CHICAGO, GURNEE, HOFFMAN ESTATES, NAPERVILLE, TINLEY PARK, IL …

As you’re tripping over paint cans and bumping into old bicycles, you may not realize that your garage could be the most functional space in the house. After all, what other room can serve as workshop, potting shed, storage locker, recycling plant, and carport all at once? A garage is also the best place to store many items that are not used on a daily basis such as holiday decorations, gardening supplies, tools and anything else that clutters the home.

Creating effective storage in the garage can be done with a bit of ingenuity and planning. The five DirectBuy clubs of greater Chicago— DirectBuy of Chicago North at 6325 North Avondale, DirectBuy of Gurnee, DirectBuy of DuPage County in Naperville, DirectBuy of Hoffman Estates and DirectBuy of Tinley Park —offer these helpful hints on creating usable working space in your garage.

When in doubt, throw it out … Clutter can take over a garage – Before you plan your storage solutions, sort through the clutter — have a garage sale, give it to charity or truly just throw it out.

Get organized … Cut down on clutter and get your garage organized by installing garage cabinets. A new set of cabinets will clear the floor of tools, supplies and athletic equipment and open new space for perhaps a workshop or potting shed. Cabinets also work well for protecting their contents from moisture and dust.

Maximize your space … Maximize available space in your garage by using narrow storage shelves or wall-mounted racks that can stack up neatly against the walls and leave room for cars.

Smart labeling … Another smart idea is to mark storage bins so they are easy to find or use clear plastic storage boxes to immediately see what you are looking for. No more wasted time searching through an unorganized mess!

“Installing effective storage solutions in your garage means you have quickly created a new room in your home. In a short amount of time and with little investment, homeowners can create a workshop, athletic storage system, potting shed, or any other working solution they may need or imagine,” said Dave Kushner, owner of DirectBuy of Hoffman Estates. “DirectBuy also gives members the opportunity to save a lot of money by buying storage solutions for their garage, directly from the manufacturer.”

DirectBuy carries a wide selection of garage cabinets to help you cut-down on clutter and get organized. A one-stop shop for all your home building and home remodeling projects, DirectBuy offers industrial quality and strength garage cabinets that can hold and organize a variety of items that would normally clutter your garage. These garage storage cabinets make a great addition to your home garage or auto shop business storing assorted parts, tools and chemicals, which can pose a threat when simply lying around.

Since 1971, DirectBuy clubs have offered members the opportunity to enjoy enormous savings on home furnishings, home improvement items, entertainment and outdoor products and accessories by buying wholesale, directly from the manufacturer. With five convenient locations in the greater Chicago area (Chicago, Gurnee, Hoffman Estates, Naperville, and Tinley Park), consumers can enjoy a comfortable, country-club setting, where they finally have the financial control of buying direct.

For more information on a DirectBuy membership, you can visit http://www.directbuychicago.com/.

About DirectBuy

Since 1971, DirectBuy has helped hundreds of thousands of families enjoy a better quality of life, enabling them to buy directly from more than 700 manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. Buying direct makes members’ hard-earned money to go much further, while having the selection and choice not available at any retail store. Access to confidential prices, local suppliers, and unparalleled selection helps make members’ dream projects a reality.  It’s a comfortable, country-club setting, where you finally have the financial control of buying direct. The five DirectBuy clubs serving the greater Chicago area are part of more than 160 locations throughout North America.

Consumers interested in becoming members may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by visiting http://www.directbuychicago.com/. 

Locations of the five DirectBuy clubs serving the greater Chicago area are: DirectBuy of Gurnee, 4081 Ryan Rd. #107, Gurnee, IL; DirectBuy of Hoffman Estates, 2200 N. Stonington Ave Ste. 150 Hoffman Estates, IL; DirectBuy of Chicago North, 6325 Avondale, Chicago, IL; DirectBuy of DuPage County, 1864 Highgrove Ste. 136 Naperville, IL; and DirectBuy of Tinley Park, 18400 S. 76th Avenue Ste. B, Tinley Park, IL.

To learn more about the superior value and benefits of a DirectBuy membership, visit www.directbuycares.com.

Fred Flintstone could have been one of the lucky ones. Had the home of the world’s original cartoon caveman been underground, it would have been perfectly suited to wine storage: a dark, dank cave ideal for allowing the liquid inside his precious bottles to age at exactly the right pace.

