Tag: garage organization

In Search of a Clutter-Free Summer

Posted on by Jordank

Memorial Day — the unofficial start of summer— has come and gone. If you’re anything like us at The Organizing Blog, you probably used the long weekend to plant some flowers, take a bike ride, visit with friends and/or have a cookout. Fine pursuits!

But do you know what can make one’s enjoyment of those pursuits (and most others) even better? #Organization! A #clutter-free environment knows no season — and it can provide you with the #clarity you need to truly live in the moment.

Think about it: A cluttered space demands attention. Maybe you waste a lot of time looking for things among the stacks of papers, piles of laundry and dusty gewgaws. Or maybe wrangling all that #stuff leaves you with little down time.

Summer is a great time to get those things under control. With good weather and a few hours each week, you can conquer that #clutter — and enjoy all of the seasons to come.

Start with the #garage. Has that #space attracted a lot of stuff that doesn’t have a home elsewhere ? Go through it and ask yourself why you hide #junk there and if you’ll ever really need those things again. Weed out what you don’t have a use for and set it aside.

Along the way, fine-tune your storage of the things that do have a purpose — even if that purpose is occasional, such as holiday decorations. Sort “like” items into labeled bins and boxes that you can find and access easily without a lot of hunting. Shelve or stack them thoughtfully, and you’ll be creating new space!

Next, do the same for the basement. Organizing your below-ground space likely will have the added benefit of helping you keep cool while you work. Set aside the things for which you don’t have a purpose or can’t find a place, and put them in boxes and bags.

See that growing pile of #junk? Slap some price tags on those things and have a quick #garage or #yard #sale. Or click though to ClothingDonations.org to arrange a #free #donation #pickup. You’ll be #helping the nation’s #veterans and be ready to enjoy the rest of the summer #clutter-free!

Easy Home Improvements That Can Counter the Winter Blahs

Posted on by Jordank

With rain, snow and ice in the forecast, the temptation is often to hole up and spend some quality time with the TV. But after you’ve shoveled the walk and streamed all of your programs, you may start to notice that your surroundings are looking a bit dingy. Fortunately, winter is a great time to pursue #home improvement projects large and small, whether you go with a professional contractor or do it yourself.

Get the ball rolling by #organizing a small space. #Donate or sell any clothes you no longer wear to ClothingDonations.org to give closets some breathing room. One good upgrade is to install shelves and bins that keep clothing neatly folded and grouped by color and category, The Washington Post says. Over-the-door #organizers can help store shoes and other garments.

Another simple project to consider is to #declutter the #garage and install more #storage. Garages often have lots of overhead space that can hold bins of seasonal #stuff such as sports equipment and #holiday decorations until you need them. All you’ll need is a drill and a few screws to get started on a new set of shelves or overhead racks.

People who work from home now have even more time to consider their home environment, and ample incentive and opportunity to keep things #clean (or not). Instead of thinking of #household #chores as insurmountable, time-consuming tasks, schedule five-minute breaks throughout the work day to do a load of laundry or scrub the sink; your productivity will skyrocket.

For a quick refresh, try painting a room. A fresh coat of paint in a new or tired-and-true color will instantly make the space look #cleaner and can take less than a day to accomplish, depending on the space. The secret is in the prep work: Sand uneven areas, fill nail holes, dust and tape before you start rolling out the new paint.

Another option is to upgrade the lighting in your home to counter the energy-sapping dark days of winter. Simply upgrade and replace the light bulbs already in use, install a “smart” lighting app, or opt for a new “statement” light fixture, Forbes says. All can help improve the warmth and livability of your space.

You can pursue most of these ideas in an afternoon or over a weekend, but larger projects are fair game for the winter, too. Take advantage of contractors’ slowest season if you’re looking at a larger home project, and get started today!

Tackle a Rainy-Day Organization Project

Posted on by Jordank

Rainy spring days are a great time to head to your garage or attic to ensure that the seasonal housewares and decorations you dragged out for the holidays are stored in an orderly fashion. Bed, Bath & Beyond suggests emptying storage areas completely and sorting out all of the “keepers,” placing them in labeled, reusable bins, and putting them back on the shelves. Anything that doesn’t make the cut and is still in usable shape can go into boxes and bags for your next ClothingDonations.org pickup. And the junk? Send it to the curb!

What Not to Store in The Garage

Posted on by Jordank

While the garage is a great place to store gardening equipment, bikes, tools and of course, a car, some things shouldn’t be stored in a garage, according to This Old House. Cans of paint won’t last in a garage that isn’t temperature-controlled, and that extra fridge or freezer will consume lots of electricity. Pet food and paper products can attract a variety of four- and six-legged vermin, and propane tanks can present a fire hazard. Keep an ABC-rated fire extinguisher in the garage to ensure safety year-round, and consider an epoxy coating for the floor to keep the space cleaner.

Storage Solutions for a Spotless Garage

Posted on by Jordank

It’s easier to keep a garage clean when everything has its place. That’s why you should find storage solutions that work for you and the oddly-sized stuff that tends to get stored there, says Living Well Spending Less. Try stacking bins or pegboard for small tools, and use labeled jars for tiny items such as nails and screws. Hang long items such as rakes, ladders and shovels on the wall, and suspend bikes, canoes and kayaks overhead. Keep the things you use most often within easy reach, and you’ll find you put them back in the right places more often.