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For most of us, 'out of sight – out of mind' means we relegate all of our ‘stuff’ into the junk drawer of the house – the garage.
To help leverage your garage space, here are a few simple tips:
- Store everything in clear plastic containers. If you put your favorite pieces in safe, air-tight clear containers you’ll easily be able to take stock of what you have. In addition, hard plastic containers keep their shape and don’t get crushed like cardboard boxes, so those delicate figurines and heirlooms stay safe from year to year.
- Mark contents clearly on top and sides of each container. That way, if some of the boxes are piled on top of each other, you’ll still be able to read what’s inside of each.
- Store small fragile items wisely. It’s easy to just shove a bunch of stuff in boxes but if you take the time to separate the tinier keepsakes, you’ll be grateful when you need to find them. Try this trick: place as many plastic cups as you can fit upright in a shoe box. You can place shredded paper around the cups to anchor them. Then place your small fragile items separately in each cup. Voila! Your favorite pieces are safe and separated.
- Place audio/video cables, wires and extension cords in individual zip-lock bags. This keeps them from getting tangled together. Another trick is to wrap cords around a flattened shirt box or piece of cardboard. This keeps the strands separated and makes it a snap to unwrap and use when needed. Once you've put all the cables and wires in a box, put the extension cords you use on top.
- Use overhead storage to free up space for cars, on floors and walls, and for other immediate needs. Consider a steel frame and wire decking system that bolts to the rafters of your garage ceiling - available in a variety of sizes and dimensions - to safely store large, bulky items out of the way. Available from several manufacturers, some units hold up to several hundred pounds and can be easily installed with just a few tools.
Basic Housekeeping - Garage Storage Tips: Created on January 3rd, 2009. Last Modified on January 21st, 2014
