Yes, you can fit a car in your garage! Archives: Smart Home

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By AMY HOAK

MarketWatch

There’s a big difference between driving a car into
a garage filled with a jumbled mess and one that
is tidy and well kept. But not everyone can afford to
— or wants to — hire a garage organization company
to do the work.

And that’s fine, said Donna Smallin, author of
“The One-Minute Organizer,” because with some extra
time and hard work, homeowners can get some
order on their own. It’s retaining the clean garage
that is the real challenge.

“Organizing is not a one-time project; it’s a process,” she said.
That’s especially true for the garage, where items not needed in the
main part of the house often get hidden away.

If you’re looking to fit an extra car in your garage this winter,
now is the perfect time to straighten up.

1. Take inventory

Before buying a single organization product, know what’s in the
garage to begin with. And start removing items that aren’t needed.

Make the easy decisions first, said Barry Izsak, president of the
National Association of Professional Organizers and author of
“Organize Your Garage in No Time.”

“Start with the things that are unemotional and you can easily pitch
right away,” he said. It’s easier to pitch a broken VCR or the “10-
year accumulation of National Geographics molding away in the corner”
than items that have more sentimental value.

Keep things that are still useful and relevant — and are able to be
stored. For the tough decisions, ask “what’s the worst thing that can
happen if you get rid of it?” he said.

If you plan on unloading unwanted items at a garage sale, try to
start collecting things in one place, perhaps parking the cars in the
driveway and using the center of the garage for a few days, she said.
Or donate the items to charity, getting receipts for tax deductions.
If you just want to get rid of the stuff, check out Freecycle.org, a
Web site that helps people in communities throughout the country hand
items off to neighbors. To join the York-area Freecycle group, visit
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/YorkPAFreecycle.

2. Think in zones

To find the best place to store objects, separate them by use,
Smallin said. For instance, sporting equipment should have its own
space, as should outdoor lawn-care items and car-washing supplies.

“People are more likely to put things where they belong if it’s
obvious where they belong,” she said. “If there’s no organization,
things get put wherever because it doesn’t seem to matter.” Items
used most frequently should be the easiest to access.

3. Shop for supplies

After creating a plan of where items will be placed, start thinking
about what organization supplies might be best to hold them.

“I’m a big believer in hanging things in the garage because we’re
limited with floor space if we want to park the cars in there,” Izsak
said.

If you’re on a tight budget, consider peg boards to help organize,
he said. Another common way to keep costs down is by reusing old
shelving items from the house, including old kitchen cabinets and
bookshelves.

The upside to purchasing cabinets specifically made for the garage
is that they’re often longer, Smallin said, allowing you to store
more behind closed doors.

She also advocates thinking vertically. Bicycle hoists keep bikes
elevated off the ground and can be purchased for about $35, she said.
Smallin also likes shelving units that are mounted on the ceiling,
such as ones from the manufacturer HyLoft.

Thinking of redoing the flooring? Start with that job first. If it’s
painted with epoxy, for example, it will take about three to four
days for it to dry, Smallin said.

4. Keep it clean

Go out to the garage and clean up every three months or so once the
job is complete, Smallin said. If you want a reminder, subscribe to
Homefree.com, an online service that keeps track of a home’s
maintenance schedule, she said. Smallin works as an organization
expert for the firm, which charges an annual fee to send e-mail
reminders about jobs ranging from inspecting the water heater to
flipping the mattresses.

“The biggest reason for clutter and disorganization . . . it’s not a
bad system, it’s because the person didn’t maintain the system,” he
said.

SMART TIP

If the thought of organizing the garage on your own gives you a
headache, try hiring a company to do it for you. PremierGarage of
Central Pa., 248 W. Ridge Road, Dillsburg, can take care
of anything from cabinetry to flooring.
For details, call 432-0452 or
visit www.premiergarage.com.