Messy Garage? 5 Helpful Tips to Remember When Cleaning Your Garage

We’re well into the spring season, and this time of year is all about new beginnings and fresh starts. Spring cleaning is an excellent way for you to get back into the groove of things once winter ends.

At the top of your to-do list: your garage.

Cleaning and organizing your garage may sound daunting at first, but it doesn’t have to be. By tackling things in the proper order and storing tools and items strategically, your garage can be as neat and tidy as any other room in your home.

If you’re wondering how to clean and organize your garage, the following tips will make the experience a breeze.

1. Declutter the Area First

It’s important that you’re able to freely move around your garage when cleaning. It’ll help speed up the process and can prevent you from tripping on an item or otherwise getting hurt.

Before you tackle the finer details, you should clean the ground and any tables first. If you have boxes and knick-knacks it’ll be difficult to clean them properly if they’re cluttered together.

Remove everything from the ground, placing it on shelves, tables, or outside. You can sort through them later.

After the ground is cleared, you can work on clearing your tables. If you don’t have efficient storage space for your items, consider installing some shelves or cabinets. After your tables are cleared, clean them thoroughly before placing items back.

2. Remove Everything, Decide What You’re Going to Keep

You’d be surprised by how much stuff you have but don’t really need.

An easy and productive way to organize your garage is to sort through everything you have and decide what’s really worth keeping — you might find yourself tossing out more than you expected.

If you haven’t used an item in the past year or so, it might not be that necessary. If you don’t want to toss something out, consider donating or selling it.

Removing everything you don’t need in the beginning allows you to easily organize your garage how you like after you decide what to keep.

3. Properly Clean Concrete Floor

Concrete floors are sturdy and affordable, making them a popular choice for garages. However, they’re porous and collect dirt, mildew, and stains over time.

A clean concrete floor is a hallmark of a well-kept garage. So the next time you’re tidying things up, be sure to pay some special attention to the floor.

There are a few ways you can clean your garage floor:

• Cleaning solution - If your garage’s floor is especially dirty, add some detergent and a quarter cup of ammonia to a bucket of warm water. Scrub the floor with this solution using a brush — never use metal brushes on concrete floors, the metal fibers can get stuck and rust.
• Bleach - Mold, mildew, and water can cause an unpleasant odor throughout your garage. To combat this, mix 2 ounces of bleach with a quart of water. Spray this solution on the floors and walls as needed.
• Use a store-bought concrete floor cleaner - There are several popular brands, like the Zep Neutral pH Floor Cleaner.

4. Extra Storage 

Wall storage is a great way to declutter your floor and make space in your garage. You have several options when it comes to wall storage for your garage, like pegboards, wire shelves, and tool racks.

Wall-mounted shelves are placed on brackets that are fixed on the studs on the wall, but you can also get shelves that don’t require these studs. The FLEXIMOUNT unit can be mounted right onto concrete if that’s what you need.

You can also use freestanding shelves throughout your garage if you need extra storage. This will decrease your floor space, but it can be easier to build freestanding shelves than it may be to mount wall shelves.

5. Organizing Your Garage

Organizing the items in your garage is an important part of the cleaning process. You may have things put away, but resist the urge to throw everything back into drawers and boxes.

You can install tool racks that decrease clutter and make it easy to put away rakes, brooms, and other tools.  

Have a toolbox? Organize garage tools with our utensil organizer and adjustable organizers. You can customize your organizer to accommodate your unique tool kit and store other necessities.

Organizing your tools and items will save you stress later down the road and help keep your garage clean all year long.

Ready to Transform Your Garage?

Complete your spring cleaning by making sure your garage is as clean as the rest of the house. Remembering these tips will help you transform your garage into a clean and organized space to work and store your gear.

Having a clean garage not only looks great, it makes it easier to find things when you need them, and decreases the chances of tripping on items or getting hurt.

Cleaning and organizing your garage this summer can also help you cut out clutter and make needed room!

If you find it hard to cut out clutter, maybe it’s time to try out the minimalist lifestyle >