In today’s world, you hear a lot about getting organized, it is the “in” thing to make life easier. We organize our closets, our shelves, our drawers, our laundry rooms, our desks and our calendar all in hopes of straightening out our lives. There are even garage organizers to fix our outdoor, where do I put it type stuff. As technology has improved, life has become more hectic and we often feel out of control as we try to juggle so many things. So anything we can organize gives us a sense of control and accomplishment.

So, say you have every thing else organized in your life, you have probably left the garage for last. It is a bit intimidating because probably while you were organizing the house anything you didn’t know where to put, was put in the garage. Plus you have your seasonal items out there (from summer camping to winter skiing), gardening supplies and any handyman tools are all stored in your garage. But spring is finally here, so it is the perfect time to tackle getting your garage in order.

Organizing your garage is going to be a big enough project, so when looking for what type of storage system you should use, there are three things to look for:

Easy – the items in your garage organizers should be easy to access, easy to find and be organized in a systematic fashion that is easy to understand. This includes using all of your available space, not just your floor space but also your wall space, and sometimes your ceiling space. Keeping many of your items off the floor also keeps them safe and dry. Versatile – this means that the garage organizers that you choose should be able to be adapted for many different functions or activities. Your storage options should be flexible and adaptable to the many different things that you need to organize. Modular and Expandable – a modular system is made up of different modules as the basis of design. These various modules should allow your garage organizing system to expand as your storage needs or pocketbook allows.

There are a couple of different storage systems that fit all of these criteria, two of these being Flow Wall and Gladiator Garage Works. These types of garage organizers have panels (slats) that are attached to your garage walls, available in different size configurations. Onto these panels you can easily hang a variety of hooks, shelves, baskets, small cabinets and workstations.

The panels themselves are designed to be both easy to install and easy to use. All of the many accessories mentioned above easily hang on the walls. And, the various storage accessories make these garage organizers very versatile. The different hooks vary is size and configuration to hang things from bikes and skis to heavy duty hooks for ladders and wheel barrows. Along with the different length shelves and various types of baskets a cabinets, these systems are very versatile and can be adapted to anyone’s different needs.

When necessary, you can easily add more panels for additional storage space, or rearrange the hooks, shelves etc. into different configurations for different storage needs. These two options make these types of garage organizers both modular and expandable.

So, when you finally get the courage to organize your garage, remember ease, versatility and modular expandability, and if you match all of these criteria in your system, you will be happy with the garage organizers that you choose for your garage.

Spring and summer is the perfect time to haul out the patio furniture from its storage space in the garage to get ready for all of those summer BBQ’s and gatherings with friends and family. That is when it hits you: your garage looks like a disaster area! You probably have been meaning to clean it up and get it organized for years, but you never seem to find the time to get this massive job done.

Garages are usually not the most enjoyable places to spend your time, especially in the spring after a very cold and damp winter. It is completely natural that you procrastinate and put off cleaning the garage until the warmer, summer months. Unfortunately, when summer finally does roll around, it either seems too hot to even think about cleaning out your garage, or you are out having too much fun with summer-time activities, leaving you with no time.

Over the years, your garage items and mess seem to accumulate. With items being stored in random places, and with spills and messes contributing, you can often get overwhelmed with the feeling of chaos. By the time your garage gets to this stage, the thought of cleaning it up begins to feel intimidating because there is so much that needs to be done.

If you find yourself in this situation, or heading towards it, your first step is to try not to worry.  It may seem like cleaning up your garage and keeping it in good shape is an impossible dream, but with the right attitude, the right tools, and plenty of motivation, it will be easy as one, two, three, and four!

Step One: Make a Start

Step one is usually the hardest part of the entire process. Making a start on cleaning out the cave that is your garage is the only way to get the job done at all. When your motivation is at an all time low, this can be a very tricky task. The ideal way to approach this situation is to schedule a weekend, or another time when you know you are going to have at least two consecutive days free, to work in the garage. The night before, gather together all of the things you need to start in the garage, such as trash bags, old clothes to wear, gloves, and comfortable shoes. Wake up the next morning and, after enjoying a healthy breakfast that will give you energy and motivation, get in the garage and make a start. After you start it is smooth sailing from there!

Step Two: Tame Your Messy Garage

If your garage is particularly large and unruly, step two will probably be completed over the course of several sessions. Once you have completed the worst of the mess, and are somewhat cleaned up, you might find yourself actually enjoying this process. It is definitely a satisfying feeling to see a clean and orderly garage emerge from the clutter that you once had to deal with.

During your first cleaning sessions, it is a good idea to simply sift through all of the items stored in your garage and decide what you want to keep and what you no longer need. Once you have removed all the unwanted items and have either donated them to charities or disposed of them, organizing what is left is much easier. Devote your next session to cleaning up the space, including walls, floors, and the ceiling if possible. If your garage is prone to dampness, use an anti-mold treatment on the walls.

Step Three: Organize Your Garage

Step three is what is considered the fun part. With your garage de-cluttered, stripped, and cleaned, now you are finally ready to start to think about ways to organize everything you need to store in there. Below are a few great options for garage storage including helpful ways to keep all of your tools, sports equipment, and other items in good condition, and to keep your garage free from mess and clutter.

Wall-mounted Tool Holders:

Perfect for brooms, brushes, rakes, hoes, and other garden tools.

Free-standing Garage Shelves:

Can help you use up the vertical space in your garage where most of the floor space is usually taken up by the car.

Hose Organizer:

The garden hose is one item that typically sits in a messy pile in the corner of your garage. Using the hose organize will help it remain in a neat coil to make sure it does not get any punctures.

Sports Equipment Organizers:

You can keep your sports equipment looking great with items such as a movable fishing rod rack or a ceiling-mounted fishing rod holder. Grab yourself a sports garage EZNET to hold balls, mitts, bats, and other items.

Step Four: Maintenance

Your garage is now finally clean and looks fantastic. The most important part now, is to not let it slowly descend back into chaos over the next few years. Keeping your garage looking good is an ongoing process, but it is important to remember that you have got the hard part out of the way. After the initial cleaning and organizing process, maintenance is definitely much easier. Return items to their proper place when you use them, clean up spills and messes as soon as they occur, and give your garage a good airing to keep it smelling fresh.