One of the most notoriously unorganized areas of the house is undoubtedly the dreaded garage. Here are a few tips for keeping your garage organized.

1. To be or not to be a pack rat! If you don’t use it, or it’s broken either throw it away or give it away. This must be the era of hording because all that one seems to see in garages across North America is stuff, and more stuff. When cleaning out the garage with the intention of actually using it for the car, practice the three pile method. One pile is to keep, one pile is to throw out, and one pile is to give away. Make sure the most of the stuff ends up either in the give away pile or the trash pile as the whole point is to re-introduce your car to it’s home.

2. Decide on a storage method. Shop around, depending on the size of your garage and what needs to be kept in it will depend on which storage method you choose. The over head racks are great for storing bins that you rarely need to get to like those pesky Christmas lights. Also using Rubbermaid bins with lids provides safer and cleaner storage. Boxes can weaken over time running the risk of the items stored in them crashing to the garage floor or worse on the car. Rubber made bins will stay strong, and keep bugs and dirt out while preserving what’s inside.

Other Storage Options

Wall storage: Another means of storage are wall hangers. These can be placed along the walls of the garage. You can hang step ladders, hoses, rakes, shovels etc.. This keeps them out of the way and yet easily accessible.

Lifts: There is a great product on the market called the Loft-it-King. It is basically a lift. It is sturdy enough to hold a car and simple enough to load boxes. It’s great for those that enjoy doing at home maintenance and for those single car garages, you can literally pile two cars in a single garage.

Wall Cabinets: For those that are going to use their garages for other means rather than car storage you can optimize space with wall to wall cabinets. These are great for crafters, carpenters, and just plain storage.

Garages are one of the most useful parts of our homes. They provide both convenience and practicality. The key to having a great garage experience is to stay organized and optimize the space for the best storage results.

Interested in fiberglass garage doors? Visit My Fiberglass garage door site today!

Author: Terry Coal
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Smart cooker

One of the most notoriously unorganized areas of the house is undoubtedly the dreaded garage. Here are a few tips for keeping your garage organized.

1. To be or not to be a pack rat! If you don’t use it, or it’s broken either throw it away or give it away. This must be the era of hording because all that one seems to see in garages across North America is stuff, and more stuff. When cleaning out the garage with the intention of actually using it for the car, practice the three pile method. One pile is to keep, one pile is to throw out, and one pile is to give away. Make sure the most of the stuff ends up either in the give away pile or the trash pile as the whole point is to re-introduce your car to it’s home.

2. Decide on a storage method. Shop around, depending on the size of your garage and what needs to be kept in it will depend on which storage method you choose. The over head racks are great for storing bins that you rarely need to get to like those pesky Christmas lights. Also using Rubbermaid bins with lids provides safer and cleaner storage. Boxes can weaken over time running the risk of the items stored in them crashing to the garage floor or worse on the car. Rubber made bins will stay strong, and keep bugs and dirt out while preserving what’s inside.

Other Storage Options

Wall storage: Another means of storage are wall hangers. These can be placed along the walls of the garage. You can hang step ladders, hoses, rakes, shovels etc.. This keeps them out of the way and yet easily accessible.

Lifts: There is a great product on the market called the Loft-it-King. It is basically a lift. It is sturdy enough to hold a car and simple enough to load boxes. It’s great for those that enjoy doing at home maintenance and for those single car garages, you can literally pile two cars in a single garage.

Wall Cabinets: For those that are going to use their garages for other means rather than car storage you can optimize space with wall to wall cabinets. These are great for crafters, carpenters, and just plain storage.

Garages are one of the most useful parts of our homes. They provide both convenience and practicality. The key to having a great garage experience is to stay organized and optimize the space for the best storage results.

Interested in fiberglass garage doors? Visit My Fiberglass garage door site today!

Author: Terry Coal
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Pressure cooker

It is safe to say in most parts of the country that spring is finally here and the desire to get outside and start getting some things done is in the air. The last few weekends I see people everywhere working outside, hauling stuff to the landfill and limbs to the local recycling area where they accept yard waste to mulch down to compost. Besides the yard, another area of focus for spring clean up is the garage. If most garages are like mine, a lot of extra junk has been thrown in there throughout the winter and it is time to do some serious organizing and cleaning up. But this year I decided that I needed to do more, my makeshift shelving just isn’t working anymore, I need a more intelligent use space, I need some real garage storage solutions.

