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|
Kristin
White
del
Rosso,
Pea
Organizing
Services,
Inc.
|
A
Clean Garage Equals a Happy Car
Is
your garage out of control? Is it so packed with
things that there is no room for your car? Or
maybe you can’t find the garden rake because it’s
buried behind piles of boxes and other garden tools? It’s
time to get your garage back and make proper use of one
of the most commonly used areas of the home.
According
to the National Association of Professional Organizers,
50 percent of homeowners rate the garage as the most disorganized
place in the house and a place the entire family uses
regularly.
However,
garages aren’t really used for what they were originally
intended. According to Webster’s
New World Dictionary, the definition of garage is: “a
shelter for motor vehicles.” This
definition is becoming more and more obsolete!
When
you drive down many neighborhoods in Charlotte, North
Carolina you will notice thousands of dollars worth of
vehicles stuck out in the elements while the garages are
full with “stuff” usually worth substantially
less and often not even used. Why? We tend to
use the garage as a dumping space for everything from
yard supplies to sports equipment to boxes of items without
other “homes.” Once you start doing
that, without really planning your space, you can end
up with an indoor junkyard attached to your house.
Furthermore,
a haphazard garage is an
accident waiting to happen. By
cleaning, organizing and properly storing items, you can
greatly reduce the risk of injuries, such as tripping
over something or cutting yourself on a sharp object.
Does
the concept of doing a garage makeover overwhelm you?
Here are 10 helpful tips to finally get your garage back.
1. Pull
everything out and categorize it before you organize
it. When organizing, it’s best to start
with a clean slate. So, while
everything is out, take the opportunity to vacuum up
the cobwebs and dirt, and wash down the floor.
2.
When in doubt, get
rid of it.
3. Organize items
by type such as sports, yard and car supplies. Make
a plan of how you will group these items in the garage.
For example, keep the sports equipment most
accessible if that is used most often. Devise
a plan that works best for your family and needs.
4. Organize items so that they are visually clear.
If you can see it, you can find it.
5. Plan the proper
space for your car, including opening all the car doors.
A great way to gauge how
far you should pull a car into a garage to clear the
garage door is to hang a tennis ball by a string from
the ceiling. Where the ball meets your
windshield indicates how far you should pull forward.
6.
Make use of vertical space on the walls and ceiling. Try
to avoid storing anything on the floor. If possible,
mount cabinets a few inches off the floor.
7.
Using a combination of hanging hooks, open shelving
and closed cabinets often works well to store the different
types of items that a garage holds.
8.
Use containers to keep all loose items from spreading out.
Clear plastic tubs are great
to contain and still see what you have. Peg
boards with metal hooks work great to hang tools to keep
them visible and handy.
9. Put everything
away after you use it and it will remain neat and organized.
10.
Always consider your safety when organizing the garage.
For example, don’t store flammable materials in glass
containers and keep all sharp tools and gardening products
out of a child’s reach.
Just
as you maintain your car and the interior of your home,
make cleaning your garage a regular habit.
Think of the dirt that gets tracked into our garages every
day. Whether it’s from car tires (assuming your
car can fit in your garage!), shoes, garden tools, sawdust
from power tools or mud from baby stroller wheels, garages
are a magnet for dirt. Regularly
sweeping and dusting off the cobwebs will make a big difference
and will also help you keep your garage organized.
Make it routine to hose off your garden tools, lawnmowers
and stroller wheels before storing them back in the garage
to cut down on the dirt.
With
all sorts or unique and attractive garage organizing products
on the market today to fit many price ranges, you will
be set to get your garage back in order and to create
a functional and efficient space. So pick a pretty
weekend, get organized and give you car the home it deserves!
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Kristin
White
del
Rosso,
President
of
Pea
Organizing
Services,
Inc.
is
a
professional
organizing
consultant,
who
has
been
awarded
designation
as
the
first
to
be
OMI-Certified
in
the
area
of
professional
organizing
in
North
and
South
Carolina.
She
is
a
member
of
the
NAPO
Golden
Circle,
a
Certified
Member
of
the
International
Association
of
Professional
Organizers
(IAPO)
and
a
Certified
Productivity
Trainer
and
Authorized
Consultant
(PTAC™)
from
the
Hemphill
Productivity
Institute.
She
has
also
earned
a
Certificate
of
Study
in
Basic
Attention
Deficit
Disorder
(ADD)
Issues,
a
Certificate
of
Study
in
Chronic
Disorganization,
and
a
Certificate
of
Study
in
Learning
Styles
and
Modalities
from
the
National
Study
Group
of
Chronic
Disorganization
(NSGCD).