Organizing the garage. Just considering this chore may send you straight back into the house, but it’s something you can’t ignore forever. And what better time to tackle this chore than when spring is in the air as is spring cleaning? These curated ideas will assist you in making the process orderly and not too overwhelming.

Make a strategy. Look around and try to approximate what you’re going to need immediately. Do you need paint? Cleaning supplies? Do you need new storage totes? Extra hooks? If so, how many? Do you need extra garbage bins to throw things away? Do you need to rent a dumpster? Do you need an appointment made for a donation pickup? Do as much of this in advance so when the big clean-out day arrives, you’re ready to hit the ground running.

Start with a blank canvas. Park your cars in the street, remove everything from the garage and get busy loading up the driveway. If you organize as you go – stack like items together, like sports equipment, toys, tools, paint, etc. – it will not only help you move it back with some order but also will give you a top view of everything you have.

Clean and paint. Once the space is completely cleaned out, roll the walls with a quick one-coat of paint to whiten them up and remove scuffs. Mop the floors (you can even use a hose!) and clean and blow all the cobwebs out of the ceilings and corners. If your garage door has windows, give them a wash so they sparkle. Spray the winter dust off the front of the roll-up door for a clean fresh look and added curb appeal.

Do an inventory. Now that you’re ready to put everything back, take a hard look and decide what really gets to go home and what needs to be let go. Old paint, dead batteries, broken toys, and items that can’t be repaired should be thrown away appropriately. Schedule a day to take them to your local waste management facility – the sooner the better, so they don’t start to pile up again in the garage.

Box and label. Using stackable boxes and labels, place items into bins and label what’s inside. Stack them neatly and try to keep as much off the floor as possible. Install new hooks for hanging and shelving and racks if necessary. To up your organizing game, there are apps you can use to assign a QR code to each box and inventory its contents. This is especially helpful if you’re using boxes that aren’t clear.

If you are searching for a new home, San Joaquin Valley Homes is still busy building homes throughout the Central Valley. Our model homes are open daily and virtual tours are available on our website for your convenience. Our models are open Thursday through Tuesday. Visit www.sjvhomes.com for more information.