10 Proven Tips to Spring-Clean Your Custom Garage Like a Pro

As the weather finally starts warming up, now is the perfect time to get your custom garage in order after a long winter. I make a point of doing an annual deep clean and reorganization of my garage every spring, and I'm here to share my most proven tips and strategies so you can spring-clean yours like a pro.

1. Take inventory
2. Degrease and pressure wash
3. Start with a blank canvas
4. Designate zones
5. Install modular organizing systems
6. Emphasize vertical storage
7. Utilize multipurpose cabinets
8. Incorporate mobile storage
9. Optimize the garage walls
10. Maintain with good habits
    

1. Take Inventory

Start by completely clearing out the entire garage and taking stock of what you actually have in there. Sort everything into designated areas for keeping, donating/selling, and discarding. This not only allows you to objectively assess each item but also reveals just how much floor space you're working with. Don't hold onto anything you haven't used in over a year unless it has sentimental value.

2. Degrease and Pressure Wash

With everything removed, now's your opportunity to give the garage floor, walls, and any fixed cabinets or shelving a thorough cleaning. Degrease surfaces first using a concentrated degreasing solution, a stiff brush, and lots of elbow grease. Pay extra attention to any oil stains or built-up grime. Finish by pressure washing with a cleaner formulated for concrete. If your garage has stubborn oil stains, The Spruce recommends sprinkling them with kitty litter or sawdust and allowing it to sit for 24 to 48 hours before sweeping or vacuuming and scrubbing the stain with a degreaser. You can use a chlorine bleach and water solution to get rid of mold or mildew and an oxalic-based cleaner for rust stains. This crucial step creates a fresh, clean slate to work with.

3. Start With a Blank Canvas

Treat this spring-cleaning project the same as you would if designing your dream custom garage from scratch. Think about incorporating different zones and storage systems for everything you need to accommodate—from sporting equipment and outdoor tools to automotive supplies and recycling bins. Wipe the slate clean to maximize functionality.

4. Designate Zones

As you reintroduce items into the newly cleaned garage, physically map out dedicated zones for different categories—gardening, automotive, outdoor recreation, workshop area, etc. Assign large appliances and heavy machinery to separate areas as well. Use painted lines, textured epoxy, rubberized anti-fatigue mats, or even freestanding shelving units to define the different zones and keep things compartmentalized.

5. Install Modular Organizing Systems

Rather than trying to put together a patchwork garage storage solution, I highly recommend investing in a durable, versatile modular system. Think interlocking accessories like overhead racks, cabinets, drawers, bins, and wall panels that can be easily configured to your exact needs. This provides consistency and flexibility for handling any garage organizing challenge. Avoid jumbling mismatched plastic shelving together.

6. Emphasize Vertical Storage

One key to maximizing a custom garage is taking advantage of all the available vertical space. Install overhead racks and adjustable shelving units to get items up off the ground. Use slatwall panels to hang anything from rakes and ladders to sports equipment, hoses, and extension cords. The less you sit directly on the floor, the more open and organized everything will feel.

7. Utilize Multipurpose Cabinets

Sturdy garage cabinets do double duty: providing both storage space and an expansive countertop surface. I like to keep back-stock supplies and infrequently accessed tools behind closed cabinet doors while using the open shelving below the counter for easy visibility and grab-and-go access to everyday items. Butcher block counters are my personal favorite for their rugged yet upscale look that can also serve as a workbench surface.

8. Incorporate Mobile Storage

Another pro tip is to make your garage storage as mobile and flexible as possible. Mount some of your shelving units on lockable casters so you can easily slide them out of the way when working on larger projects or parking vehicles inside. Utilize heavy-duty rolling tool chests and sliding bins on drawer glides for quick access to frequently used items. Having storage that moves makes it easier to adapt the garage layout as needed.

9. Optimize the Garage Walls

Take maximum advantage of your garage's walls as well using slatwall channels or track systems to hang absolutely everything you can up off the floor. From ladders, bikes, and brooms to power tools and small engine equipment, the more you can get mounted on the walls the better! Leave space for a tool chest, a fold-down workbench, and any pegboard panels as well. Installing wall-mounted storage efficiently uses every inch of space.

10. Maintain With Good Habits

The final key to spring-cleaning your custom garage like a pro is forming good habits to maintain order moving forward. Make it a rule that anything taken out gets immediately returned to its proper place when you're done using it. Set calendar reminders to do a 15-minute tidy sweep of the garage once a week to prevent clutter from building up again. And commit to promptly rotating out any seasonal items to keep general clutter at bay.

Conclusion

Maintaining an organized garage has wonderful side benefits beyond just creating a tidy space. When you can easily locate the tools and supplies you need, it allows you to be more efficient while working on projects or repairing vehicles. You'll spend less time frantically searching and more time productively checking items off your to-do list. An organized system can extend the life of your possessions as well by protecting them from excessive dust, moisture, and clutter damage.

Perhaps most importantly, an organized garage simply makes the space more inviting to utilize. How many times have you avoided tackling a project because the garage was too much of a mess to even start? When it's organized and equipped with dedicated work surfaces, you'll have a clean staging area ready to go. This can inspire you to stay on top of repairs, tackle new hobbies, or simply make the most of recreational activities by easily accessing sports gear, coolers, and other supplies.

With these proven tips and strategies, your custom garage can make an incredible transformation from a forgettable dumping ground to a clean, organized, and highly functional space you'll be proud to show off and enjoy using all year round. Tackle your spring cleaning with gusto and thank yourself later for all the time and frustration you'll save!

Source

• https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-clean-garage-floor-7964262