Experts say that after heat, the next biggest cause of damage to wine is lights. Keep wine away from any extreme light sources, such as big bay windows or halogen lamps.

But like Fred, most of us aren’t fortunate enough to to be able to keep our wine stored beneath the earth. Genuine wine cellars are rare, and while professional storage is an option, it’s inconvenient if you want to grab a couple of bottles of delicately aged 1990 Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou when the boss unexpectedly drops in.

So what are the alternatives? Keeping ten or 15 bottles of booze in a simple wooden wine rack within spitting distance of the dining room table seems to do the job for the vast majority of us. But if you are a bit vehement about keeping your vino in good health, there are far better ways.

In fact, all too often people tend to keep expensive wine on display, gazing at it often as they wonder when to finally open it. Unfortunately, when they finally to get around to the uncorking – or unscrewing, as is often the case these days – they find it ruined.

Wine that has been sitting on top of the fridge in a wooden wine rack, vibrating and getting hot, is often not drinkable. And if you are spending $20 on a bottle or more, even $200 and up, it just doesn’t make sense not to store it properly.

Top Tips for Storing Wine Correctly
Wine storage began in underground caves which allowed wine to age at the right pace. Today, wine should be stored at conditions that reflect those grottoes: about 11-12 degrees centigrade with 55-75% relative humidity. If wine is stored at higher temperatures, its natural development is accelerated.
In fact, the most crucial aspect about storing wine is heat fluctuations, especially excessive heat. You need a fairly constant temperature, ideally about 11-12 degrees.
Light can also affect wine, which optimally should be stored in the dark. Slightly damp conditions are best, as an atmosphere that is too dry can be detrimental. In fact, a very dry or humid environment can make the corks dry out.
Avoid putting those bottles of precious vino next to pipes, radiators and any type of heating vent, and whatever you do, keep all bottles away from the sun. Think of wine as a fine painting: when left in direct sunlight, its value begins to fade.
Experts say that after heat, the next biggest cause of damage to wine is lights. Keep wine away from any extreme light sources, such as big bay windows or halogen lamps.

Keeping Things Cool – At Home

If you have time, space, budget and energy to invest in the right wine storage system, remember that this will also depend on a number of external factors – some of which may be out of your control, such as budget and space. How many bottles you wish to store is also of paramount importance.

Your own personal requirements will dictate whether you’re looking to buy a sophisticated refrigerated cooling system for your kitchen, install a series of wine hives in your storage room, or convert a basement or garage into a fully equipped wine cellar.

Prices for good quality coolers depend largely on size. These redesigned fridges keep your wine at a higher temperature with altered humidity levels, they are also built to minimize vibration. More gimmicky ones have multi-temperature zones, enabling you to keep your full-bodied reds and sweet whites at varying temperatures.

For most of us such a fridge is more than adequate, as your average wine lover has no interest in storing more than 200 bottles at home. But if you like to entertain – and have extra room and loads of cash – coolers are available that will comfortably store up to – wait for it – 1,000 bottles.

Professional Wine Storage

If you do want to keep your bottles off-site, especially if you are interested in re-selling them at a later date or leaving them to your grandchildren in 30 years’ time, then professional wine storage may be your best bet. Many companies these days provide private customers with professional cellarage facilities, with most wines insured at their full replacement value.

For a closer-to-home solution, a personal wine cellar is best. Wine enthusiasts have been known to convert everything from garages to cellars to disused backyard bomb shelters into personal wine cellars, although if it’s not underground, expect to install a special air-conditioning system as well as some type of irrigation mechanism, to control the humidity.

If you want to build an underground cellar from scratch yourself, experts say going as deep in the soil as possible will make the biggest difference. When you reach a certain level underground you get a constant temperature, and materials such as brick and cement are very good for a slow temperature exchange. This is important as wine doesn’t like to be shocked. It can’t be one temperature one day and another temperature the next, or you’ll know it.

Going underground isn’t as hard as you may think. Some companies can install a prefabricated wine cellar in a garage, storage room, extension or underneath any home where there is a 2.50 meter space to excavate. Cellars come with waterproof liners and a cooling system can be installed as well, if needed.
But if you can’t afford anything too fancy, make use of what you already have. An old chimney breast is often a good idea, as the temperature in the fireplace for medium-term storage is very good. It will also protect your wine from light.

