Garage organization tips for your home.

Here are some tips on organizing the garage at your home.

No pack-rats allowed.
Throw away anything that's broken, has missing pieces or isn't used anymore. The rusty 10-speed bike and old push broom with worn out bristles don't do you any good by rotting in your garage and taking up valuable space. Get rid of them!

Categorize everything.
Once you have figured out what you don't want to keep, take an inventory all items you would like to store in your garage and put them into categories. A list could include pool toys, lawn and garden equipment, sporting equipment, chemicals/cleaning supplies and home-repair tools. Grouping items together will make it easier to find them when needed.

Stay practical.
Some people get so caught up in creating more space that they bury commonly used tools or equipment in a hard-to-reach corner of their garage. Save yourself the headache of digging up that extension cord or your child's bike. Make sure any regularly-used equipment is accessible.

Go higher.
The key to clearing space in your garage, like any area in your home, is to pack vertically. Hooks allow you to take unwieldy equipment, such as garden hoses, rakes, shovels and hoes off the ground and hang them on walls out of your way. Shelves, cabinets and drawers will also allow you to get smaller equipment and supplies off the floor and place them in an organized place for easy access.

With a little time and organization, you can turn your messy storage space back into the spacious, functional two-car garage you envisioned when you first moved in.

Questions or comments write or email: eugene.dougherty@realliving.com