Tips for Tuesday – Fall Garage Organizing

During summers filled with outdoor activities and projects, much of what we store in the garage ends up on the lawn, deck or patio.  What gets brought back in is often tossed carelessly in an available corner or shoved on a random shelf.  As fall brings cooler weather and shorter days, we know the transition inside for the winter is coming.  October is a great month to prepare for this shift by getting the garage and outdoor spaces put back in order.  The tips below can help!

Finish up outside before you move things back in.  It allows you to enjoy a tidy yard and nicer garage over the winter, then jump right into the outdoor season next year! 

• Clean the patio furniture, grill, cars, lawnmower, bikes, trash and recycle containers 
•  Tend to the lawn and garden – seed, fertilize, mow, trim, rake and weed
• Sweep sidewalks, porches, patios, driveways and decks

  

Clean the entire garage.  This space is often neglected, when it should look like an extension of your indoor rooms.

•  Pick up trash
• Sweep the floor
• Clear the cobwebs
• Wipe down surfaces
• Clean off dirt, oil, and rust

 

Sort through and assess what is in the garage now.  Remember these guidelines:

• If it’s broken, worn out, rusted through or expired - repair or trash it
• If it’s been outgrown, superseded, is a duplicate or won’t be used again - donate it 
•  If it belongs somewhere else - move it
• If it’s dirty - clean it

Designate a place for everything you want to keep.  As with all organizing, the key is to know where an item ‘lives’ so it can be returned there after each use. 

• Store ‘like’ items together
• Put frequently used things in the most accessible places 
• Look for organizing and storage products to make the best use of your space (cabinets, shelving, tool holders, pegboard systems, bins, hanging racks)  
•  Utilize vertical and ceiling space to hang tools, bikes and other items

 

Now you are ready to bring outdoor items back inside, store them neatly, and prepare for your winter hibernation!

Successful Resolutions – Part I

Was ‘Getting Organized’ your New Year’s Resolution for 2012?  If so, I applaud you for wanting to get your home, office, or life in better order.  Being organized can bring you peace of mind, time to spend on something you enjoy, a feeling of lightness, and many other positive things that make it well worth the effort.  Being disorganized can be overwhelming, and the decision to ‘get organized’ can create additional anxiety if you don’t know where to start or what steps you intend to take.

You need to SIMPLIFY the process by breaking it into manageable pieces.  If your goal is to organize your whole house this year, divide that objective into smaller projects and assign a timeframe to each.  Work through one room or area at a time.  Perhaps you want to start by getting your kitchen in order.  Set a date range to accomplish this component of the larger project, such as the first two weeks in February.  Spread the work into multiple days over the assigned period of time, remembering that some tasks are more time intensive than others.

List a series of small steps you can take to organize the kitchen:  1) gather things I don’t use/need/like for donation 2) move rarely used items to less accessible storage  3) sort and organize pantry  4) clean out and organize ‘junk’ drawer  5) sort and organize storage containers and lids; purge ones that are worn, torn or missing lids  6) empty, clean and rearrange contents of refrigerator and freezer....etc.

Repeat this process for each area you plan to organize.  Feel good about the progress you are making each day and let it motivate you to continue on your quest.  Treat yourself to small rewards for work well done (purchase a great serving piece after you have finished the kitchen and dining areas, a beautiful storage basket when you complete the family room, etc.).  Invite someone over to share your accomplishments.  Getting organized is contagious.  The more you do, the more you WANT to do.  So enjoy the process!

What are YOUR resolutions for 2012?  For success, remember to SIMPLIFY them with small, defined steps!