Visit our friends at Grotto Cellars to find more info on wine storage and a large selection of modular wine racks to compliment your wine collection.  http://www.grottocellars.com

In designing a garage, first and foremost youn should be with an important decision on the purpose to what kind of area you want to design the garage interior. If you have a large garage space, then turn that extra space into something more than just a garage storage. If the area of inside of your garage is not that big just enough for your car and tools, well then you can organize things inside that garage and will be surprised to find that it provides enough room at your disposal, which can be used for some other activity. All of these are possible with a little bit grab of time for your garage interior design.

Interior Design Ideas:

First in mind is you have to consider your budget, you have to decide the budget that you can afford to spend on the garage interior design. Check the primary requirements that can help you modify the garage interior designs. Here, some garage designs have been discussed in detail: Storage Designs for Your Garage: Most of the spaces of a garage (whether the excess one or the only space provided) are occupied unnecessary and out of place things. If they are arranged into order, the garage can be engaged and used for useful necessary activities. Use of cabinets, shelves, hooks, pegs and pegboards are some of the essential items, most commonly needed to organize the garage. Fix up some J hooks on the walls of the garage to hang heavy garage tools like shovels, hoes, brooms and mops. Small hardware materials like nails and screws can be kept in jars or excess plastic box (if available). You can buy a pegboard to put other tools on it or even make it on your own resourcefulness. Shelves can be fixed on the walls to keep various things like storage bins, the plastic box, jars or any handmade storage for your tools. Chemical and other liquid materials can be kept inside the locked cabinets safely to be cautious enough.  Because you who knows, your children (if there’s any) might wander inside your garage. Door Designs for Your Garage: Art designs (any art designs that got into your mind) for garage doors are indispensable when designing garage interiors. There is a wide variety of designs for garage doors available in the market at an affordable price. If you want it personalized and have enough budget for it then you can have your own design. You can choose old style or contemporary style according to your taste and requirement. The materials of garage door can range from Mahogany to Cedar to steel. You have the option to select the controller systems of the door. It can be a chain drive, screw drive or computer controlled. Among these, the cheapest is the chain drive, but it is going to make a lot of noise. All types of door solutions have built-in devices for preventing closure when its path is blocked. Thus, they are safe to use. You can innovate the doors by adding some extra windows to obtain the look you have in your mind. Or you can even ask your kid if you allow them to for the colors and any additions. Flooring Designs for Your Garage: The options for garage floor covering is as diverse as polyvinyl to rubber to epoxy paints. The cheapest flooring option is the use of epoxy paints. It will enhance the look of your garage if you can make some designs. However, it makes the floor slippery and hence should be use if you do not require the garage regularly. Polyvinyl floor covering helps to hide all kinds of cracks and holes on the garage floor. It can also offer protection from stains, grease and other dirt that are common enemies of the garage floor. Rubber floor tiles is an ideal option if you are looking for a soft floor covering. Your choice for garage flooring should depend on the way you want to utilize the space of the garage.

There you have it! A whole new improvised Garage that would be pleasant to see on any way around. Once the modification work for garage interior design is over, you can get a nice and sleek interior garage design that is ready to be used in various different ways. The most common use for garage is as a workshop as you have all the tools inside it. However, it can also serve as a home office or a gym or playroom area for the kids or any other recreational activities.

It is really very important to organize things up, to have a new look and at this same time to be used in any way you want it (in its proper location and relevance of the activity in your garage). We can now start moving to finish what we are aiming in our garage!

Need fast and simple solutions for your garage organization problems? Here are seven tips to help you get that garage in order and organized for good.

Hanging Racks

Getting racks that you can hang from the rafters of your garage works great for a variety of items. This garage organization solution works especially well for bikes. It keeps them from taking away valuable floor space while still keeping them easily accessible.

Hooks

Hooks are a great solution for many garage items. Long handled items that have a hole in the end work well to hang on hooks. If you use tarps or any sort of cover for your car or grill, hanging these things on hooks in the garage when they are not in use works very well.

