Garage Organization 101: Sorting, Purging, and Decluttering

Are you tired of the mess and chaos in your garage? A cluttered garage can be overwhelming, making it difficult to find what you need, and even preventing you from parking your car inside. If you’re ready to transform your garage into a functional and organized space, then you’ve come to the right place. In this blog post, we’ll cover the basics of garage organization, including sorting, purging, and decluttering. With these simple steps, you’ll be able to turn your garage into a tidy and efficient storage space that meets your needs. So let’s dive in and get started!

Come Up With an Organizational Game Plan

Before diving into the process of sorting, purging, and decluttering, it’s essential to have a plan. Garage organization can be a time-consuming and overwhelming task, so creating a strategy can help make the process more manageable. Here are some steps to create your garage gameplan:

1. Assess your needs: Determine what you need your garage for. Will it be used primarily for storage, a workshop, or as a home gym? Having a clear understanding of your needs will help you create a plan that works best for you.
2. Set goals: Decide what you want to achieve by organizing your garage. Do you want to create more space, make it easier to find things, or simply make it look more presentable? Setting goals will help you stay motivated throughout the process.
3. Determine your budget: Organizing a garage can be expensive, so it’s important to determine how much you’re willing to spend. Consider the cost of storage solutions, tools, and materials you may need.
4. Plan for storage: Determine what type of storage solutions you’ll need. Will you be using shelves, cabinets, pegboards, or a combination of all three? Make a list of the storage solutions you’ll need and where you plan to put them.
5. Schedule time: Set aside dedicated time for each step of the organization process. Be realistic about how much time you’ll need, and don’t rush through the process.

By creating a garage gameplan, you’ll be better equipped to tackle the task of organizing your garage. Remember, having a plan will help you stay focused and motivated throughout the process.

The Sorting Stage

Sorting is the first step in organizing your garage. It involves categorizing your belongings into groups to make it easier to find and store items in the future. Here are some tips for sorting your garage:

1. Take everything out: Start by taking everything out of your garage. This will give you a clear idea of what you’re working with and make it easier to sort through your belongings.
2. Categorize items: Once everything is out of your garage, categorize items into groups such as tools, sports equipment, and holiday decorations. This will make it easier to find and store items in the future.
3. Determine what to keep: Decide what you want to keep in your garage. Consider whether you use the item regularly, if it’s in good condition, and if it’s worth the storage space.
4. Create piles: Create piles for items to keep, donate, sell, or throw away. This will help you stay organized and ensure that items are properly disposed of.
5. Label boxes: Label boxes with the categories you’ve created to make it easier to find and store items later.

Sorting can be a daunting task, but it’s an essential step in organizing your garage. By categorizing your belongings and determining what to keep, you’ll be one step closer to creating a functional and organized space.

The Purging Stage

Once you’ve sorted through your belongings, it’s time to purge items you no longer need or use. This can be difficult, but it’s an essential step in creating a clutter-free garage. Here are some tips for purging your garage:

1. Be ruthless: When purging your garage, it’s important to be ruthless. Don’t hold onto items out of guilt or sentimentality. Instead, focus on what you actually use and need.
2. Consider the last time you used an item: A good rule of thumb when deciding whether to keep or purge an item is to consider the last time you used it. If it’s been more than a year, consider getting rid of it.
3. Donate or sell items: If an item is in good condition but you no longer need it, consider donating or selling it. This can help you recoup some of the cost and prevent items from ending up in a landfill.
4. Dispose of hazardous materials properly: If you have hazardous materials in your garage, such as old paint or chemicals, dispose of them properly. Contact your local waste management facility to find out how to dispose of these items safely.
5. Take it one step at a time: Purging your garage can be overwhelming, so take it one step at a time. Set a goal to purge a certain number of items each day or week, and stick to it.

Purging can be a challenging step in organizing your garage, but it’s essential for creating a clutter-free space. By being ruthless, considering the last time you used an item, and properly disposing of hazardous materials, you’ll be on your way to a more organized garage.

The Decluttering Stage

Now that you’ve sorted and purged your belongings, it’s time to declutter your garage. Decluttering involves finding a designated place for each item you’ve decided to keep, and making sure that everything has a purpose and a home. Here are some tips for decluttering your garage:

1. Determine your storage needs: Look at the items you’ve decided to keep and determine what type of storage solutions you’ll need. This may include shelving, cabinets, or pegboards.
2. Use vertical space: When organizing your garage, make use of vertical space. Install shelving or cabinets on the walls to create more storage space.
3. Create zones: Divide your garage into zones based on how you’ll use the space. This may include a gardening zone, a sports equipment zone, and a tool zone.
4. Store items based on frequency of use: Store frequently used items in easily accessible areas, and store items that are used less often in higher or harder-to-reach spaces.
5. Label everything: Labeling boxes, shelves, and storage containers can help you easily find what you’re looking for in the future.

Decluttering can be a time-consuming process, but it’s worth it to create a functional and organized garage.

Putting Everything Back Together

After you’ve gone through the sorting, purging, and decluttering process, the next step is to put everything back in your garage. This is your chance to create a system that works for you and your lifestyle.

Start by creating a layout plan before putting anything back. This will help you visualize where everything will go and ensure that you can fit everything you want into the space you have available. When creating your plan, keep accessibility in mind. Keep frequently used items in easily accessible areas, and less frequently used items in higher or harder-to-reach spaces.

Once you have a plan, it’s time to start putting everything back. Maximize your storage space by utilizing all available areas, such as adding shelving, cabinets, and hooks. You can even use the space above your garage door or add overhead storage. When choosing storage solutions, invest in high-quality options that will last and help keep your garage organized.

As you put everything back, make sure to maintain your garage organization. Set a schedule for regular decluttering and cleaning, and ensure that everyone in your household knows where items should be stored. This will help you maintain your newly organized garage and prevent clutter from building up again.

By creating a layout plan, keeping accessibility in mind, maximizing storage space, investing in quality storage solutions, and maintaining your organization, you’ll have a garage that works for your lifestyle and needs. Putting everything back together can be an exciting process, as it means you’re one step closer to having a functional and organized garage.

Choose The Total Garage to Make Your Garage Organization Process Easier

Organizing your garage can be a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right tools and strategies, you can turn your cluttered garage into a functional and organized space. The Total Garage offers a range of garage storage and cabinet solutions to make the organization process easier.

If you have some questions or want a free consultation, then you can call us at 208 585-7171 or send us a message at thetotalgarage@gmail.com.