With the recent record-breaking high temperatures in Tennessee, there’s no disputing the fact that summer is just about here in the South. Many people take on a summer project, taking advantage of the long days and the fact that the kids are out of school. This summer, why not get your garage organized? If you’ve been struggling with a cluttered, chaotic garage, getting it whipped into shape will help you enjoy your summer without having it hanging over your head. It will also allow you to develop a great system and routine many weeks before the busyness of fall starts up again. Take a look at the following tips on getting your garage organized for the summer.
#1 Make the Garage Safer for Children Who Are Home From School
First and foremost, it’s important that if your children and the neighborhood children are allowed (or physically able) to access the garage without an adult, the garage must be safe for them. The last thing you want this summer is for any child to suffer from an injury in your garage, so it makes sense to take a bit of time now to ensure that yours is tidy enough to be safe for kids who might use the garage as a way to enter the home or to rummage around for something to do. Here are a few things to check for:
- Chemicals. Even if you think they’re too old to get into dangerous substances, make sure that things like spray paint, automotive fluids, and various other chemicals that are in your garage are not within reach. Put them on a high shelf, lock them in a garage cabinet, or find some other way to ensure that children can’t access them.
- Clutter on the floor. As an adult, you’ve surely had situations where you’ve stubbed a toe, tripped, or otherwise got hurt due to something on the floor. In a garage, where the flooring is usually concrete, a fall can be more dangerous than it would be in, say, a carpeted living room or a linoleum kitchen. Getting clutter off of the floor of the garage can help keep kids safe as they walk or run through your garage.
- Electrical cords, ladders, tools, etc. Remember that children will often find these types of items highly appealing. Unfortunately, they’re also quite dangerous! Make sure you have the right holders, racks, and other storage solutions for these items. A workbench is an excellent option for tools; it will also give you space to work on projects safely.
- Concrete flooring. While it’s not strictly necessary, installing rubberized Swisstrax garage flooring will provide a softer place for children to land than a concrete floor. In addition, Swisstrax is easy to clean, fade- and stain-resistant, and available in a variety of colors and pattern configurations. Talk to your Klutter Killerz garage designer to learn more.
#2 Be Sure That Bicycles, Scooters, and Skateboards Are Accessible
During the summer, the whole family will probably want to access outdoor equipment like bikes, skateboards, scooters, rollerblades, and so on. If yours are haphazardly piled in a corner, it’s difficult to get to them. It’s also likely that something will be damaged: When someone is leaning over a bicycle to get to a skateboard that is buried beneath, it’s easy for the bike to crash to the ground... or worse, to crash into the vehicle parked nearby.
You can avoid this by having a dedicated rack for these items. Shelving with a lip on the edge will help stop smaller wheeled equipment from rolling away. A bike rack can suspend bicycles overhead or in a set area of the garage. You can even tie rollerblades together and hang them from a hook on a section of slatwall. Just make sure you and your children will be able to get to these fun toys to use outdoors during nice weather.
#3 Get Your Gardening Supplies in Order
By now, most gardeners will have their vegetables and annual flowers planted. You’ll need to be able to access your trowels, gloves, rakes, and wheelbarrow as you go through the gardening and, soon enough, the harvesting season. Smaller items need to be kept together to avoid losing them; larger items like rakes, hoes, and shovels should be corralled to prevent them from falling and injuring someone or damaging your car.
For tall items, consider hooks attached to the wall or to a slatwall system. Hang these large tools by their hooks or handles so they will stay securely against the wall. You can also hang your brooms this way. Baskets and bins attached to slatwall is one way to keep smaller gardening supplies in one location. You can even take the basket with you when you go to the garden and then bring it back in to hang up when you’re done. Easy peasy!
#4 Gear Up for Sports Seasons
Whether your family loves backyard soccer and softball games, basketball played in the driveway, ultimate Frisbee, baseball, or any other summer sports and games, you need a place to store all of the equipment that goes along with these pursuits. Garage cabinets can be one option: With sturdy shelving and doors that close securely, you will know that your sporting goods are right where you left them.
You can hang a bag of balls from the wall. You can also hang bats on special holders. If your basketball hoop is portable, find a place in the garage to keep it so it isn’t exposed to the elements. The same goes for a volleyball net and other equipment that is fine to stay outside some of the time but needs to be brought in when big storms are in the forecast.
Keep in mind that this tip won’t expire come Labor Day; an athletic family is likely to continue with the sports all year long, so whether your kids are on the football team, the lacrosse team, or the hockey team, you’ll still need a place to store the in-season sports apparel and equipment.
If getting your garage organized is on your to-do list this summer, contact Klutter Killerz for an in-home consultation in Tennessee. We’ll take a look at your space, make suggestions, and even show you what your custom garage will look like on 3D software.
