Do you have a shed or garage that could use a face-lift? I know I do. Many times I will go out to my garage to find a certain tool and end up tripping over odds and ends and misplaced items, getting so distracted, that sometimes I momentarily forget what I came out for in the first place. I am writing this article as much for myself as for others with the hope it helps all of us. Let’s all get committed to cleaning up and organizing our shed or garage.
10 DIY Organization Hacks
Everyone can agree that sheds can quickly become disorganized. Tools can easily get put in the wrong place, junk can quickly accumulate into a large pile, and dust can suddenly build up. Thankfully, there are many organization hacks that can help keep your shed or garage much cleaner and more organized. I am going to share ten tips that I hope will help you organize your shed or garage in order to prevent clutter and chaos later on. Let’s get started.
Tip #1: Use Clothespins to Hang Gloves
Do your gloves often disappear and when you do find them, you discover to your dismay that there are two left-hand gloves or two right-hand gloves? If so, you’re not alone. Many people lose their gloves and often find them in places they would never think to look at the time. Because gloves can go missing very quickly, it may be a smart idea to hang them in your shed. Clothespins are a great way to hang gloves. As you can see in the picture below, all you need is a piece of wood hung on the wall with nails, and glue to stick the clothespins onto the wood. Besides gloves, you can also hang hats, scarves, and handkerchiefs.
Photo Credit: Sadie Seasongoods
Tip #2: Make Your Own Recycling Center
Junk can easily accumulate in a shed or garage, especially during the summer months when you are out in your shed or garage the most. This is why a recycling center can come in handy. You can build the recycling center either inside or outside your shed or garage. The purpose of a recycling center is to keep junk organized. It is similar to a trash can, except it is separated into several plastic bins. Make sure to label what each bin is for. For example, you could label one bin for paper, another for plastic, another for glass, and another for yard waste. Remember to recycle the items because that is what the purpose of a recycling center is.
Photo Credit: HGTV
Tip #3: Magnetic Tool Holder
Install magnetic strips to hold all of those small metal tools that can quickly get lost. This shed or garage storage idea is great for screwdrivers, scissors, paintbrushes, pliers, and any other tool that is metal. You can also hang soup cans to the magnetic strip to hold pencils and small paint brushes.
Photo Credit: HGTV
Tip #4: Use a Golf Bag to Store Garden Tools
If you have an extra golf bag that you don’t need, use it to instead hold garden tools, gloves, and other garden supplies. A golf bag is strong enough to hold several long-handled tools, such as shovels, rakes, and trowels. It can also be used to hold gloves, pliers, and screwdrivers in its pockets.
Photo Credit: HGTV
Tip #5: Hang Jars
Old peanut jars or other clear plastic jars are perfect for storing screws. But instead of letting the jars clutter your shelf, why not hang them? To do this, screw the lid to the bottom of a shelf. Make sure the shelf is high enough so that the jar is easy to reach. Next, twist the jar onto the lid so that it hangs under the shelf easily to be seen. Make sure to wash and clean jars before using.
Photo Credit: Viralnova
Tip #6: Use Buckets to Store Hoses
Find a bucket that you do not use, such as an old bucket that leaks. Screw the bottom of the bucket onto the wall, either inside or outside the shed or garage. Once you have screwed the bucket to the wall, begin wrapping your hose around the outside of the bucket. The inside of the bucket can be used to store sprinklers or other small gardening tools. This shed organization idea can also be used with extension cords.
Photo Credit: HGTV
Tip #7: Use a Pegboard
A pegboard can be used to hold tools of many different sizes. All you need is a pegboard and pegs or other strong hooks. The nice thing about this organization idea is that it does not take up floor space and tools can easily be found.
Photo Credit: Martha Stewart
Tip #8: Use a Wood Pallet to Store Tools
Pallets can be used for almost anything, including organizing your tools. You can either hang the pallet onto the wall, or you can set the pallet on the floor. Whichever way you choose to set your pallet, it will help keep your tools organized.