Pegboards

This is one of the best garage organization tips that there is. Pegboards are the most flexible and inexpensive garage organization tools that there is. You can easily change how your garage is organized just by changing where you put your pegboard holders.

When you do get it organized exactly the way you want, take a picture of it and hang the picture up next to the holders. Do this for every section of the garage that has pegboard holders. It works best to do this for each section of the pegboard rather than taking a picture of the entire thing.

Shelves

The best way to use shelves in your garage is for storing containers and smaller items. Make sure that whatever shelving you install will be able to handle the weight load of what you are going to put on it.

Keep sharp and dangerous items off the floor

This is one of those garage organization tips that seems obvious but which is not always easy to follow. Making sure that things like rakes and hoes get put in their proper place is important for safety. When these items end up on the floor, you can have an unpleasant surprise if you are not watching where you are walking. Always put back items in their proper place that are potentially dangerous.

Secure hazardous items

This is another one of those garage organization tips that has to do with safety, always an important topic when you are dealing with garage storage. Anything that is toxic to humans or animals should be kept in a secure area that small children and pets cannot reach. Things like paint, weed killers, bug sprays and gas all belong in this category. If you have pets that go in the garage and they can climb, this means putting these items in high cabinets that you can close. If you have children, it is always a good idea to let them know at a young age what is and is not dangerous in the garage.

Wall Tool Holders

These work well for weed trimmers, shovels, rakes, garden equipment and brooms. Having a wall tool holder not only helps keep these items organized but it also means that they stay off the floor.

Owning an RV is extremely fun since it will help you and your family affordably travel around the country. The only problem with owning an RV is that eventually you will need to store it for a long period of time. This is especially true if you are a working individual who can only travel for a couple of weeks during the year. In order to keep you RV in top condition it is important that you take all of the appropriate steps needed for storing an RV for a long period of time.

The first thing that must be done for long term storage of an RV is finding a good storage location. Tempting as it might be an RV should never be left out of doors for several months at a time. This is just asking for trouble in the form of rodents and weather damage. Instead invest in an RV storage facility that will provide at the least a roof and a sturdy door for your RV. There are some RV storage facilities that are similar to traditional storage units with the main difference being their size and overall function.

Once you have found a good storage site for your RV clean the storage space out. There is no need to risk your RV to the vermin that another renter might have left behind. Plus in some cases the RV storage area might have gone a long time without being used. This usually means that the area has been taken over by any wildlife or insects that are interested in having a warm, safe, location to rest in during the winter and cool comfortable place to relax in all summer. Taking the time to clean your RVs storage area will cut down on the problems you will have in the future.

The next thing that you should do is clean your RV. Do not just drive your dirty, dusty, RV into its storage area and leave it. Instead give the outside a good, thorough washing and waxing if you can. Cover the tires in grease that will help them avoid cracking and other damage. Then clean out the inside of the RV. Remove all food whether it is canned or not and vacuum the interior. Check the RV several times for forgotten food since this will attract vermin and insects who will try as long as they can to get into your RV and make it there new home.

Once you are done with the basic inner and outer cleaning of your RV it is time to get dirty. You must always remember to flush out your RV holding tank and give it a good cleaning. Most people hate this task but it must be done. If you do not flush out and clean your RV holding tank then you might notice extremely bad smells the next time you climb into your RV. Clean your RV using dish liquid that is designed to fight grease and grime. This will give you the best cleaning possible and leave your holding tank smelling fresh and clean.

If it is the winter time or winter is fast approaching there are a few more things that you will need to do to make sure your RV stays in tip top shape. The first thing you must do is completely drain your water heater. There is equipment available that will help flush the water out of your system and dry the lines. Once the water has been drained use a bypass system to add antifreeze to the lines to avoid freezing and damage during the winter. These bypass systems come with instructions that are usually easy to follow.

Last, but not least, you must remove the battery from your RV. Many RV owners are tempted to leave their batter in the RV all year long but this can lead to draining, corrosion, and even leakage of dangerous battery acid. Instead of leaving the battery in your RV when you are not using it remove it and bring it into your house. Do not store the battery in a bedroom; instead store it in a garage or outside work room that remains warm or comfortable throughout the year. To keep your battery from losing charge try to charge the batter for a few days or hours each month to keep it fully charged. When you are ready to use your RV again simply reinstall your battery and get ready to drive.

