Question 1

How Do I Make More Storage in My Garage?

Accepted Answer

Declutter the Space

Before you begin your DIY garage storage mission, start by eliminating any unnecessary items you don’t use or need. For example, donate the gear if the kids aren’t playing hockey anymore. Likewise, if you haven’t fixed up an old lawnmower in the last year, it’s time to give it to someone else or take it to your local recycling centre.

If you have many things to get rid of and your garbage service won’t take it, consider using a private removal service. For example, you can buy a giant canvas bag at a home improvement store, fill it with garbage and set up a time for a haulier to come and remove it. Fees apply, of course, but companies like this offer a simple way to rid your garage of junk.

Install a Pegboard

A pegboard may be the most versatile of garage storage ideas. With a pegboard installed on a wall, you can hang just about every hand tool or gadget you have; seeing them out in the open makes them easier to find. Get a series of wire brackets to hang basic tools, and buy several hanging baskets that fit pegboards. They’re great for storing things like nails or bottles of glue.

Add a Folding Table

When you have two vehicles in the garage, there sometimes isn’t enough room to do much else. Where do you work? Consider creating a drop-down folding table. Connect the table to the wall with hinges so you can fold the legs under and fold it up against the garage wall when you aren’t using it.

Hang Cans of Spray Paint

If you have a lot of spray paint, buy a hanging shoe organiser at a department store and use it to hold spray paint in your garage.

Utilise the Space Above Your Garage Doors

There’s a lot of space above garage doors that you can use. Consider installing wire shelves attached to the ceiling as part of your DIY garage storage plan. Or you can try making some DIY garage shelves. Either way, make sure the shelves are secure before you try storing anything on them.

Measure the available space before buying the shelf to make sure it will fit, and then buy durable tote bags that will fit on the shelves. It’s a great place to store seasonal items, like holiday decorations, that you only need to access once a year.

Hang a Utility Rack

Rakes, shovels, hoes and brooms all take up space. Rather than lean them against the wall and trip over them, get a utility rack from a department store and hang up any tool with a long handle.

If space is an issue, you can buy individual hooks and hang them in tight spaces, such as between the garage doors, next to the tool bench or near the entrance to the house.

Question 2

How Do I Protect Things Stored in My Garage?

Accepted Answer

Cars

When storing your car, it’s important to keep the exterior of your car clean from anything that could melt inside the garage or drip onto the floor. Check all fluids to make sure levels are full and no leaks that could potentially damage your garage floor. Clean up floors of dust and debris and consider applying a high-quality epoxy floor coating for additional protection.

Clothing and Fabrics

Clothing, linens, blankets, and sleeping bags are best stored inside your house, but if the garage is the only option, there are ways to store them to prevent damage. Keep fabric items in vacuum-sealed bags or covered plastic storage bins to keep them airtight. It’s best to store these items up and off the floor on wire shelving, cabinets, and overhead storage systems. Avoid using cardboard boxes for storage to attract pests and protect your fabrics from moisture and odours.

Lawn and Garden Equipment

Lawn and garden equipment is best stored off the ground and secured. After a few hours of yard work, it’s tempting to toss tools and equipment in the nearest corner. But these items should be safely secured off the floor and out of the way. Tools like rakes and shovels should be hung up on a wall with hooks or special racks. Power equipment like weed whackers, hedge trimmers, and leaf blowers should have any cords neatly coiled and stored up off the floor on shelves, hanging racks, or tool closets.

Organisation Is Key

To safeguard stored items from the extreme summer temperature, you need to clean up, declutter and store as many things off the floor of your garage as possible. By using a variety of storage options, you are not only protecting your items, but your garage surfaces, too. Applying a protective epoxy coating to your garage floor adds an extra layer of protection – and it looks great, too!

Question 3

What Should Be Stored in the Garage?

Accepted Answer

Car Supplies

If you have a car, it probably spends a lot of time in your garage or parked nearby. So it’s logical to store items you use for your car, including wiper fluid and tire inflators, in your garage. A garage is also a good place for items you often transport in or on your cars, such as a roof rack or camping gear. If you have the space, hang bulky items like roof racks on the wall or ceiling of your garage. This will help keep the garage floor space clear for parking your car. As for the smaller items, consider a plastic storage rack with bins or a storage cabinet meant for the garage. This will keep the space organised and make finding items when you need them a breeze.

Yard and Gardening Tools

The garage is ideal for tools and appliances you only use outdoors. Think shovels, hoses, outdoor extension cords, lawnmowers, gardening tools, flower pots, and more. Bags of potting soil, buckets of ice melt, and other outdoor supplies that come in bulky packaging are also good candidates for garage storage. Consider putting up a pegboard or a similar product to hang tools where you can easily see them and grab what you need.