Photo Credit: HGTV
Tip #9: Hang Items on Your Shed Door
Sometimes your shed can’t hold everything you need it to. That’s why you may want to hang tools on the inside door of your shed for quick, easy access. You can either use nails with which to hang tools, or you can install shelves to place tools on. Both ways are very effective and will give you more room to store other items.
Photo Credit: Decorated Life
Tip #10: Use an Outdoor Birdhouse-Style Cabinet to Store Tools
If you can’t seem to fit all your tools inside your shed or garage, try storing some of them outdoors. Make a cute, birdhouse-style cabinet to store small items, such as trowels, gloves, and pliers. It may be a good idea to store items in the cabinet that you use the most, such as gardening tools. That way, each time you need one of those tools you don’t need to open the shed door.
Photo Credit: HGTV
How to Decide What to Throw Away and Keep
Cleaning a shed is similar to cleaning a closet. Just as you would throw away clothes you haven’t worn in a year or so, you should also get rid of any items that have not been used in a while. If any of the tools are old, rusty, or not functioning properly, there is no point in keeping them. Replace them with new tools, and throw the old ones away. If you have a tool that is brand new but you don’t have any use for it, perhaps you should consider selling it or giving it away. Basically, any tool/item that is old or hasn’t been used in a year should not be kept.
How Often You Should Clean Your Shed
How often you should clean your shed or garage depends on your schedule and how quickly it becomes messy. Some people prefer to clean their shed or garage every spring during spring cleaning. Others clean in the fall, so that they can prepare for winter. If you notice that your shed or garage becomes messy quickly, perhaps you should take time to clean it every month. In order to keep things clean and pest free, you should not go over a year without cleaning your shed or garage.
Tips for Cleaning Your Shed
Besides the organizing tips I have shared earlier, listed below are also some cleaning tips that can make cleaning your shed or garage much easier.
Remove Everything
The first step to cleaning is to remove everything from your shed or garage. This will give you an idea of how much junk you have, and what needs to be organized. It also gives you a chance to sweep the entire floor and remove cobwebs. Make sure to wash any windows and perhaps even scrub the floor. Remember, this is your chance to clean your shed or garage from top to bottom. Don’t neglect any spots.
Organize Items Into Four Piles: Keep, Donate, Sell, Toss
It is easier to organize items when you know what you are keeping and what you are not keeping. So before you start organizing everything inside your shed or garage, make four piles: a pile of items you plan on keeping, a pile of items you plan on donating, a pile of items you plan to sell, and a pile of items you plan to throw away. First, go over the items you don’t want to keep. You may be surprised at how many items need to be thrown away. Any junk, old items, or items that do not work should be thrown away. Test tools to determine whether or not they work. Next, go through the items you want to sell. Sort the items you want to donate. The items you wish to sell or donate should be in fairly good shape, look nice, be clean, and only be lightly used. Test tools before selling or donating them to make sure they work properly. Lastly, go over the pile of items you want to keep. Clean them off, put them away only if you think you will use them again.
Organize Your Shed or Garage
Begin organizing your shed or garage using the tips I have listed. Make sure nothing is laying on the floor and that some tools are placed near to other tools or parts they go with (hammer with nails, screwdriver with screws, pliers with wire, etc.).
Landscape Around the Shed
Not only should you fix up the inside of your shed or garage, but the outside as well. If it is springtime, consider planting some flowers around your shed. Add some mulch around your shed, and make a path out of the mulch. You may want to make a rock garden as well.
Treat for Pests
If you store chemicals and/or poison in your shed or garage, you might consider using a pesticide in your shed or garage to keep it free of bugs or rodents. But if you want to keep things natural, first try blocking off entrances that pests may use to enter your shed. Remove sources of water and food. Keep your shed or garage clean. If there is clutter, pests will most likely use it to make into their home.
Conclusion
I hope that these ideas for organizing your shed or garage has motivated and helped you to get started organizing it. Take an inventory of what needs to be sorted and organized and then use some of the ideas discussed above. I hope that as you implement some of these ideas that your shed or garage becomes a place where you can quickly find things that you need quickly and efficiently.
Photo Credit: Closet & Storage Concepts
