Garages are meant to store cars, but often end up filled with old clothes, unused paint cans, garden tools, and other things. Taking time to clean your garage lets you organize these items and get rid of stuff you don’t need anymore, making more space for organization. To help you begin, we’ve gathered expert advice on how to tidy up this frequently overlooked area.
How Often Should You Schedule Garage Cleaning?
The frequency of cleaning your garage depends on how you use it and your lifestyle. It’s important to clean regularly to keep it safe, neat, and useful, and you should aim to do a thorough cleaning at least every season.
Deep cleaning involves scrubbing floors and surfaces, checking for pests and mold, organizing storage, and getting rid of items you don’t use. Also, make sure to clean up any spills or messes right when they happen.
Before Getting Started
Before you start cleaning, consider what you need from your garage and make a plan to organize it the way you want. Think about your activities: do you garden a lot, need quick access to sports equipment, or use your garage as a laundry room? Planning how you want to use the space is essential for a successful spring cleaning.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Clean Your Garage Efficiently
Now that you have a plan, you can start cleaning your garage.
Empty Your Garage for a Fresh Start
To thoroughly clean your garage, begin by taking everything out. This might seem like a lot of work, but it ensures you check every item. With the garage empty, you can also clean the floors and corners more effectively, where dirt tends to gather. If it feels too daunting, tackle one section at a time.
Sort and Edit Your Items Effectively
Once you’ve emptied your garage, sort your items into piles of what to keep, donate, or throw away. If it’s hard to decide, organize things into categories like “use regularly,” “use annually,” “never use,” and “sentimental storage.”
Get rid of anything in the “never use” pile. For things you use regularly or annually, check if they’re still in good condition and either replace or store them as needed. Move sentimental items like photo albums and old toys into your house to prevent damage from storing them in the garage.
How to Create Efficient Storage Options
If you’ve sorted through everything and still need more space, it’s time to add more storage options. Using the space above is a good strategy in a garage.
Consider overhead racks hanging from the ceiling for big items like holiday decorations, camping gear, or bins you rarely use. You can also set up a pegboard with hooks for tools, mount a bike rack on the wall or ceiling, and use hanging hooks for garden tools.
Dust and Clean the Surfaces in Your Garage
Once your garage is empty and you’ve set up any extra storage, you can begin cleaning. Use this chance to dust or vacuum any dirty surfaces. After that, clean all surfaces in the garage with a damp cloth and a cleaner that’s safe for the materials in your space.
Clean the Garage Floors
Next, clean the garage floors. Sweep away any loose dirt and debris, then thoroughly scrub the floors. Depending on your type of flooring, you might need to use a mop with soapy water or a specialized cleaner to get them clean.
Wipe Down Items in the Garage
Go back to the pile of essentials you removed from the garage. Wipe these items with a damp cloth to clear off dust and prevent it from being brought back into the garage.
Organize Your Garage
Plan carefully when putting items back into your garage. Group similar things together and keep frequently used items within easy reach. Create specific zones for different tasks like yard work, gardening, and seasonal storage to stay organized. Use clear, labeled bins to contain items so they’re easy to find and access.
Simple Ways to Keep Your Garage Clean
Follow these maintenance tips to keep your garage clean for longer:
- Set a regular cleaning routine and clean up messes as soon as they happen.
- Invest in good storage solutions to keep things organized and off the floor.
- Sort through items regularly and remove those that are broken, expired, or no longer useful.
- Sweep the floors regularly to prevent dirt buildup and make seasonal cleaning easier.
- Clean yard tools after each use to avoid tracking dirt back into the garage.