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Making Room for the Cars in your Garage
So often, we find ourselves with stuff that we don't know what to do with - things we just can't let go of or overflow items from the house. What usually happens is that we begin to dump this stuff in the garage. Problem is, it doesn't take long before all these things - from potting soil to sports equipment to old cans of paint - crowd out the minivan. Often, my clients come to me because they can't get their cars in the garage and need help in organizing the stuff that needs to stay.
The first step is to purge. Ask yourself, what is in the garage that does not need to be there? Eliminate broken toys, tools, sports equipment and those old clothes you will never use. If you are having a hard time letting go of some things - find a relative or friend to give it to who will appreciate it. Better yet, donate to your favorite charity and take the tax deduction. Some organizations will even pick up.
Once you have purged the junk, decide how you want to use the garage. This is the time you can section off areas according to your family's interest. My husband and I are cyclists and we have one area of our garage for our bikes, bike equipment, and bike tools. Put all your lawn and garden items together, holiday items together and so on. Having sections of like items makes it easy to know where things are and easy to put away. You will find that you save yourself a lot of time and money knowing what is in your garage and where it is stored.
The next step is to shop for the best garage organizing system to fit your needs. There are many products like cabinets, wall panels with hooks or shelves, overhead units, open shelves, or tool chests. Be creative, use overhead space for items not accessed often like holiday things and a shelf unit by your door for extra paper supplies and home products. Put items you will need to access often in easy to reach areas.
Getting your garage organized will free you of clutter and reduce stress. It will give you new energy each day you enter and leave your garage. Pulling your car into the garage on that rainy day will put a smile on your face.
Happy Organizing! May all your dreams come true!
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