Summertime is a fun and often busy time of year. Whether it’s yardwork, sporting events, taking the kids to the pool, or Sunday evening drives in the convertible, many of us end up neglecting our typical garage organization system and are left wondering, “how in the world did my garage become so messy?” With summer halfway over, now is a great time to evaluate your garage and determine how you’re going to reorganize and store your toys.
Take Inventory
“What is all this stuff? I don’t remember buying this.” Take a good look at what’s in your garage. Is it pool toys, bikes, sporting equipment, seasonal décor, cleaning supplies, or even that old Mustang you still haven’t fixed? See what all you have and if there’s anything you don’t need, throw it out!
Make Categories
Now that you know what’s in your garage and what you’re keeping, put it into categories. This will make things much easier. Here’s a list to get you started:
- Wheeled toys (bikes, scooters, skateboards, etc.)
- Pool toys
- Holiday/seasonal decorations
- Landscaping supplies
- Cleaning supplies
- Sporting equipment
- Tools
- Automotive accessories
- Vehicles
Evaluate Your Storage System
How have you stored things in the past? Did you use bins, racks, shelves, hooks, or cabinets? Consider vertical storage and garage ceiling-mounted racking (see our blog post on upgrading your garage). Be prepared and purchase additional storage if needed.
Sketch It Out
A great way to be sure that everything will fit is to sketch it out. You don’t need to be an artist, and trust us, we’re not judging, to grab some (preferably) gridded or any kind of paper, and quickly draw out your garage and where you might want to put things. If you store vehicles or bigger summer toys in your garage, don’t forget to give them plenty of space, especially if you plan to work on them throughout the year.
Place Accordingly
Store the summer toys and other items in your garage by utility. Place often and regularly used items near the inside door to the house. Holiday decorations or other items that you only use once or twice a year should be placed in far corners; use easily accessible space for the stuff you use most! Kids in the house? Keep harmful chemicals or other cleaning supplies separate and away from children’s reach. However, the kid’s favorite things should be ground level and easily accessible to them.
Big Toys
The toys that really count. If you vehicles that you don’t intend to drive as often, , consider investing in vehicle cover. Many companies make dust and water-resistant covers that are vehicle-specific, ensuring a perfect fit. A vehicle can still get dirty by just sitting in a garage. However, if you have off-road vehicles, motorcycles, or other big toys that you intend to ride year-round, make sure to give them plenty of space to move about and exit the garage.
The feeling of a clean and organized garage is definitely a great one. Sometimes being busy throughout the year let’s us forget about maintaining one of the most important, yet least recognized parts of the home, the garage. If everything is organized and you still feel that something is missing, like your garage door needing maintenance, remember that Banko is always here to help.