Preparing your RV for long term storage is pretty easy to do once you get used to it. Overtime you will notice that you are able to prepare your RV faster than before and learning how to prepare your RV for storage quickly and efficiently will help keep your RV running well for years to come.

Having a RV usually means that you can afford RV storage as well. There are many outlets and storage houses providing excellent facilities and safety features for keeping your RV safe and sound and this is what an owner needs. Recreational vehicles consume huge spaces and that is the reason why sometimes it becomes costly affair as well. Moreover, it has been seen that around 57% of the people keep their RV near their homes only, 27% keep their RV in some RV storage facilities and 4% have their own garages for RV storage facilities.

There are many factors which needs to be considered before going on to make a decision of purchasing a RV like proximity of RV storage facilities near houses, facilities provided and the maintenance provided by the storage facility and most importantly the cost of RV storage.

There are many other things that needs to be considered and those are the access time available for your RV, whether the RV storage facility provides with any insurance for your RV while it is in their premises, kinds of taxes liable and security provided in the whole unit. It is very essential that any on-duty personnel should be available on call whenever needed by the RV owners on site.

Since RV is a very expensive vehicle it needs to be taken care of nicely and for that it should not be however wondered as to what should be the amount spent to keep your RV safe and secure. For RV storage it is somehow essential to have a RV cover which is usually very expensive but this need is some how subtracted if you can afford to keep your RV in a closed RV storage. This kind of RV storage gives special attention to all aspects of storing an RV and maintains a controlled environment for RV like air conditioned during summer and heated environment during winter.

Open RV storage facilities are much cheaper than these closed RV storage and even though they might be cheap they are not that bad as well. They also provide security and maintenance and the personnel are available for interaction whenever needed in case of queries. Open RV storage needs, however, much more attention than closed RV storage in terms of interiors and exteriors because of the exposure to the heat and cold directly on the body of the RV and this creates a harmful effect of the colour as well as body of the RV.

RV covers which are quite expensive try to help but even in these covers it has been seen that bugs and many kinds of insects find it quite comfortable and easy to get inside through them. The exteriors of the RV when in RV storage needs to be properly covered and it needs an opening for fresh air at regular intervals to avoid stale environment inside the RV and if the refrigerator would not be use for long it is essential that it should be cleaned and switched off.

Covering and turning off a few things are only a few things that should be done when preparing an RV for storage. Remember, RVs are usually only used during certain seasons and different times of years. With that in mind RV owners have perfected the art of preparing their vehicles for storage. Properly storing an RV can add years onto its life and save you thousands of dollars in repairs that have to be done often because of neglect.

The first thing tat you should do when getting ready to store your RV is to clean it thoroughly on the inside and out. Clean the RV as if you are planning to sell it and want to fetch the best price. This idea in mind will help keep you from being tempted to do a poor job on the whole affair. Vacuum the interior and go through every nook and cranny to make sure no food has been left on the RV or forgotten by kids, dogs, or anyone in between.

Also give the outside of the vehicle a good washing and waxing. This will help keep your paint from fading especially if you are planning to store the RV outdoors. When cleaning outside of the RV remember to clean and grease the tires. The grease will help cut down on drying and cracking that could lead to an entire tire needing to be replaced.

Thus it is seen that even though the RV is a complete and self sufficient unit in itself, it is very crucial that you need to take proper care of it and maintain the same by providing it an effective RV storage and save it from harmful effects of natural phenomenon and climatic changes in environment.

Self storage units are a blessing to have, because they can help you to remove clutter from your home, keep collections organized and together, and ensure the integrity of stored pieces from the ravages of heat and cold. You can get a lot of value over using a self storage unit, in the ability to have extra space as well as the bonus of climate control versus an attic or garage. But if you do not properly organize your self storage unit, it can be come as messy as an attic or a closet and so will not be a very efficient and effective storage space. For advice on how to pack your self storage unit, consider these 5 tips:

Tip #1: Shelving
This seems like a simple concept, doesn’t it? After all, your garage has shelves; your attic may have shelves, and your closet has shelves. Handy little devices to help you stack things on. But chances are that your self storage unit does not have its own shelves. This can make storing boxes and other items tricky at times. One of your best bets for packing your self storage unit is to invest in some inexpensive shelving to put up so that you can more easily and efficiently arrange your items so that they are easily accessible and safely stored.

