Organize Your Shed or Garage

·                    Divide your garage or shed into zones. Think garden, paint supplies, sports, workbench, tools, seasonal, etc. You can start by pulling everything out and putting it into piles to see what zones you need to create in your space.

·                    Toss tools that are broken. Donate tools to a friend or family member that are duplicates or ones that you will never use again. Make a permanent space for remaining tools by tracing their outline on a pegboard hung on the wall.

·                    Garden tools should all be stored together and either hung on the wall or stored in a floor system. Store pots, potting soil, gloves, smaller tools, watering cans, etc. on a shelf or in wire baskets nearby. Clean tools before returning them to their storage area.

·                    Test paint to see if it can still be used. If it’s still usable, mark the level on the outside of the can so you know how much remains. Use a drop of paint to put on the outside of the can so you know the color. Also mark the date it was used and what room it was used in.

·                    If seasonal items were not used this last season, don’t keep them. It’s time to pass them on to someone else who would use them or toss them if they’re not usable anymore. Make room for things that are going to be used and appreciated.

·                    Look above you for storage. There is usually plenty of usable space above your head in the garage and maybe even in a shed. Store things overhead that are used less often like seasonal items or some sports equipment that aren’t needed year round.

·                    Hang items on the walls. Try to leave as much floor space as possible to work on any projects or for items to heavy to hang or lift. Plus it makes it much easier to clean if you have things off the floor.

·                    Be safe in the garage. Don’t store gasoline or oily rags and make sure the fire extinguisher is in proper working order. Have a smoke detector installed if you use a heat source in the area in the colder weather. Don’t leave any tools or heat sources plugged in when you leave or have them all on a power strip and just turn one thing off when you leave.

·                    Store sports equipment all together and organized by activity for easy access when needed. Keep balls controlled by putting them in a tall, sturdy wire basket or a special unit made just for balls.

·                    Label everything so items can be returned where they belong when they are done being used. If items are being stored in lidded tubs be sure to label all sides and top and bottom.

 

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Organizing Sports Equipment

·                    Before you store any sports equipment, take an inventory of what you already own and only keep what you use and in good condition. Do you still have size 2 rollerblades and your child is in size 6? What about those badminton rackets that have holes in them? Donate or toss!

·                    Hang helmets on the handlebars of the bicycles, also kneepads and elbow pads so everything is stored together.

·                    Use packing tape and tape the needle for the air pump to the pump so you’ll always have it when you need it.

·                    Hang hula hoops and jump ropes from a hook on the wall.

·                    Separate children’s toys by categories such as summer, winter, water, other sports, etc. Store in totes and label when it’s not the season or they’re not in use.

·                    Make parking spaces on the garage floor for ride on toys. Use painter tape to mark off the spaces and you can even tape your child’s name to the floor or hang a cute sign above their parking space.

·                    Toss out any broken toys or sports equipment, small or broken sidewalk chalk, empty bubble bottles, etc.

·                    Donate any equipment that has not been used in a year or your child has outgrown.

·                    Don’t park bicycles on the floor. Hang them from a wall mounted storage rack or use a gravity rack that stands by the wall. I just bought a gravity rack that holds two bikes and it’s amazing.

·                    Do you have more footballs, basketballs, soccer balls, volleyballs and Frisbees than you know what to do with? Store them in a large clean trash can or large pop-up laundry hamper.

·                    Store sidewalk chalk in a clear plastic tote with a handle or an old plastic ice cream tub and hang it from a hook on the wall. Toss out broken or small pieces.

·                    Store bats, hockey sticks, and any long equipment in a tall plastic trash can.

·                    Hang snowboards across large coated hooks on the wall. Do the same with skis and hang the poles from hooks. Store boots on a shelf above snowboards and skis. If you want to spend a little more money, go to organize.com (click on the icon to the right) for an adjustable snowboard rack.

·                    Hang soccer and hockey goals, skateboard ramps, etc. on the wall of the garage.

·                    Organize.com has a golf rack and basket system that holds two golf bags, shoes, and has a basket for other golf items.

·                    If your sport is in season and you have numerous practices and games every week store the equipment in a bag along with a water bottle and a snack so you can just grab it and go.

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