With a little looking around, I discovered that there is a lot available on the market, not just different brands of garage organizers, but different solutions within each brand. There is literally something for everybody depending upon what you use your garage for and the types of items that you store in your garage.

The basis of many garage storage solutions is the cabinet. Garage cabinets come in various sizes and configurations. You can get floor cabinets that are tall with shelves inside, or shorter ones that have shelves or drawers with a work space on top. Cabinets for the garage are often made from a press board with laminated finish or metal. Some cabinets are designed with certain hobbies in mind; such as sports, gardening or wood working. For example, inside a cabinet with sports in mind, you may find a special place to hang bats, a bungee ball restraint or storage bins for smaller items. Some cabinets are designed to be hung on the wall, leaving the floor space underneath for other uses.

Workbenches are another form of garage storage solutions, and are often placed beneath wall cabinets. A workbench can be just a table type design, sometimes with a few drawers or shelf beneath, and other times workbenches are cabinets with a special top for a work surface. I have even seen wall hung cabinets where the door actually swings down to become a workbench. This works great if you are really tight on space.

Tool carts are a popular garage storage solution for mechanics. Often like a tool chest on wheels and other times more resembling a cabinet or cart on wheels, the concept is the same. You can store it by the wall, but then move it with you when you are working on your car or other project.

Special garage organizers are a really flexible form of storage. These are often special wall systems for which you can purchase a variety of sizes of hooks, bins, and shelves for storing anything from garden tools, wheel barrows and ladders to bikes, balls, skis and sport rackets. From there the list goes on to whatever you might need to store.

One of my favorite categories of garage storage solutions is overhead storage. I can just imagine that this system was thought up by a very frazzled home owner who just needed more storage space than his floor and walls allowed. These systems hang from the ceiling, some are shelves or bins that you reach with a ladder, others are actually on a pulley system so you can lower it to the floor for easy access.

If you are like most people, one of these options alone will not do the trick, you will need a variety of them to come up with the best garage storage solutions for your home. But it is worth the work to get it done, your garage will become a place you do not dread going, and you will be the envy of the neighborhood!

Are you completely frustrated with your garage? Does your car sit in the driveway because there is no room for it because of all the clutter? Garage storage systems are the answer to your organizational nightmare.

Your first step in solving this problem is to remove everything from your garage, preferably on a nice day. Put all that clutter in the backyard or the driveway. If you are lucky, people might think you are having a yard sale and start offering you money for some of your junk! Once the garage is empty, you can give it a good cleaning including a power washer for the floor. After that job is complete, you can begin installing the garage storage systems. Any items that you do not have a use for are either donated to charity, thrown in the garbage or sold at a yard sale.

Garage storage systems can come in many different forms. One such form is an extruded PVC slat wall panels. These panels are extremely strong and are easy to install. They are also easy to clean and they come in six different colors at this time, thus, there is no need to paint. Other storage accessories include overhead racks and storage systems that allow items to hang from your garage ceiling and are thus kept out of the way. Practically anything that sits in your garage can be hung up out of the way.

Garage storage systems are a cost effective way to clean up your garage. You may find that you have more space than you originally thought. The storage areas can be divided into compartments in several different areas such as overhead storage, sports equipment section, holiday supplies and workshop or tools area. Other designated sections could include firewood, vehicle supplies, lawn and garden supplies, pet supplies and garbage and recycling areas. Some people may have more or less areas needed for organizing their garage items.

Wall cabinets are great garage storage systems as well. They are good for storing smaller items. However, many people find that the overhead racks storage is best for keeping a neat and tidy garage. Use storage bins with a label of everything that is inside the bin. This helps in locating items later on. If you would prefer another option to storing things in your garage then there is always a pulley system. It allows for the storage of larger items such as a canoe, kayak, truck topper or even a wheelbarrow much easier. Another option that is to use hooks. These are placed on a sidewall and are excellent for hanging bicycles, garden tools and other items.

