If not, you’re not alone.  Over a third of American garages (36%) are so cluttered that homeowners can no longer park their cars inside according to a 2022 survey.

If your garage holds everything but your car or you can never find an item when you need it, summer is the perfect time to organize your garage.

The National Association of Professional Organizer Michigan Chapter (NAPO Michigan) want to share their top ten list on ORGANIZING YOUR GARAGE:

1.    Sort garage contents by activity or task.  Declutter what you don't use. Organize the rest.  

2.   Think about what activities happen in or near your garage.  Plan task-specific zones in the garage accordingly. Store related items in each zone.

3.   Hang shelves on walls to free up floor space.

4.   Use lidded plastic boxes to store similar items and parts for each power tool stored in garage.   Be sure to label it.  Store on shelves.

5.   Make use of corners by placing a triangular shelfing unit or gardening tool caddy.

6.   Hang pegboard to keep hand tools, hoses and extension cords visible.

7.   Use vertical space whenever possible. Use tall metal shelving units with adjustable shelves to increase storage capacity.  Rafter space is often overlooked for storage in garages too.

8.   Hang L- or U-shaped utility hooks at top of wall studs to hang seasonal items like ladders and seed spreaders.

9.   Keep toxic substances like pesticides up high or behind locked doors so they are out of reach of children and pets.

10.   Keep a fire extinguisher and First Aid kit handy for any emergencies to save precious time when needed.

Once you’ve gotten the garage organized, remember to build one simple habit! 

Whatever you get out ~ you have to put away after using it. 

This not only applies to parking the vehicles in the same place every day, but it also applies to bikes, sports equipment, yard tools and machinery.

Organizing your garage is much easier than you think!  For more organizing tips or to find a Professional Organizer, visit www.NapoMichigan.com. 

Article submitted by Cindy Greenleaf, Chapter member, and Chief Organizing Officer of New Leaf Organizing LLC.