Garages are an integral part of your home. They offer a safe place to park your vehicle and store items essential to your home, i.e., gardening tools, vehicle maintenance supplies and outdoor play equipment. But no matter how tempting it is, not everything belongs in the garage.

Storage 101

Making sure the garage is a functional store space is all about organization. The best way to keep your garage organized is to organize by zone. Assigning zones to the different areas of your garage helps put things away – and find them again in the future – faster. Zone can be identified by use, e.g., gardening zone, tool zone, pet zone, car maintenance zone, holiday storage zone, etc.

The next trick is to use wall and ceiling space for maximum storage potential. Pegboards, wire shelving and hooks are all great options for getting tools, equipment and boxes off the floor and organized. Coat racks and ceiling hooks store items up and off the floor.

Here are some Dos and Don’ts for garage storage.

Dos

• Use the garage as a landscaping hub. The garage is the ideal spot to store all your garden equipment, like spades, trowels, lawnmowers, pots, even potting soil. If you’re an avid gardener, consider installing a Murphy-style potting bench that folds against the wall when not in use. 
• Make it your go-to spot for outdoor equipment. Storing your outdoor sports and play equipment in the garage is a no brainer. Items are both easy to get to and put away. Use the ceiling for hanging bicycles, kayaks and canoes. You can attach heavy-duty hooks to the rafters or even install a pulley system to easily get at your water sports equipment.
• Turn the garage into a mudroom. If you’re not lucky enough to have a designated mudroom, a garage that’s attached to your home can certainly fit the bill. Hang hooks or a coat rack near the door to store umbrellas, wet raincoats and towels to wipe the dog’s wet, muddy feet. Heavy-duty rugs provide a spot to leave shoes, so dirt doesn’t get tracked inside the house. 
• Keep car maintenance items within reach. When it’s -0 degrees outside you don’t want to have to hunt for your jumper cables. Battery chargers, air pumps and ice scrapers should all be stored near your vehicle, saving you time when you need them most.

Don’ts

• Don’t store liquids for the winter in your garage. Certain liquid items, like paint, pesticides and herbicides, shouldn’t be stored in areas that get below 50-degrees. When these items freeze, they lose their effectiveness. Always double-check the label of any liquid items you need to store and consider moving them inside, like on a high shelf in the basement or utility room.
• Don’t leave poisonous items where kids or animals can reach them. Make sure any poisonous items are out of reach of both animals and kids. These items include gasoline, motor oil, antifreeze, fertilizer and other toxic materials. Install shelving to keep these items high up off the floor.
• Don’t store items in cardboard. Cardboard might be great to ship packages, but it shouldn’t be a long-term storage solution in the garage. Dampness and moisture can quickly ruin cardboard, damaging its integrity. Cardboard is also a tasty snack for bugs and mice. Store your items in secure, plastic tubs instead.

When garages are this important, you need to make sure your garage door is up to the task. Garage doors should run smoothly (no squeaking or rattling) and protect your home. Overhead Door of Sioux City and Yankton™ can fix any garage door issue or suggest upgrades, like a keypad with Code Dodger. Or, we can suggest a new door, like a super efficient Thermacore door which will help regulate the temperature in your garage. Contact us today to see how we can help you.