Not all boxes can be stacked upon one another without cause damage. Shelving helps to solve this issue as well. Without stacking boxes, you can only take advantage of ground space in your storage unit, which doesn’t make sense consider most units are 8 to 10 feet tall. Don’t waste that precious space that you’re paying for! Use shelves to stack without the risk of damage.

When picking out shelves, ensure that they are wide enough to manage your boxes, as well as long enough. Pick adjustable shelves so you can control height to your own choosing. The most inexpensive shelves you can find are often made of metal (plastic may not be sturdy enough) and can be called utility shelves or shop shelves. Since they will only be used in your storage unit, you should buy based on cost instead of appearance.

Tip #2: Store Back to Front
This may seem like another obvious tip. After all, you can’t very well pack from the door back to the wall! But what this actually means is that you should organize your items from back to front using a particular protocol: items needed access less often go in the back; items needing more frequent access should go up front. You shouldn’t have to wade through all of your stored items every single time you need to get something. Instead, by carefully planning ahead, you’ll be able to find what you need when you need it.

Tip #3: Go with a Plan
When you are going to start putting your items into your self storage unit, have a plan in mind ahead of time of how you will organize. Instead of going there and then feeling lost because you can’t figure out what to put and where, spend a little while ahead of time sketching out – on paper or at least in your mind – how you will group items and best utilize your space.

Tip #4: Label, Label, Label
It may be tempting to drive up to your self storage unit, dump all of the boxes inside, and then flee before any of them can follow you back home. Get a grip – and a pen! For every single item that you place in your self storage unit that is not immediately identifiable by sight, you need to adequately and descriptively label. Writing “books” or “kitchen” is not enough. Make note of the storage date, which member or members of your household has items in the box, and exactly what is inside. The more description, the easier it will be later on to find what you need.

Tip #5: Reorganize with Time
Many families continue to add items to their self storage units over time. Even though those units may have been very well organized when they were first packed, they can become very messy over time with the addition of new items. Avoid this mess! Instead, each and every time you bring a new item to your storage unit, rearrange as appropriate to fit it in with existing items so that you do not become clutter. In addition, any time an item is removed, rearrange at that time as well to take advantage of extra space as well as the opportunity to stay very organized.

There are many houses with a two car garage that have never had two cars in them. Instead of using that space to shield cars from the sun and harsh weather, the garage has become home to a collection of gardening and lawn equipment, tools, woodworking equipment, cast-off furniture and things that are no longer used, but are not throw away.

Finding items that are needed in a cluttered garage is a complicated process. Usually, it starts with edging between the stacks of boxes and miscellaneous equipment. If the home owner’s lucky, they may remember where this particular item was last, or which box it might be in. More often, it’s a process of elimination that involves knowing what went into the garage during which time period and playing ‘hot, hot, cold’ until that person what they’re looking for.

Garages used to be a place to store your vehicle. These days, garages have become an extension of the house. They’re used as catch-all storage units, workshops, laundry rooms, offices and outbuildings. If the garage mentioned before sounds familiar, here are some tips to help you get a handle on organizing your garage into a successful storage area for all the things you need.

Getting Back to Basics

Organizing your garage storage starts with having the right tools. In the case of organization, the tools of the trade include hooks, shelves, closets and storage bins.

- Get rid of useless clutter.

Use the two year method. If there is something in your garage that you have not used in two years, chances are good you will never use it again. Spend a day sorting through the clutter in your garage and deciding what to keep and what to get rid of. Once you’ve got it all sorted, pack it into your trunk and take it to the recycling center, thrift store or have a garage sale. When you’re done, you’ll have a far better idea of just what you have to tackle.

- Start with a plan.

Measure your space before you start buying so that you have an idea of how much space you have to work with. There’s no sense in buying shelves and storage boxes that won’t fit the space you have available.

- Decide on storage options that suit what you have to store.

Vertical storage is a great space-saver. That means getting boxes and equipment up off the floor whenever possible. Invest in storage shelves that turn your wall space into storage space. Hooks are another way to get things up off the floor. Specialized hangers that hold handles of gardening equipment are a great way to get hoes, spades and rakes out of that tangled – and dangerous – mess in the corner.

