Garages are the ultimate clutter collectors. If the family car is always parked outside on the driveway, it’s a good sign your garage needs a spring clean. Venturing inside an out of control garage can be a dangerous, dirty and downright scary experience. Here are some tips for giving your garage a spring makeover.
Step 1 Take Everything Out
Aim to clear out your garage over the course of a weekend, preferably one with a forecast for fine weather. You’ll need to remove all the items from the garage and the driveway and lawn will be necessary for sorting items into designated piles of what to keep and what to throw away. Rain will make this job more difficult, and expensive items could get ruined.
Step 2 Clean the Garage
Now everything’s been removed you can see the true state of affairs, yup we’re talking layers of grime, dust and cobwebs all over the show. Just because it’s the garage doesn’t mean it doesn’t deserve a thorough clean like the rest of the house. Chances are it probably hasn’t been cleaned since the day you moved in, if then. Now everything’s moved out it’s a good time to vacuum and wipe surfaces, sweep the floor, wipe down walls and polish windows. Don’t forget the outside of the garage door, get the hose on it and give it a good wash with soap and water.
Step 3 Rethink the Storage
If your garage is crying out for good vertical storage in order to tidy away your tools, bikes or halffull paint tins, then now’s a good time to install it. Head to the nearest Bunnings and pick up some wallmounted shelves, a freestanding storage unit, plastic bins, bike racks and hooks,
anything you need to fit your requirements. Your car and lawnmower should ideally be the only items occupying the floor space.
Step 4 Return Only What You Really Need
If you’ve managed to reach this stage of the process emotionally unscathed now’s the hard part. You will have to physically part with the items from the throwaway pile. Be firm, are you likely to ever need that extra toolbox from your motherinlaw or Christmas decorations from 1985? If you have a lot of stuff, then a garage sale could be in order or a donation to a local charity. Once that’s sorted you can start putting things back into your newly cleaned space, including your car, since it no longer needs to be left out on the driveway.