5 Steps to a Tidy Garage or Basement
As an area used for extra storage, your garage or basement can quickly become cluttered and unorganized. I know the basement in my home is the first place that goes out of control when I’m busy or trying to organize the rest of the house. Organizing any of these storage spaces can be overwhelming!
Here are 5 ways to help make your garage or basement neat and tidy!
1 - Remove everything
Yes, everything. This can be hard to do in the winter if there is no where else to put the items, but do the best you can if the weather permits. Take absolutely everything out of the garage or basement to sort though. Removing everything will make it easier to deep clean the space.
If you leave in an home or area where removing everything is impractical, try to do this a half of the space at a time.
2 - What stays and what goes?
Looking at everything outside of its normal space can make it easier to see what should be tossed. Make piles of what is to be donated and what is to be thrown away. Here are some local donation options.
If anything is broken or outdated, just toss it now versus saving it for “maybe someone will need it one day.”
You may need to check with your city or town for any special disposal rules for hazardous waste such as oil-based paint or cleaning supplies. Most municipalities have options for residents to safely dispose of oil-based paint, solvents or fluorescent lighting. Generally you can toss dried-up latex paint in the household trash (stir in clay-based kitty litter or purchase a paint-hardening product to dry the latex paint more quickly).
3 - Start Scrubbing
Put on your “painting clothes” and start cleaning! Clear all cobwebs off the walls, floors, and ceilings - use a broom, vacuum or shop vac. Clean all doors & windows. Make sure windows open/close. Even clean the light fixtures, light bulbs and plumbing!
You want to sweep everything from the walls to center of the room - nasty, right? And lastly mop the floors - or for the garage, power wash if possible!
If you find there are any pesky oil or grease stains in places, you may want to take some time to try to address these stains - start with baking soda then dishwashing detergent and increase the “intensity” of the degreaser if necessary. There are all kinds of degreasing products available at your local home improvement store, but I always recommend starting with the “safest” and least expensive option first.
4 - Paint the floor
This may sound hard to believe, but painting the floor is one of the best ways to freshen a basement or garage! There is something about a freshly painted floor really makes a storage area look cleaner.
There are some great products available for painting a concrete floor. You’ll want to choose a paint designed for the intended surface, particularly if the concrete has never been painted, area is damp or the garage gets a lot of use. Some concrete paints can seal small cracks and help protect from minor water penetration. In all cases you’ll want a clean and degreased floor to start. If you choose an epoxy paint, definitely double check any extra floor prep or steps required.
If the floor is already pretty well sealed, you maybe able to get away with simply repainting with a less expensive paint product, but realize you might need to paint again in a year or two.
If your garage is large or heavily grease-stained, there are companies who specialize in garage floor painting with high quality epoxy paints. But most of the time, painting a garage or basement floor falls under a “homeowner skill” level tasks.
5 - Keep it organized!
Install or replace shelving. These can be permanent shelving or moveable - just make sure the shelves are rated for the weight you’ll be storing on them. Metal shelves are great, but tend towards corrosion/rust if the area is damp. If you want to get fancy, look at the fabulous garage or basement organizing systems at your local home store. Also if your basement or garage has any water seepage, make sure everything is high enough up to stay dry! Here is a great solution for hanging shelves that The Cavender Diary built over their garage door.
When organizing, place items you’ll be storing long-term first, followed by the items you’ll be using more frequently placed toward the front.
It can be tough to keep a storage space organized, but just remember how much work you did to make these storage spaces shine! Toss or donate things right away rather than store until later!
