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rid of things you have not used in the past three years. During this
process DO NOT GET SENTIMENTAL. Give what you can to charity and
toss the rest.
Store as much as possible OFF the floor
using shelf space and pegboard for hanging items. The floor space is
then available for bulky items and leaves sufficient room to safely
maneuver and park your vehicles.
Bicycles take up a disproportionate amount
of floor space and often restrict your ability to freely open car doors.
With proper planning, including consideration for the best route in and
out, bike racks are your most practical storage alternative. In
fact, depending upon available wall space, you can store four bikes using
the floor space of only one.
Garage analysis shows that the left wall is
usually the worst location for shelving or bike storage ... that space is
needed by the driver parking on the left side. The back and right
walls tend to be better suited for storage.
The garage is a great place to store
children's toys. Since shelving can be floor-based or suspended
above the floor, be sure to have sufficient floor-based shelving if you
want your children to have access to their toys. Plastic or wire
baskets make it easy for kids to have access to their things.
Shelving can be deep or shallow depending
upon the size of stored items and the depth and width of the garage.
Shallow shelving has the advantage of direct access. Deep shelving
permits more storage space and sliding accessories make deep shelving more
practical.
Pegboard is an effective, non-intrusive
storage material for yard tools. Most important, it allows storage
on almost any wall. Don't skimp on the hooks, however ... the cheap
ones tend to shake loose from the holes.
Should you be using two recycling bins, use
half the floor space by placing one over the other on a shelf about 24
inches above the ground. (Find a space as close as possible to the
door from the house to the garage.)
Avoid dreaded nicks and dents ... and bumps
and bruises. Be sure that anything protruding from the garage walls
does not prevent opening car doors or impede daily foot traffic.
Respect your garage as you would popular
rooms in your home. Proper care will add benefits you never dreamed
of!
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