CATHARTIC CLEANING: SORT OUT… YOUR GARAGE
Clear out the clutter and give your car a home with Peter Walsh’s tips
When it comes to the garage, some people think they have a two-car lock-up space attached to their house. They don’t. What they have is an enormous junk drawer with roller doors. Keep an eye out for open garage doors and you’ll see what I mean. If you used to park your car (or two) inside, then now is the time to clean up that space and return your car to its rightful home. Here’s why: your car is probably the most expensive item you purchase after your home. Why are you caring more for a broken coffffee maker than the automobile (that you’re still making payments on) outside in the elements?
1/ Phone a friend. This is one of those times that you should call for help. You’re going to need it. Sharing the load makes the process much more fun and the time go faster. I find the best way is to make a deal with them. Option one is to promise them an esky full of their favourite beverages and a pizza at the finish line. Option two (better in my eyes) is to promise that if they help you with your garage one weekend, you’ll help them with theirs the next. Send an email now to a mate and see if you can get this locked in. It’s a win-win!
2/ Plan for the aftermath. Keep in mind that you have heaps more stuff in that garage than you think. The solution: hire a skip. Trust me, not only will you need it, but it’ll give you that much more incentive to feed it, and that’s a good thing. Also, make a plan to have Vinnies or the Salvos come pick up the stuff that you want to donate. Give them a call and set a date for them to be at your place. There’s nothing like a deadline to get you moving.
3/ Sort it out. The first step is to pull each and every item out of the garage and place it into three piles: rubbish (for the skip), donate or give away/return to its owner, and the third pile is stuff you need to keep (notice I said ‘need’ and not ‘want’). Be brutal. The goal is to get those cars back inside, and that’s probably going to require a little gusto. Plus, for most of what you’ll be donating, you’re doing a wonderful thing by helping people who really are in need. Choose to concentrate not on what you’re giving up but on what you’re gaining. 4/ Create zones. Once you’ve whittled down the pile of stuff you need to keep to a reasonable amount, the next step is to sort like things together and decide where those things will live in the garage. To do that, you need to create clear zones for the storing of like things. Some typical zones you might need in your home include gardening, tools, sports, camping, Christmas decorations and car stuff, but yours may be different.
5/ Make a storage plan. Once you’ve identified those zones, make sure you have proper storage solutions. Good shelving options and a few air-tight clear plastic bins (just say no to vermin!) are key to helping you keep reasonable limits on stuff, clearly defining different zones. When thinking about storage, don’t forget to look up. Vertical storage (like pieces of chipboard between the ceiling joists) in the garage is great for seasonal items like Christmas decorations. Also, you want to make sure you keep chemicals and paints away from where kids or pets can easily get into them. Hang bikes on hooks from the ceiling – get creative!
6/ Cleaning up. Finally, give the room a good sweep and put everything neatly into its new spot. Then drive those cars inside! Finally, remember to thank yourself the next time a monsoonal storm comes through town and you’re able to step into your car dry.