Garage storage systems are the perfect way for a cluttered garage to regain its original use, that of storing your car. Take a run out to your local home center or do some research on the internet to give you an idea as to what is available in this area of home storage. Whether you choose an overhead system or a wall-mounted system, you will be glad you did.

Garage storage units are available in many different types and configurations. The specific kind of garage organizer you select will largely depend on what you will be using it for. If you are constantly clearing a space to use as a work shop or a potting table, you might want to include a shelving unit with a large flat work surface. Garage storage organizers include all purpose utility cabinets, racks, freestanding tool chests and pegboard hutches. Another way to organize your garage exactly the way you want it is to purchase individual pieces such as a rolling island, wall cabinets or vertical storage cabinets, all of which are designed to create a customized system to meet your specific requirements.

After sorting what and what not to keep, you will have a better idea of what kind of garage organizer to buy. If the majority of the items are boxes of a fairly uniform size, then storage shelving would be ideal. If you have children and you need to store a lot of hazardous materials or dangerous tools, consider purchasing lockable storage cabinets. When the majority of items are bulky and not uniform in size or shape, the best solution is stackable storage bins or multi-purpose cabinets.

Garage storage units come in all different sizes. Before purchasing one unit or a combination of garage organizers, decide where it’s going and then take measurements. You don’t want to end up with a unit that will block a doorway or be too tall. If you would like to be able to use the unit when the vehicle is in the garage, take into account that many types of cabinets have doors that open outward.

Types of Garage Storage Units:

Tall Storage Cabinets:

Tall storage cabinets provide easy freestanding storage solutions for a cluttered garage. Start with one cabinet and add as needed. They are perfect for storing a variety of items such as lawn care products, gardening supplies and other accessories. Depending on the style, they effectively store long, narrow items and can include partitioned bins and/or shelving. If you have a lot of items to store, they are ideal for garages with limited space.

Base Cabinets:

Base cabinets are an affordable alternative to built-in cabinets, and with so many brands and kinds to choose from, you are sure to find exactly what you need. Base cabinets can be used by themselves or as the beginning of your own customized garage storage system. Generally, depending on the manufacturer, they have a number of drawers, are mobile and have open or enclosed shelves. They can include features like key locks, height adjustable feet, reinforced metal corners and protective edges.

Tool Cabinets:

Tool cabinets resemble base cabinets but are intended to hold a variety of tools. They can be a freestanding column of narrow drawers, or they can feature 2 or 3 large drawers, varying drawer sizes and compartments with doors. They can be stationary or on casters.

Garage Hutches:

Garage hutches fall into two general categories, pegboards and storage hutches. They are designed to conveniently store items close at hand by suspending them directly above the work surface. A pegboard hutch allows you to keep your tools organized and readily accessible in plain sight. Storage hutches are shelves that can be paired with a base cabinet or bench to create an organized work space in the garage. They are ideal for storing containers, tools and small pieces of equipment.

Garage Cabinet Sets:

A viable alternative to custom-designed systems, a garage cabinet set incorporates various types of garage storage such as a base cabinet, a tall storage cabinet, and a pegboard or storage hutch. They are ideal for organizing a garage in which you want to create a work space for your gardening or repair projects, in addition to have a place to store things away.

Wall Mounted Cabinets:

Mounted wall cabinets maximize your storage options without using up valuable floor space. They can have enclosed shelves, doors and/or locks, and cubbies or dividers. To make the most out of your wall storage space, also consider the shape of your wall mounted cabinet. If it is long and rectangular, it will use the space horizontally, while an oversize, square or tall cabinet will utilize the space vertically.

Garage Storage Racks:

Garage storage racks come in many styles suited to a variety of multi-purpose uses like storing bicycles, tools and sports equipment. They are ideal for creating a place to put often-used items close at hand while controlling clutter and preventing accidents. They have the added benefit of using wall rather than floor space.

Spending time organizing your garage will be well worth the effort, especially after you realize there is now room for your car! No matter what kind of garage storage organizer you are considering buying, I hope this article has provided you with valuable insights that will help make the decision a little easier.