For many folks, the idea of cleaning a garage seems rather unnecessary. Other than making a quick sweep once in a while, there doesn’t seem to be any point in further efforts. While the occasional sweep is better than nothing, keeping a garage clean can benefit what is stored in the garage, including a car if one is parked there. Furthermore, if the garage is located adjacent to the home, keeping a garage clean can cut down on dirt tracked in as well as dust and pollen levels. And, believe it or not, a clean garage will bring a level of satisfaction just as a clean home does.

Where to begin when cleaning a garage is a question to consider. Assuming the garage has been organized as suggested in part one of this mini-series, the actual cleaning can begin with a good sweep, followed by washing the floor. Usually, garage floors are cement so a mild, soapy solution applied on a mop or sponge is good. Then rinse the floor and let it dry. Some people would ask why to start with the floor as in a home cleaning usually begins from the top and works down. A garage, however, has most of its dirt and dust on the floor and if left to the end of cleaning much of this will settle back on shelves and items stored.

Once the floor is clean and dried, the shelves and tops of storage containers can be wiped with a damp cloth. Depending on what is stored on the shelves will determine if items there need to be wiped down as well. Look for areas such as ridges along the garage door, around light switches, entrance doors, and open walls where dust and sometimes stains collect. Clean these areas using a cleaning solution. Cleaning solutions can be purchased or made at home. Mixing a little vinegar and lemon works well while using baking soda on areas that need a light abrasive.

To finish the job of cleaning your garage, use an air freshener with a scent you like. Depending on the size of your garage, you can hang one or two air freshener strips to keep the garage smelling fresh. Another good idea for keeping a garage as a good place to store items, especially if you live in an area where there is high humidity, is to use products that absorb moisture. Placing several containers of moisture-absorbing chemicals around the garage will help control humidity. Another tip to help keep humidity down, if you park your car in the garage, is to keep several old beach towels handy and do a quick wipe-down of your vehicle when it is covered with rain or snow.

As with other household tasks, you will find that once you organize and clean your garage, you can easily keep it that way by putting things where they belong as you use them, followed by the occasional cleaning. You should be pleasantly surprised how much you will enjoy using your garage and how well items stored in plastic totes will stay in good condition and be easy to find as the totes will be labeled.

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Cleaning a garage is usually not one of a person’s favorite tasks. Depending on how much a garage is used for storage, makes a difference in how difficult the task of cleaning a garage can be. Additionally, if the garage has been used as a Murphey’s closet, in other words, a place to randomly put anything you don’t have any other place to put it, then you not only need to clean the garage you need to organize as well. Sometimes you can clean as you organize which, in the end, will make the job go faster. Here are some tips to help you organize your garage:

• Start by taking a long look at what your garage contains. If there is a lot of miscellaneous items, try making a list of what you see. Making a list can help you think through what you need to keep and what you can give or throw away. A list will also help you categorize items to allow you some idea of the number of containers needed, as well as shelves, hanging hooks, and inexpensive, stackable drawers. When items are stored in labeled drawers and containers, it will be a lot easier to find things later and provide a place for like items to be placed as needed. Use masking tape and a permanent marker to label containers and drawers. This way if the contents change over time you can pull off the masking tape and easily apply a new label.
• Unless your garage already has shelves and hooks, figure how many you need and where is the best place to put them. You can also estimate the number and size of containers you will need. Many folks use cardboard boxes for storage. However, in the end, this can be a disaster in a garage where dampness will seep into a box and can ruin whatever is inside, including rusting tools. Destructive insects such as roaches, ants, and silverfish love cardboard boxes as well as many types of contents. Mice, too, enjoy cardboard boxes to make their nests in. Visit your local dollar store or large retail discount store and you will find plastic containers with lids, called totes, of a variety of sizes and at reasonable prices. These totes not only keep your items dry and pest free, but they are also easy to stack so you can store containers as high as you can reach.
• Depending on the number of items needing organizing, you can map out a plan to do a section of the garage at a time. If the weather is nice, you can place items on the driveway and begin to sort and organize, keep or get rid of. You will be pleasantly surprised how quickly you will find items of similar use, which can be put in a container and added to as you go through what is in your garage.
• Look around your garage to find the best way to arrange for the storage of items. In other words, where should the containers be stacked, the shelves and drawers placed, and the hooks hung. You want to have things like booms, mops, household tools, garden tools, extension cords, and cleaning supplies in an easy to get to the location. (This may not apply if your garage in unattached) It is also a good idea to have a waste container and a container for items you don’t have time at the moment to put away.

All of the above tips, if followed, will make your garage an efficient and safe place for storage of just about anything. And, should you decide to move, all you need do is box up items on shelves and hooks and place your containers and drawers right on the moving truck to be easily positioned in the garage at your new home.

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