Advice
Welcome to our advice section. Every week I answer new questions submitted
by readers on Organizing, Image, Fashion and Event Planning.
You can read my "AddSPACE To Your Life!" column every week
in San Diego's “The Coast News" or read the archived columns
below.
E-mail your questions to advice@addspacetoyourlife.com
First
step to clean garage: What should live there?
7.08.05
Dear
Kathi,
We are really motivated to clean out our garage this summer. We want
to play ping-pong during our Labor Day party. To do this, we need
to put the garage in order. This is the largest part of the preparation
for our party. It is piled high with boxes, tools and old toys.
I’m not even sure where to begin. What guidelines do you advise
for this huge task?
Suzi and Kevin, Oceanside
Suzi,
Gather boxes, in all shapes and sizes along with a box of large trash
bags. It helps to start this project the day after trash is emptied
if possible.
Hire an expert or get a team of people to work on this project. Without
a good support system, it could turn into an overwhelming task that
will be abandoned part way through. While friends and family may be
willing to help, be sure you have a plan in place to direct the process
from start to finish.
Consider what categories of items you want to store in your garage.
Does luggage really have to live there, or can it live in the attic
or an indoor closet? Do you have a shed? Maybe your paints and chemicals
could live there instead of the garage. Items that are typically housed
in the garage are tools, gardening supplies, recycling bins, bicycles,
sports equipment, camping gear, automotive supplies and seasonal décor.
Once you have determined what categories of items will “live”
in your garage, begin pulling everything out of your garage, and grouping
into these categories in the driveway. Use a lot of boxes during this
process. Relegate loose objects to small boxes within each grouping.
Purge any excess, broken, or unnecessary items. Reconsider, donate
or trash items that do not fit your categories. If you discover random
parts or singular items that you need to keep, group and store them
with the closest similar category. If this is too much of a memory
stretch, store them in a visible place so you will remember you have
them.
Once items have been consolidated like with like, you are ready to
begin planning where each category should live within your garage.
Determine where you want each type of item to live by frequency of
use and available space. Parking is probably your most frequent garage
activity. Make certain that the area around your car is open and easy
to get in and out of the car and the garage.
The recycling bin can live near the inside door to your home for quick
access. Tools should live near the workbench, shovels by the fertilizers
and so on. Shelves at eye level should hold the most frequently used
items. A large shelf near the inside door is a great location for
the extra rolls of toilet paper from the last warehouse purchase.
Plan for an entire weekend. Set aside enough time to work on your
project. Back-to-back days are recommended so items that are being
sorted do not have to sit outside in piles for long. Plan for an entire
weekend unless you are working with a Professional Organizer. A seasoned
professional will usually reduce your time by half because they have
been through this drill many times.
After your garage is put back into order, commit to a regular schedule
of maintenance. Promptly put things away after using them and schedule
a couple of hours of maintenance every season. Follow this strategy
and your next Labor Day party will be a breeze!
You can read more specific advice about garage “zones”
in an article published earlier this year in The Coast News by visiting
http://www.addspacetoyourlife.com/advice04_01_05.html
Please
submit your questions to:
advice@addspacetoyourlife.com
.
San Diego Professional Organizer
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