How to Organize your Garage with these Top Quality Storage Systems

Does your garage look like a war zone? You’re not alone. Many of us are just plain lazy when it comes to keeping our garage organized. ‘Out of sight, out of mind’ is a phrase that readily comes to mind. However, even though organizing your garage seems like an impossible task, it can be made much easier, if you start with a plan, and a realistic amount of time set aside to complete the task.

So...how to organize your garage...hmmm.  Well, the first thing to do is pull everything out and sort it into logical piles. Set aside anything you will never use again, and either toss it out, have a garage sale, or donate any still-usable items to charity.

Ok...now that you know what you've got to work with, lets find some good solutions.

There is a lot of unused space in your garage, just waiting to be put to good use. These hanging shelves are an ideal solution for items like Christmas decorations, and other items you don’t need regularly. Many of these overhead shelving units will fit above the garage door, and still leave room to open and close the door.

HyLoft 540 Overhead Storage System

Here’s a great solution to getting things up off the garage floor. The sturdy wire shelf measures 45” by 45”. The height is adjustable from 16” to 34” via 4 strong suspension arms, which attach to the support bars, and they support the shelf wherever you need, so you’re bound to find a good spot where you can attach the arms to your ceiling joists..even if the ceiling slopes, and still keep the shelf level. Each unit will hold up to 250 pounds. They can also be grouped together in various arrangements to suit the space available.

Racor PHL-1R Pro HeavyLift 4-by-4-Foot Cable-Lifted Storage Rack

If you need the ability to access the items on the overhead shelves regularly, here’s a solution that doesn’t require a ladder. It uses a cable hoist to raise and lower the shelf. It will also hold up to 250 pounds. The advantage here is being able to put one (or several) very heavy items on the shelf, rather than the danger of two people on ladders lifting it up to the overhead shelf.

Despite the weight being lifted, it’s quite easy to raise using the long, supplied crank and your electric drill. It also has a safety lock to ensure your shelf stays put.

If you have a lot of tools or medium-sized items, like paints and cleaning chemicals, you need a few cabinets for such things.  Having a lockable cabinet is good for keeping dangerous chemicals and tools out of children’s reach.

Rubbermaid 7083 72-Inch Four-Shelf Double-Door Resin Storage Cabinet

Made of high-density polyethylene, this 6 foot high cabinet is quite sturdy. It has 4 sturdy shelves and 2 pairs of lockable doors, plus a capacity of 21 cubic feet. It is easily assembled without tools.

Sterilite 01428501 4-Shelf Utility Cabinet

Here’s a medium-duty, but sturdy plastic storage cabinet that doesn’t take up too much space, but still holds plenty of small-medium sized items. Easy to assemble without tools.

Instead of having odd and ends leaning up against a wall or randomly tossed any old place, there’s a whole myriad of wall hanging bars, panels and hooks available to free up valuable floor space.

Gladiator GarageWorks GearWall panels

The Gladiator GearWall system uses 1 ft. by 8 ft. panels that can be easily attached to any wall. Once installed, the double-channel arrangement enables the use of any of the other Gladiator hanger accessories (see below), to store even fairly heavy items on the wall. Capacity: up to 50 lbs. per lineal foot.

Sterilite Ultra Latch Boxes

Nothing beats these heavy-duty plastic storage boxes to keep small things organized. This series of Sterilite storage boxes have secure titanium latches, which are easy enough to flip open. The boxes are clear too, so you can see what’s in each one. The other advantage of course, is that it keeps your stuff dry, unlike cardboard boxes. This is especially worthwhile if your garage is unheated, or prone to dampness, or visited by rats or mice.

If you move frequently…dread the thought…a bunch of these plastic boxes can be used instead of cardboard boxes, and will last many times longer. They’re a great investment. You’ll be glad you did, and so will the movers.

In case you don’t have a garden shed, and even if you do, here’s a really handy garden tool rack to hold most of the rakes, shovels and other tools (up to 36) in one handy location.  It also has casters, so you don’t have to come back to the garage or shed to get that one tool you really needed.  You can easily roll the whole thing out to the garden where you need it.

Go ahead...get that garage organized...

Who knows…you might even be able to fit your car in the garage…a whole new concept!

This article ©2011 by +timorous