In most homes the garage tends to become the graveyard for all things clutter. Random items like broken toys, extension cords, paint cans or outdoor gear always find their way into the garage space. Without a system in place to manage random items, clutter is going to cultivate.
About a year ago we did a garage clean up. We put our house on the market in January and sold it October. Through that process we found ourselves spending quite a bit of time in the garage packing and sorting our things for the move. I never do any organizing in the garage because that is my husband’s space. I don’t touch anything. Period.
The problem we faced was that I couldn’t work in the garage space because it was too frustrating. Way too much clutter for me to think clearly, let alone work. After much debating, we decided to clean out the garage once and for all.
Let me preface this process with two points:
- We both agreed it needed to be done and our goal was to get the garage organized. This made the process much easier to work through. When we faced a disagreement about items, we were able to go back to the main objective of getting the garage organized and move forward together.
- Never (for me this is an important point) get rid of anything in secret! If it’s something you feel needs to be discarded, talk about it and relay your points and come to an agreement. Discarding things in secret can create many more unnecessary problems.
Having said that, here is what we did.
Sorting. It took close to an entire day to sort through everything in the garage space. Clearing out every shelf, cabinet and counter, making decisions on what stays, what gets tossed, and what is donated needs to be done first!
Zoning. We created zones in the garage for everything. Tools, cleaning supplies, camping gear etc. Each item has a home. Never having organized the garage before made the process of knowing what stays and what goes easier.
Putting Away. Now that everything had its own zone (or home) putting things away was a quick and easy process. Labeling the zones will keep the space organized so that kids or family members are able to find items easier.
Disposal. When disposing of items that might be hazardous or re-purposed, be sure to consult your waste management company for detailed information on the proper way to discard rubbish. We didn’t have much hazardous waste. However, we did have quite a few random items that went to the rebuild-it center.
In this process I learned a lot about myself and the importance of respecting others space. Everyone needs to have their own space in the home. Messy or disorganized, it’s important to respect their things. It may not seem important to you, but it may be to others. I also learned that when you work together anything is possible!
Megan Spears is an organizing consultant and owner of Disorder2Order. Disorder2Order provides household management solutions for busy families and multi-tasking parents. We specialize in home or office organizing solutions; as well as time and paper management systems. Helping our clients create order from all the disorder of life is what we do!
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