DIRT AND GRIME EVERYWHERE? KEEP YOUR GARAGE CLEAN AND ORGANIZED THIS WINTER!

As much as we may wish it weren’t so, we’re still stuck in winter for a little while longer. For those of you in warmer parts of the country, this probably doesn’t faze you. But, for other parts of the country that have been hit recently with snowstorms and ice storms, spring cannot come soon enough.

This is especially true when you step into your garage to take out the trash or head to work. Taking a look around your garage, you may wonder if you’re at the wrong house. Filled with dirty cars, melting snow from your car, salt residue from boots, a snow blower that’s been displaced, and winter gear left by the steps, you might be wishing for spring with a vengeance!

And, while you probably don’t spend a great deal of time in your garage, it’s still incredibly important to make sure it stays organized and clean. Just as you keep your closet organized, keeping your garage organized will help you save time if you’re running late, and make it easier to find items when you really need them—like shovels and winter boots.

While one important step is to get your car washed reguarly (it’ll prevent your clothes from getting dirty if you brush against your car), that’s not enough to keep the dirt and clutter entirely at bay. What to do? Shawn Gauthier’s Houzz article, “8 Tips For A Supremely Organized Winter Garage, ” provides some ideas. Some of these might be easier to do in the spring when it’s warmer, but if the messiness of your garage is already causing you stress, you might want to act now. Here are a few of our favorite tips from Gauthier’s list:

  1. Have a closet in your garage for winter and sports gear. Okay, we know. It can be hard enough to keep your clothes closet organized. But, hear us out. Having a closet in your garage provides the perfect place to store snow pants, heavy winter boots, shovels, and more. This keeps everything in one spot, and it also prevents you from letting items lay around. The same is true for sports equipment. A closet in the garage can provide the perfect solution for keeping hockey or lacrosse sticks, basketballs, footballs, and more organized and off the floor.
  2. Take advantage of your walls and ceilings. Your garage walls and ceilings are hidden gems when it comes to organizing. You can hang shovels, hoses, gardening tools, and more on your walls. You can also hang bicycles from your ceiling. The possibilities are endless, and these simple steps will help to make your garage feel brand new. Better yet, this organizational technique will keep your garage floor clutter-free, making it easier to walk around!
  3. Don’t leave items on the floor. Leaving sports equipment, winter boots, and other things on the floor might seem convenient at first, but it doesn’t take time for those casually tossed aside items to grow into a pile of clutter. Not only will that make it difficult to navigate your garage while you’re rolling your ankle on baseballs, but it also allows these items to collect dirt, making your garage spring cleaning that much more of an ordeal. Save yourself time in the future by keeping your stuff off the floor now!

One final tip: When you’re organizing and cleaning your garage, keep an eye out for pieces you no longer need. Maybe you have too many shovels, snow pants that are too small, or sports equipment no one is using anymore. Put these items in a box marked with the phrase “for donation.” Then, contact ClothingDonations.org. We’ll come by and pick it up for you while you bask in the convenience and spaciousness of your newly organized garage!

Spring Fever Is Upon Us!

Step outside these days and you’ll probably noticed a decided uptick in the weather—spring is almost here! From sunny skies, to warm weather, it truly feels like it’s time to put winter behind use. Another subtle announcement that spring is fast approaching, is that Daylight Saving Time began. Yes, you lost an hour of sleep, but the grumbling about this was probably lost in the excitement over warmer, brighter days just ahead! While some people take their spring fever outside for walks, bike rides, and hiking, there’s one place that’s also ready for spring fever.

Your home.

It may be a little early to truly begin your spring cleaning efforts; however, if you’ve had your windows open lately to get a little fresh air, you might have noticed dust blowing around your home. It’s possible to get a head start on your spring cleaning. In fact, if you’ve been following through on your New Year’s Resolution to keep your home clean throughout the year, you’ve already started!

The first step in pre-spring cleaning is to dust everything. Bookshelves, dressers, window sills, and more. Basically, any surface in your house that can collect dust needs a good cleaning. With the windows open, this dust will float around your home, which taints the air quality and can also agitate any allergies you or your loved ones might have.

Once you’ve dusted, it’s time to tackle your closets. Remember, you should be checking your closets a few times a year to make sure you haven’t collected any unneeded clothing items or accessories. Try on your old spring and summer clothes. Do they still fit? Will you wear them this season? Are they in good shape? If you’ve answered no to any or all of these questions, it’s time to get them out of your closet and into the recycle bin—or the hands of some lucky new owners!

If you will not wear these clothes, but they’re in great shape, don’t throw them away. Donate them to us! Not only will you help someone else prepare for spring with a new wardrobe, but your donation also helps fund veterans programs. Simply visit our website to schedule a time for us to pick-up your gently used clothes, and place them in a box by your mailbox. We’ll pick them up for you!

Otherwise, if you’re planning to save these clothes for your garage sale, fold these items up and put them in a box. This way they’re already organized for your garage sale, and they’re no longer taking up space in your closet or dresser!

What pre-spring cleaning tips do you have? Share them with us!

Evaluate your dresser space.

If your closet is full and organized, but you still find your room is cluttered, your dresser may be the next place to look. Try on clothes to see if they still fit, and match your style. If not, donate them to ClothingDonations.org! Visit our website to schedule a time for us to pick up the donation. Then place your donation items in a bag or box marked with “for donation, ” and set them by your mailbox.