- Invest in utility cabinets to hold smaller items.

Need somewhere to store those jars of nails and screws, extra glass coffee pots and other things that you’re holding onto? Utility cabinets with adjustable shelves will let you arrange your important clutter in a way that makes sense for you. While you’re at it, pick up an inexpensive labeler so that you can label shelves and make it easy for others to keep your space neat, too.

- Collect and Organize tools.

If you use your garage as a workshop, organize with tool boxes and tool chests,

and a workshop table that’s designed with storage in mind.

- Step back to the past.

for an excellent and very low cost method of storing tiny screws, nails and other

essentials. Mount a board above your work space and nail baby food jar lids to the

board. Screw the jars into the tops and voila! Neat, easy to find, and up out of the

way.

- Don’t waste the space above your head.

There are a variety of ways that you can turn unused space overhead into useful

storage space. One of the easiest is with a set of overhead metal hangers that hang

from the ceiling joists. They’re ideal for big and bulky items like lengths of

plywood. Look for specialized hangers for things like bicycles and sports

equipment.

- Make use of garage rafters.

The second way that you can use overhead storage space is to make use of the

garage rafters. Just slide board over them to provide ‘floor’ space and you’ll have

created a ready-to-use attic to store things like Christmas decorations up and out

of the way.

When you are setting up your garage storage, there are six important things that you should do for optimal success in access and organization of your garage. Let’s take a look at these six tips and some examples that apply to most of us.

Organize your stuff by topic, just like you would in a filing cabinet. The same principles apply, just on a lager scale. Some common things that you may need garage storage for include: gardening tools and supplies, sports equipment, Christmas and other holiday decorations, regular household tools, and kid’s outdoor toys. Within each category of items, consider how often you need to access each item. For example, among your sporting items, you may have things like racquetball rackets that you use all year long, skis and snowboards that are only used during the winter, bikes that are access spring through late fall, as well as other seasonal sporting items such as equipment for baseball and football which may be accessed off and on during the entire year. Consider all the garage storage options available, and what will work best for each group of items. Looking at the sporting items again, you may want hanging baskets to keep various balls in, and hooks to hang skis and snowboards up high during the off season. For your gardening items, you may want hooks to hang often used tools on the wall, or cabinets that can be locked for keeping fertilizers or bug sprays out of reach from children. These types of cabinets are also good for locking away stains, paints, mineral oil etc. There are also special bike hooks and pulley systems to store them out of the way during the winter. Some good basic garage storage options that can be used in any home are shelves and storage bins. When storing things away, consider how often you will need to access them. Things that are only used once or twice a year can be placed in bins and on high shelves. This is especially great for things like Christmas decorations. If your garage is small and space is at a premium, you can use overhead garage storage options. These nifty solutions allow you to hang bins from you garage ceiling, or there are actual shelves that hang from the ceiling. This is great for seasonal and keep sake items that are only accessed once or twice a year.

Things that you use regularly, should obviously be down low and easy to get at. Garden tools should be near the door, preferably on hooks and shelves where you can easily see what you have and where it is. Regular household tools should be on cabinets or shelves,or hung on pegboards where you can easily see what you have, and should be located next to the door going into the house. This makes it really easy for sending kids out to the garage to grab a screwdriver or wrench.

Label you bins and cabinets so anybody can find anything easily without looking through everything. Put anything that you use back into its proper place when you are done. This may seem obvious, but for some, this is hard to do. If you have kids, you know what I mean. When you take your clothes off at night, put them away or in the laundry. Easy concept, but how often at the end of a week is your child’s room a mess? The same applies to the garage, if you put something away after you use it, you avoid the clutter and mess that so easily takes over a garage.

Well, hopefully these five tips will be helpful. There is nothing magical about them, but if you apply them to your organizing your garage, you will find that your garage storage solutions are successful.

When organizing a garage for better storage, it’s important to get rid of everything that isn’t useful anymore. Find out how to use and label storage bins in a garage withhelp from a professional house cleaner in this free video on storage and cleaning tips. Expert: Rachel Yatuzis Contact: www.greenkleeninc.com Bio: Rachel Yatuzis is a professional house cleaner in Nashville, Tenn., specializing in using everyday household items for cleaning purposes. Filmmaker: Tim Brown