Be wise and organize valuable garage space
Pioneer Press

Whether you dread or look forward to those first days of spring cleaning, it's a necessary chore which inevitably leads to a feeling of real accomplishment.

This year, in addition to going through those clogged closets and drawers, consider treating your garage to a thorough cleaning and utilization analysis. The benefits will be enormous.

"Most homeowners have no idea of the hidden value of a well designed and organized garage," said Richard Schulman, president of White Rabbit.

"The way to really become acquainted with your garage is to set aside time for a spring cleaning. After you have sorted through your garage-stored items, ask yourself if you are maximizing your use of space.

"I'll bet if people sit down and really give it some thought, they will determine that there is much to be gained by an organized garage," Schulman said.

"We have evidence that if you treat your garage with the same respect you give your bath room or kitchen, the return on your investment will be substantial." To add comfort and valuable space to your home, many of the items in those overstuffed closets and cabinets can be safely stored in your garage, he said. Free up space by transferring vacuum cleaners usually taking up room in a front hall closet to the appropriate garage storage. Also consider moving cleaning supplies, rags and bulk items such as pantry type items to the garage.

"Often the garage serves as the entryway into your home," said Schulman. "Moreover, because the garage door is sometimes left open, it is the one room in your home that all your neighbors can see. This means that it can create a first impression of you and your home.”

"By the same token, it can create a lasting impression," he added. "A realtor recently told us that after showing a potential home buyer a group of homes for sale, the client distinguished her favorite by saying she wanted to revisit 'the home with the beautiful garage.”"

White Rabbit Garage Organizers offers the following tips for creating a garage that serves as an integral part of your home.

• The first crucial step is to get rid of things you have not used in the past three years. During this process, try not to 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. That leaves the floor space available for bulky items as well as allowing sufficient room to safely maneuver and park your cars.
• Bicycles take up a disproportionate amount of floor space and often restrict the ability to freely open car doors. With proper planning, including consideration of the best route in and out, bike racks are most efficient. In fact, depending upon available wall space, you can store four bikes using only the floor space of one.
• Garage analysis shows that the left wall is usually the worst location for shelving or bike storage; the space is needed by the driver parking on the left side. The back and right walls tend to be better suited for storage.
• Since shelving can be floor-based or suspended above the floor, be sure to have sufficient floor-based shelving. If there is storage needed for children's recreational items, plastic or wire baskets are also an effective means of allowing kids easy access to their toys.
• 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 avoiding stacking and reaching to the back. Deep shelving permits more storage space.
• Pegboard is an effective, non-intrusive storage material for yard tools. Most important is that it can be stored on almost any wall. However, it pays to invest in the thicker, more stable pegboard hooks so they aren't constantly shaking loose out of the holes.
• Should you be using two recycle bins, consider placing one above the other on a shelf about 24 inches above the ground as close as possible to the door from the house to the garage. You are now taking up half the floor space you did before.
• Be sure that anything protruding from the garage walls does not impede daily traffic routes and the opening of car doors. The dreaded nicks and dents will be successfully avoided.
• Respect your garage as you would popular rooms in your home. Proper care will add benefits you never dreamed of. For more information, call White Rabbit at 847-272-7878. Or visit their Web site at www.whiterabbitinc.com.

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