Category: Garage

For our next project, Michael chose an outdoor storage space next to the house front door. It’s like a mini garage, though without a door. It held bikes, summer sports equipment, his daughter’s stilts, a folding chair, and more. Up top – an extension cord, car rack parts, a screen.

Using my professional organizer’s method of working top-to-bottom, we started up top. I suggested hanging the extension cord. We placed the rack parts below. We stored the screen vertically. (It’s used for garlic!)

Below, we used the rack for the two adult-sized bikes. I recommended hanging them, to save space. We hung bike helmets on hooks already there – yay!

We put summer toys into the bin already there, including badminton rackets and a plastic bat. When the summer season ends soon, it will be easy to put the bin in the basement, then bring it back up for next summer.

As we worked, Michael asked me to name the space. The first name that popped into my mind was Alphonse, for no reason at all. Not a good choice. Now, I think Minnie is a better name, for the mini garage! I hope he laughs at the suggestion, then agrees.

About De-clutter Me!
De-clutter Me! offers non-judgmental, competitively-priced, and confidential assistance to help clear clutter in your home and/or business. We’ve been changing chaos to calm since 2013.

Over two sessions, Judy and I focused on two parts of the garage. The first was a set of shelves but, to move around, first we had to clear in front of a parked car. We separated some pieces of wood to be cut for kindling. We decided to devote the shelves to gardening and lawn supplies. We used my professional organizer’s method of working top-to-bottom. On top – a sprinkler, a big watering can, plant food. Below it, we placed tools, sprays, grass seed and fertilizers. We put old “stuff” in her car, for a trip to the dump. Everything remaining was visible and easy to reach, ready for next gardening season.

Next, we organized part of the garage’s opposite wall. My first action – to sweep the floor, so we wouldn’t push dirt and leaves around. One goal – to clear the canoe as much as possible. At some mental level (for me, anyway), it felt disrespectful to use it as a storage space.

I brought inside and tucked into the corner a 12-foot ladder, which had been outside. In front of it – a shorter ladder and podium, which Judy found. It was useful as a new church was founded several years ago. We brought tires out, which were for Judy’s car. We pulled other old or obsolete items, some of which were destined for the dump, placing them in her car. We tucked small items on the “crossbars” of the saw horses under the canoe. On top – just a few things, including a paddle.

Could Judy have smiled any brighter? That’s unsure. With the changing seasons and increasing cold, we may have to wait until spring to continue our work around the garage.

About De-clutter Me!
De-clutter Me! offers non-judgmental, competitively-priced and confidential assistance to help clear clutter in your home and/or business. We’ve been changing chaos to calm since 2013.

In our next session, Mike and I organized one side of the family’s garage. In its cupboards and on shelves – the typical gardening and car stuff. Beyond that, though, Mike used to own a construction company, so there were its tools and other related items to organize, too.

As ever, using my professional organizer’s tried-and-true method of working top-to-bottom, we started with the cupboard that mostly held gardening stuff. Mike wanted to devote the large cupboard next to it for gardening. We moved pots, bug repellents and some other items there. To the left, we placed paint and related supplies. Up top, we put car and truck windshield washer fluid, oil and other items that didn’t need protection from normal garage dust.

Next, we worked on two tall sets of shelves, organizing construction tools and related items. When they were done, there was an empty shelf! Hooray! That doesn’t often happen.

To the far right, there was a player piano which, clearly, had seen better days. Its story? Mike said they got it with the house. (That brought back a funny memory for me. When moving years ago, my family got a cat with the house, but that’s another story!) I offered to contact a piano tuner for possible advice about what to do with it.

In a stroke of absolute creative genius, after we rolled two tarps, Mike suggested placing them behind the bindings of the snowboard sitting atop the player piano. Brilliant!

Where would we work next? That was to be determined, but Mike was smiling. Success!

Part of the basement before we cleared its clutter!

Johannes wanted help in his garage. It holds tools, associated supplies, and other items for his carpentry business. He also would like to park one of the family cars in the garage, which isn’t possible – yet.

Johannes, his colleague Alex, and I started the process of organizing the garage. Using my professional organizer’s tried-and-true method, I suggested placing on the top shelf tools that they don’t often use, but want to have visible for when they are needed. The next two shelves (the “most valuable real estate”) might hold the tools they reach for most. On the bottom, the shop vacuum, a compressor and other big, heavy items.

We spoke about hanging some items from a pegboard they will buy and place in a center spot in the garage that’s practically calling out to also store brooms.

We placed in a bin paints and other liquids that will have to be stored inside during the winter to prevent them from freezing. ((Winter? No, not yet, please! It’s still August!)

Toward the end of our session together, Johannes turned upside down a bin full of stuff that was “bugging” him. We spent most of the remaining time on it, putting its contents in better places. He was relieved!

Now, they can find what they need faster, saving his company time and money. Success!

 

As we finished our time together, Johannes, Alex and I discussed how they might further organize the garage. They’ll be able to consolidate more and make room for the car.

One last thing – Johannes showed me his developing jewelry business. He makes rings and other items. I saw something and suggested that it could be turned into cuff links. He liked it!

About De-clutter Me!
De-clutter Me! offers non-judgmental, competitively-priced and confidential assistance to help clear clutter in your home and/or business. We’ve been changing chaos to calm since 2013.