According to a recent poll conducted by the National Association of Professional Organizers, 50% of homeowners polled rated the garage as the most disorganized place in the house.  In another poll, the US Department of Energy reported that 25% of homeowners polled with two-car garages, fill it with so much stuff, they can’t park even 1 car inside and 32% fit 1, but not 2 cars inside.

Unfortunately, the garage appears to be the dumping ground for everything that people can’t fit into their homes. If you’ve finally decided it’s time to bring some order to your chaotic garage, follow this ultimate Orlando garage organization cheat sheet to ensure that there is a “place for everything and everything is in its place”. Schedule a full day or weekend and include the family in this project to make it go faster.

• Discard: Get rid of those 10-year old cans of paint and those torn sweatpants you can no longer wear. Trash, donate, or sell items that are taking up valuable space in your garage. Basically, anything you haven’t used in two years needs to be ditched.  If you have difficulty in letting go of these items, take a picture of them as a keepsake.
• Strategize: Assess what’s left in your garage. Items that you access frequently should be placed near the entry door from your home into your garage. Garbage cans and recycling bins should be placed as close to the home entry point as possible for easy trash deposits. Store items that are used together near each other, such as gardening tools and weed killers. Paper goods should be stored in your kitchen pantry since they do attract bugs. Items that are used infrequently or are seasonal should be stored in harder to reach areas, like near the ceiling of your garage. Keep things off the floor as much as possible.
• Arrange: Decide what storage units and accessories will work best in your garage. Create a floor plan detailing its dimensions and location of windows, doors,    switches, receptacles, and how much space your cars occupy. Before installing any storage systems, check for any gaps in the wall and ceiling areas that your garage shares with your home to detect any spots where hot and cold air might seep in, and caulk these areas. Think about cabinets on legs or rolling casters to house smaller items so your garage doesn’t look cluttered. This will also enable you to clean the floor underneath. Wall systems with hooks and accessories are ideal for ladders, bikes, and large sporting equipment. Bulky or seasonal items can be stored in an overhead storage system.
• Categorize: Use clear bins and containers and label what they store to easily locate items. Instead of writing directly on the container, use masking tape and a Sharpie in case you rearrange items at a later date. You can easily remove the old label and attach a new one, revealing the new contents of that container.
• Maintain: Regularly sweep and hose down your garage floor. Store a bag of kitty litter in one of your cabinets and use it to absorb grease or oil spills. In the spring and summer, spray a natural pesticide to rid your garage of any bugs. Use a brush to clean out cobwebs and dust that cling to ceiling perimeters. Repeat the process of sifting through what you’ve accumulated every year. Decide what needs to be donated, trashed, or sold.

We hope using our ultimate Orlando garage organization cheat sheet for your garage will prevent it from becoming the most disorganized place in your home. For more suggestions on keeping your garage organized, browse the rest of our website, or call (407) 447-8890.