OK, we admit it: we’re all guilty of letting clutter accumulate in the garage. This is often the go-to resting place for excess things we’re not quite sure where to put.
But when your stuff starts filling every corner and you’re tripping over old paint tins to get to the lawn mower, you know it’s time to take action.
We’ve got a few tricks up our sleeves to help you enjoy a clean and organised garage.
Give Yourself a Weekend
Sure, with the right Spotify playlist, just about anything can be fun. But cleaning generally isn’t a job you look forward to. And if you’re not being efficient, cleaning your garage can take longer than it needs to.
Book yourself an entire weekend to knock it over. This will allow you to complete the project thoroughly without interruptions (Sunday brunch with Aunty Margaret will just have to wait).
Top tip: Make it the weekend of a children’s birthday party so you have an excuse for not going.
Ditch the Clutter
The first step to a sparkling garage is to sort through your stuff. From those boxes of old magazines to the 7 half-empty bags of potting mix, chances are there are some things in your garage you don’t need.
Now is the perfect time to stop procrastinating and finally organise your belongings into piles (do this in the driveway or somewhere not inside your garage in preparation for the next step). Have your wheelie bin or a trailer handy for the things that don’t make the cut (we’re looking at you, skiing equipment from the ‘80s).
Top tip: Not sure whether something is worth keeping or belongs in the ‘throw’ pile? This quick quiz can help determine the fate of your belongings.
Take Everything Out
Yes, even the ladder hanging on the roof. Empty your garage from top to bottom. A thorough clean includes the floor, walls, and ceiling. Don’t cut corners. We’ll know. We always know.
Top tip: Don’t have enough space in your home or driveway to temporarily put all your garage’s contents? Just use your neighbour’s lawn!*
*Not really. Please don’t do this. A better idea is to store your things in a self-storage unit, obviously.
Clean from Top to Bottom
Don’t even think about scrubbing the floor before sweeping cobwebs and dust off the ceiling. That’s a one-way ticket to wasting time with double-handling. Always clean from top to bottom so you’re not going over the same surface twice.
Cleaning the Ceiling
What you need:
- Soft-bristled broom
- Sponge floor mop
- Bucket
- General-purpose household cleaner
- Safety goggles
- Step ladder (if you can’t reach your ceilings)
- A friend to hold the ladder
What to do:
- Put on your safety goggles to avoid getting debris or water in your eyes.
- If your ceilings are high, use a step ladder to reach them and a friend to hold the ladder steady.
- Use the broom to remove any cobwebs and dirt.
- Mix some warm water in a bucket with a teeny bit of household cleaner.
- Rinse the mop in the kind-of-soapy water and clean the ceiling as you would the floors.
- Imagine any dripping water is rain and sing Escape (The Pina Colada Song) at the top of your lungs.
- Apologise to your friend for the noise.
- Allow to dry.
Cleaning the Walls
What you need:
- Protective gloves
- Cleaning rag
- Bucket
- Sugar soap
- Dustpan brush
What to do:
- Put on your protective gloves.
- Use a brush from a dustpan and brush to wipe any dust and dirt off the surface of the walls.
- Mix some warm water in a bucket with some sugar soap (check the instructions on the back to see how much you’ll need of each).
- Dampen the rag in the sugar soap.
- Wipe the walls from top to bottom.
- Allow to dry.
Cleaning The Floor
This is assuming your garage floor is concrete. Because we’re not all fancy with carpeted garages, Carol. Stop being so pretentious.
What you need:
- Safety goggles
- Soft-bristled broom for sweeping
- Firm-bristled broom for scrubbing
- Mop
- Bucket
- General-purpose household cleaner
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Flour
- Plastic-edge scraper tool
What to do:
- Put on your safety goggles.
- Sweep the area to remove any dirt and debris.
- Mop the area using warm water and household cleaner.
- Use the firm broom for scrubbing any marks.
- For stubborn stains like oil spills, combine hydrogen peroxide and flour into a paste and apply overnight, removing with a scraper tool in the morning.
Organise Your Stuff
Now your garage is looking its best, it’s time to put your stuff back in a way that keeps everything organised and tidy. A great way to start is to install some shelving and sort your belongings into labelled bins or containers. Creating a home for everything is the best way to make things easy to find when you need them. If you’re needing some well priced packaging like sturdy boxes or even covers you don’t want dust on, see our box shop here.
To say we’re crazy about storage is an understatement, but it’s just so helpful! Check out these 35 storage hacks to organise your entire home.
Seems like too much work? Check out the creepiest crawlies that could be hiding in your garage for more incentive.
Need somewhere else to put the items in your garage? It’s time for a self-storage unit. Discover our affordable, flexible options here and book today.
