and placed on the shelf, so that you can recognize where the objects are stored even from a distance.
Method 4 of 4: Finish the Job
Step 1. When you're done, call the people you need to return something to and arrange to deliver the item to them or have them come and pick it up
If they decide they don't want it back, add it to your Donation / Sale group.
Step 2. Check for items that need repair
Is it worth it and the expense to get them fixed? If not, throw them in your waste bin. If you decide, however, that it is worth it, take these items to a special repair center starting tomorrow.
Step 3. Bring the donation items immediately to the charity desk
Don't let anything go unfinished. The goal of this work is to create space and organization, so that the things you no longer want or need no longer remain in the garage, or, for that matter, anywhere else in your home.
Step 4. Get to work selling what you can
As mentioned, you can use items from your garage that you no longer want to organize a sale if you are prone to these things. Otherwise, you can also sell them on eBay or Etsy, as explained above.
Step 5. Now you can sweep the portion of the floor you just earned
And congratulate yourself: you did it! Congratulations. And enjoy and your new space.
Advice
- Take short breaks but don't sit down to watch your favorite show or you'll never get the job done.
- Store the things you want to keep in a safe place where they won't be damaged.
- Throw away anything you no longer need.
- Keep only what is needed and get rid of everything else.
Warnings
- Clean up oil leaks before they stain or cause possible slips.
- If you are allergic to any type of dust, avoid dusting and ask someone to do it for you.
- Beware of chemicals. Make sure they are well stowed away or get rid of them carefully. Do not handle them with bare hands; always wear gloves when carrying chemicals (gardening, tool care, etc.).
