Most people use their garage as a storage space for things they don’t use on a regular basis, such as seasonal sports equipment, holiday decorations, and extra boxes of clothes. However, this can lead to problems down the road. When your garage is cluttered, it can be difficult to open and close your garage door properly. This puts stress on the door and its components, and can eventually lead to damage. In addition, a cluttered garage makes it more difficult to find things when you need them. This can lead to frustration and wasted time. If you want to keep your garage in good condition, it’s important to declutter it on a regular basis. Set aside some time each month to sort through your belongings and get rid of anything you don’t need. You’ll be surprised how much better your garage will function when it’s not crammed full of stuff.
Declutter Your Garage to Prevent Damage to your Garage Door
If you tend to use your garage for storage, you’re not alone. Most people with a garage do!
If the clutter is getting out of control or even making it hard to park your car inside, it’s time to organize your garage. We see accidents caused by items stored in the garage every day. Small items such as a broom handle stuck in the trash can cause an issue and require the garage door to be reset by one of our garage door service technicians. Decluttering may seem overwhelming, but we’re here to make it easier. Once the garage is in great shape it’s time to service and maintain the garage door and operator to have it working great through the summer.
Organizing Your Garage
1. Take Everything Out
The first step in organizing any part of your home: clearing everything out. Take everything out of your garage so you can clearly see what you have and start with a nice, clean garage. This part will seem like you’re just making a bigger mess, but it’s important to trust the process.
2. Donate or Toss What You Don’t Need
If it has been a while since you cleaned your garage, there are likely some things you no longer want or need. Remember that tricycle your child outgrew 5 years ago, that flat basketball, and that old office chair you said you were going to donate months ago? Now is the time to get rid of them, once and for all. Toss anything that is beyond repair and put the things that can be donated in one pile. Take it to your nearest thrift store or donation center that day. Nothing goes back into the garage that you don’t actually need!
3. Categorize & Group the Items
Now you’re going to sort everything that’s left. Place items together in categories like sports equipment, tools, lawn or gardening equipment, and seasonal decorations. All of the items that you have should fit into a category, but if you have some outliers, don’t worry about it. Put those in their own category and handle those on an individual basis.
4. Invest in Organization
You have no shortage of garage organization options: storage bins, shelving, storage hooks, and so much more. Find storage solutions that work for your needs and your budget. If you and your family are avid bikers, bike storage hooks are a smart investment. Have a lot of gardening tools? Look for garden tool hangers to keep all of your tools organized and easily accessible and store the tools away from the garage door tracks where they can fall and create trouble.
5. Put Everything Back In Your Garage Strategically
With your new storage system and your neatly organized belongings, you should be able to put everything back in your garage in a way that makes the most sense for you. Items that you don’t need to access on a regular basis like Christmas decorations can go on higher shelves. Tools or lawn equipment you need more often should be stored where they’re easily accessible. It is a great idea to store things near the back of the garage and not along the sides, or on the wall, the garage door is mounted. This helps make repairs or maintenance when needed, easily accessible.
Finish Your Garage Upgrade with a Garage Door Specialist
If decluttering and organizing your garage has inspired you to further improve your garage, make Garage Door Specialist your first choice. With a variety of garage doors to choose from and professional installation, we make it easy to add curb appeal and improve the look of your garage.
