Like most men the garage is a sanctuary in my own home and having it full of junk and clutter drives me nuts. However with it being the only room in the house were I can store stuff like a old Chevy 350 or a lawn mower it tends to get cluttered and space is at a premium. I have come up with a couple of ways of storing all the stuff I need and still have the space to work on my projects without tripping over stuff.

First and foremost I have to be very strict with myself when it comes to buying gadgets and gizmos that I don't need. If I don't have all that stuff to clutter up my garage then the battle is half won already. I have the usual lawn implements and then my tools and some other things that are too big to fit anywhere else in the house. If I keep the amount of stuff in my garage to a minimum then it's much easier to keep clean and tidy.

The second thing I do is to make sure that everything has a place. I do this by making shelves, pegboards, cupboards and drawers for everything. I also have some spaces under my bench for storing larger stuff like that old Chevy 350. With a place for everything and everything in its place I can find stuff much easier.

I have also used the space on the ceiling to store lighter stuff that I don't use as much. The canoe can be easily hung from the ceiling along with anything else that won't pull the hangers out. Use the space wisely and you will be amazed at what you can store in a small area.

Another area I had to crack down on was garbage. My family seems to think that it's okay to toss crap and crud in the garage because it's the garage and I have even done it myself a time or two. So I have made some large bins for garbage and the recycling that are easy to use and more importantly easy to empty. I have also purchased a nice big shop-vac that can usually clean up any spill or mess. This combined with a special sealer that I applied to the garage floor helps keep things nice and neat and stain free.

Next on the list is to fix and maintain anything that needs it. If the garage door needs to be oiled then set some time aside to do so. A little maintenance goes a long way and it prevents stuff from turning into junk that you have to throw away. It just makes sense to take care of your tools and equipment so they last a long time and you don't waste money buy more stuff.

This is what I did to make over my garage. The hardest part was the first initial cleaning phase but that wasn't so bad and I made some money at the garage sale. The second hardest part was getting the family and myself onboard and not just throwing stuff here and there but also taking the time to clean and organize. As my mother has told me a thousand times "A clean house is easier to clean then a dirty house". This makes so much sense that it took me almost 35 years for me to grasp the concept. With these few steps and a little elbow grease my garage is now a clean and efficient space to store my vehicles, tools, and gadgets. I can also get my projects done in half the time because I am not wasting time looking for stuff.

Learn more about this author, Mark Willis.
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