Ways to neaten up your garage.

Take a garage from cluttered catchall to clean utility space. Use the FastTrack Garage Organization products to hang everything you have.Closet Solutions can furnish and install this product.

Though it’s meant to hold a car (or two), the typical garage is often so cluttered with garden supplies, sporting equipment, deck gear and…well, junk, that there’s barely any place left to park. Free up room for the car and much more by tapping some unused space—the garage walls—and getting everything off the floor.
1. CLEAR IT OUT
Set aside a weekend to sort through all of the items in your garage—if you can, get the whole family to pitch in. Have large garbage cans on hand to toss anything you really don’t use (be honest) as well as boxes for items you will want to give away or have repaired.

2. GET IN THE ZONE
Once you’ve winnowed down the clutter, think about where stuff will go. Divide the walls of the garage into zones, so you’ll know immediately where to find what you need. For example, designate one area for tools, another for bikes, skis and other recreational equipment, and a third for gardening and lawn supplies. Locate these zones where they’re most convenient; in other words, keep rakes and trimmers by the door leading to the yard.

3. AIM HIGH—AND LOW
A modular hook-and-rail system, like Rubbermaid’s FastTrack, or slatwall, is easy to install and makes the most of vertical space. Add shelves and baskets for smaller items. Hang the things you use most often low or at arm’s reach, and less-frequently used items high and out of the way (just be careful not to hang heavy things so high that taking them down will be dangerous). It’s also a good idea to store hazardous items—cleaning supplies, paint thinner, motor oil—on a high shelf or in a basket out of kids’ reach. A locked cabinet door is another good option.



Customize storage with useful accessories. The mesh basket designed for Rubbermaid’s FastTrack system can hold hand tools, plant food or other small items.



4. FIND A HOOK
Take time to choose the right hooks for the job, and be sure to check the hook’s capacity against the weight of the item you’re hanging. A plastic coating will protect the finish on bikes and such.

5. THINK SEASONALLY
A modular system lets you rearrange stuff easily. So in summer, you can keep hoses, beach chairs and bikes front and center; then when the weather changes, swap for shovels and ski equipment.

Conquering Clutter

For many people, organization means de-cluttering visible living space, such as a bedroom or living room. Often, items that do not have a designated place are stashed out of sight in closets or under beds. While this temporary fix removes clutter from immediate view, it does not solve the clutter problem. Those “hidden” items will certainly resurface in time, and still without a place to go.

To really organize, you must create a system that designates a specific place for everything you own. Items that are used together or that fall into the same category should be kept together. To begin, forget simply trying to work with your current organization approach. Staying in the comfort zone may prevent you from creating a system that maximizes space and makes your daily life more convenient.

It always helps to get rid of some useless and outdated possessions to begin the organization process. We often hold on to worthless possessions, thinking that surely we will someday need them. A good rule of thumb is to toss or donate items that have not been used for a year or more. Ask yourself if you will really miss the item if you never see it again. If the answer is no, toss it or give it away. Anything with no sentimental value that you do not use but is still taking up your living space is clutter.

Once you have gotten rid of the excess and categorized, make sure you designate a specific place for everything. A common mistake is not finding a permanent place for items that are used often, such as remote controls, mail, and keys. Consequently, these items collect on tables and counters, and create disorder. If you have this habit, choose a place for each item, and then use it. Storage solutions such as coat racks and baskets can be easily integrated into the décor of any room, and can prevent the collection of unsightly clutter.

To get your mind into organization mode, take notice of the things that you use throughout your daily routine. These items should be stored in the most accessible places, such as eye-level shelves or the front of cabinets. For instance, if you make coffee first thing every morning, all of the supplies for making coffee should be grouped together in one accessible, logical location. Items that are used only once a week or once a month should also be organized into categories, but do not have to be as prominently placed as your everyday use items. Getting into the organization mindset is the first step to creating an organized living space where you can relax.

About the Author: Stephen Nickse is the founder of Closet Solutions, a leading provider of quality Boston custom closets, strategically headquartered in the nation’s design capitol, Boston, Ma. For more information, please visit www.closet-solutions.com.