How to Organize Your Garage
Is your garage so jam packed with who-knows-what that there’s no room left for your car? Reclaim the space today.
Up next in Closets, Storage, & Organizers (26 videos)
Whether you're a certified hoarder or are just messy, get things put away, organized, and under control with this Howcast series.
You Will Need
- Hooks
- A pegboard
- Shelves
- Clear plastic bins
- A cabinet that locks
- A wall-mounted magazine rack
- A curtain rod
- S-hooks
Steps
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Step 1
Toss the junk
Before you do anything else, toss out anything and everything that is beyond repair, hopelessly outdated, or you know you’ll never use again. Donate whatever is still in working order -- and don’t forget to get a receipt for the tax deduction.
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Step 2
Use hooks
Place hooks on the walls -- and even the ceiling -- to store everything from folding chairs to ladders to bicycles. Hanging things vertically will not only free up floor space, but enable you to find things more easily.
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Make sure heavier items are secure -- and hanging near the floor, just in case.
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Step 3
Put up a pegboard
Hang a pegboard to hold all your tools.
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Group items by task -- gardening, sports, painting, tools, and so on.
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Step 4
Squeeze in shelves
Install shelves in the dead space near the ceiling for items you don’t need to access often, like your holiday decorations.
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Step 5
Transfer
Transfer anything stored in cardboard boxes to clear plastic bins. They offer more protection from temperature fluctuations and make things easier to find.
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Before buying bins, decide where they’re going and what’s going in them. This will help you choose between features like stackability and wheels.
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Step 6
Keep paperwork together
Install a wall-mounted magazine rack to hold owner’s manuals, warranties, and other paperwork.
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Step 7
Hang a rod
Hang a curtain rod along the wall, add S-hooks, and -- voila -- you have the perfect place to hang brooms, shovels, rakes, and the like.
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Step 8
Be safe
Invest in a locked cabinet to store anything toxic, like pesticides.
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Seventy-five percent of garage-related injuries are caused when people trip over something on the garage floor or are hit by an object falling off a shelf.
