Day 27 Of The Declutter Challenge
Garage or Shed (Day2)
I have split this into two days, because this is most likely the biggest job of them all, and in these strange times with the whole family at home, finding the time to do it all in one go is going to be a bit of a challenge.
Hopefully, the weather is still good where you are, as this is definitely a job for the non-rainy day!
Having an organised garage and garden shed is something that people across the UK aspire to but for many, the task seems too large to even begin and so often those spaces are left cluttered and in a mess.
The trick is to get into a good system so that the process becomes easy to maintain. If you do, in no time you’ll be able to give your car its home again and be able to walk into your garden shed without stumbling over a plethora of tools that are lying on the floor.
Here are six tips to help you declutter the garage and garden shed.
1. Start fresh
Split the area into two, this can just be a visual marker, or you could even use something such as string or rope to divide your space. It will feel slightly less like a gargantuan task. The other side will bed done tomorrow. So choose a side, and stick to it! You’ll need to begin by taking everything (where possible) out of the area so that you can work on the space as an empty room. Looking at the space like that will give you a better opportunity to visualise what goes where and what you really don’t need anymore. It will also give you an opportunity to sweep the space, which you probably haven’t done in a while!
2. Decide what stays and what goes
Okay, so you’ve given yourself a blank canvas to work with – what now? Take a look at all the items that you had stored in that space and put them into three piles - keeping, donating/recycling, and throwing away. Decide what you really need and what you really don’t. Remember that you can always use a self storage unit if you are undecided or if something just carries too much sentimental value, or if you are keeping that table because you want to have room for it in your new home.
3. Be clever with how you group items you are keeping
Group your items into categories so that you can store them effectively and so that they are easy to find when you need them. This could include sports equipment, camping gear, tools, games, and electronics, etc. Pack these items in clear plastic containers or strong boxes that can stack easily and don’t forget to label each side of the container/box.
4. Use the walls
Walls provide a great place to store your items, especially if you invest in open shelves (if the space is large enough). Most of the floor space is often taken up by either a vehicle in the garage or a lawnmower in the shed. Going vertical allows you room to move around, so limit using the floor as storage space where possible. Open shelves will allow you to stay organised and neatly store various accessories.
This unit comes in at £39.99 and is from Amazon
5. Are you storing your bicycle correctly?
Bicycles take up space and they are expensive, so look after them! Designate parking areas for each of your family’s bikes so everyone has a specific place to store theirs. The best way to store bikes in the garage or shed is to get them off the floor and make use of bike hooks or bike racks that are attached to the walls or hang from the roof.
This hook is just £12 (+£4 delivery) from Wish
6. Make use of self storage
As with decluttering that takes place in any area of the home, there will be items leftover that you don’t want in that space but that you just can’t throw away or donate because they hold too much sentimental value or you may need them in the near future. This is where self storage comes in. Placing them in a self storage unit means they will be safe and secure and conveniently accessible when you need them. There are many storage facilities around the UK – shop around for the best prices.
Tomorrow – repeat the process with the other half and BOOM! One VERY organised garage or shed!
And now the best bit – some VERY organised garage porn!!
