School has started, the holidays are near and the seasons are changing, so this is a good time to re-think your garage organization! Your goal should be to gain space for things you really love and use and reduce time looking through the clutter.
In Southern California, particularly at this time of year, we have to remember that an emergency evacuation may be necessary. Be sure to have your most important items and your “emergency kits” ready to go at a moments notice (see September’s Magazine for details). After that, think about your upcoming sports, school and the holiday activities.
Start by defining your “prime real estate” area and thinking about grouping like items. Move items that you will be using less, such as your gardening tools: rakes, shovels, clippers, etc. out of the way. Gather all of your outdoor sports equipment together and sort by sport. Designate a corner of the garage for all fall/winter sports gear where it will be easy to grab. Take the summer sports equipment out of the main sports area, keeping it all together and easy to change out later in the spring. Be sure to toss any broken and/or non-functional items, don’t let them take up precious space!
Separate and place the holiday decorations in sequential order. Be sure as each holiday arrives to toss anything that is broken or you don’t really love and use. Don’t store things you never use.
The fun part of garage organizing is “lightening up.” Here are some no-brainer suggestions:
Toss out/donate anything that is broken, outdated, you no longer use and any duplicate items. Don’t keep things just because you “paid good money” for them. Or, Freecycle.com them to someone else.
Get rid of newspapers older than one week and magazines older than three months.
Toss the scrap pieces of wrapping paper, old greeting cards, vacation brochures, etc.
Finally, clean out areas where insects and rodents may want to “winter down”.
If you have items that you want to keep like really old tax records, school papers, extra furniture, keepsakes, consider putting them in off-site storage. If you don’t need any of these items in six months time, consider tossing or donating them.
Barbara Ricketts is a Certified Professional Organizer (CPO).
For more information, call 661-263-0124 or email MessDoctor@mac.com .