Outdoor Toys

Any product made for outdoor entertainment can withstand the elements, so it’s usually OK to keep it in the garage when it’s not in use. This includes children’s toys, pool accessories, bicycles, and patio furniture. Consider hanging items like lawn chairs from hooks on the wall to get them out of the way. And you can keep toys in wire or clear plastic storage bins, so you can easily see what’s inside.

Infrequently Used Items

If you need to store any items you rarely use, the garage—like the basement or attic—is often a great place to hide them away. The garage also can be a good temporary storage spot for items you ultimately plan to get rid of, as well as items that just don’t have another home at the moment. Remember that sturdy, weatherproof objects will do better in the garage. More delicate items, such as documents and electronics, will hold up better in a basement or an attic.

Question 4

Can You Put the Fridge in the Garage?

Accepted Answer

Bring it Inside If Temperatures Get Extreme.

Because garages aren’t insulated, you should only store a refrigerator in one if you live in an area with moderate temperatures. Cold weather may cause your fridge not to work at all, meaning your freezer section can thaw out. If you’re experiencing a heatwave, it can cause your refrigerator to work extra hard to keep food cold. If temperatures in your area dip to freezing levels or soar to temperatures above 100 degrees Farenheight, you should move your refrigerator inside for the time being.

Newer Isn’t Always Better.

Newer refrigerators are designed to run as efficiently as possible, making them more susceptible to environmental changes. If you’re going to put a refrigerator in your garage, go with an older model and move the new one into your kitchen in its place.

Give it Room to Breathe.

Naturally, your garage is much dirtier than a kitchen. Over time, sawdust and other nameless debris can get stuck in a unit’s coils. Keep clean air flowing throughout your refrigerator by cleaning your garage first and setting the fridge up in an area that’s free of bikes, tools, and sports equipment.

Store Extra Ice in the Freezer.

Not only is it good to keep extra ice around in case of an impromptu party, but having extra ice in your freezer will keep it from having to work so hard during the summer months.

Question 5

How Do You Maximise Storage in a Small Garage?

Accepted Answer

Build Garage Cabinets

If your garage still does not have any form of cabinetry and you’re storing items in boxes on the floor, then it’s high time you build garage cabinets. These are a must for every garage. Having a formal storage cabinet will help in keeping your garage organised.

Install Wall Organizers

Your walls are great for space-saving. Don’t just think cabinets; you can also hang items on your walls using hooks. This removes clutter on the floor while keeping everything visible.

Add Overhead or Ceiling Storage

When you no longer have wall space, use your ceiling. Use ceiling-mounted racks for additional overhead storage. This is the perfect way of storing seasonal items and keeping the eye-level areas in your garage clean and clutter-free. Just make sure that you’re using sturdy racks or have a safety net placed under in case you’re in an earthquake-prone area.

Create a Folding Workbench

If you or your family uses the garage for crafting or as a workshop, making a folding workbench can save space. Opt for those that are wall-mounted and can be folded after every use. It will look like you didn’t even use that after. This collapsible workstation is easy to build and install.

Get Magnetic Boards for the Small Parts

If you’re the type who frequently loses nuts and bolts, then a magnetic board will save you. Just have small steel and metal parts magnetise to the board, especially when working on something. You can also use this to keep little things organised and prevent them from getting lost in the garage.

Go Mobile With Work Areas

Another idea to save on space is building a work area with wheels. Just going mobile while working on your crafts or DIY projects will make things easier. You don’t have to be stuck in a corner. You can also double this mobile working table as storage for keeping your most-used tools.

Upgrade to Adjustable Shelving

If you have seasonal items in your garage, like decorations and clothes, then adjusting shelving lets you move around your storage boxes as needed. One idea is just to install open wall shelves with wooden strips. Then, you can place items inside large plastic containers to move around.

Install Pegboards and Hooks

Always use up your wall space to maximise space. Storage spaces that use up the floor will always make your garage feel full and messy. Keep rakes and other tools in place with a pegboard. You can go large depending on your needs.

Tie and Keep Wires in One Place

If you have a ton of wires lying around in your garage, this can add to a cluttered look in your garage. Tie your wires with zip ties or with a paper clip. Keep everything together in one drawer, so you only have to search for a specific wire at a certain place. If something falls behind a drawer, don’t stress. Check out this DIY 60-second fix video to see how easily you can remove the cabinet drawer.

Lock Down Power Tools

Power tools that are rarely used can be kept in your most inaccessible storage. Since these also tend to take the largest space in your garage, you can keep them hidden for long.

Don’t be afraid to be creative when thinking about your storage solutions and maximising your garage space. Use your creativity in keeping your garage organised and in maximising your space. Aside from following these tips above, think outside the box.

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