Home Organizing Organizing Techniques 6 Essential Tips for Decluttering the Garage Follow this advice to reclaim your garage as a functional space. By Real Simple Editors Real Simple Editors Facebook Instagram Twitter An article attributed to "Real Simple Editors" indicates a collaborative effort from our in-house team. Sometimes, several writers and editors have contributed to an article over the years. These collaborations allow us to provide you with the most accurate, up-to-date, and comprehensive information available.The REAL SIMPLE team strives to make life easier for you. They are experts in their fields who research, test and clearly explain the best recipes, strategies, trends and products. They have worked for some of the most prestigious brands in lifestyle journalism, including Apartment Therapy, Better Homes & Gardens, Food & Wine, the Food Network, Good Housekeeping, InStyle, Martha Stewart Living, O: The Oprah Magazine, Parents, POPSUGAR, Rachel Ray Every Day, and Vogue. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Published on May 8, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email The garage is a place to keep our vehicles—and things would be a lot easier if we just stopped there. But, for many, this ultimate utilitarian space is clutter’s final graveyard. The garage becomes a space to store all the things we don't have a clear home for and the clutter can build and build until sometimes, there's not even room for a car. Use our tips below to address the clutter and start transforming your garage back into a truly functional space. 13 Clever Garage Organization Ideas to Clear the Chaos ©2013 Copyright Meredith Corporation. All rights reserved. Clear Everything Out The garage is one space that absolutely benefits from being cleared of every single item. Carry everything out to the driveway or, better yet, to a tarp spread on the lawn. Touching and moving items quickly reveals damage or if something is just too cumbersome to regularly use. Sort like with like as you bring out the items. Review duplicates rigorously. Can you edit down to just the best one? Do you have all the attachments? Focus On What You Currently Use Garages are filled with the remains of past projects and things you used to do (trampoline aerobics or tilling the garden every summer). As you consider items, remind yourself that you can easily rent or borrow recreation and gardening equipment if inspired. Map Out Your Available Space With your garage emptied, park all vehicles in their ideal spots. Open the doors and trunks and mark how far each swings out with masking tape applied to the floor. Consider any space beyond the tape marks available for storage. Make Everything Visible Refill shelves and wall hooks as if you’re working in a store: tallest items in the back, all items turned so labels are visible, and dividers to ensure separation (pieces of cardboard work amazingly well). As your budget allows, opt for wire mesh containers for kids toys and recreation gear and see-through plastic for gardening, DIY, and decorating projects. Find New Homes for Delicate Items Read labels on all chemicals and liquids. Many are temperature-sensitive and are best stored indoors. Fabric, paper, and cardboard are easily damaged by moisture, so reconsider where you store school mementos, family heirlooms, and some holiday decorations. Your garage is almost certainly not a good place to store paint. The ideal storage temperature is between 60 F and 80 F. High humidity tends to rust metal cans faster; low humidity speeds up drying. Address Your Electronics “In an effort to declutter rooms, we tend to stash old technology in the garage. Be laser-focused looking at this technology graveyard. Separate technology that’s donatable versus what’s a candidate for responsible disposal. Then schedule a donation pickup or drop off your donations immediately," professional organizer Tanisha Lyons-Porter says. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit