5 Tips to Organize Your Garage Fast!

5 Tips to Organize Your Garage Fast!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Rubbermaid®. The opinions and text are all mine

We recently moved into a new home with a 2 car garage located in the country. Our last house was in the city and didn’t have a garage, so I’m really excited to FINALLY have a garage! I spent way too many cold winters outside in my old driveway working on the cars. It’s going to be great working on them indoors for a change!

Unfortunately, the aftermath of moving left my garage full of stuff – inhabitable for our car(s)! I needed to organize my garage so I could fit the cars in it again, and I needed to do it fast!

The leaves are already changing colors here in Southeastern, MA so time is ticking!

The good news is, without having enough time to build shelving or overhead storage, I was able to organize my garage enough to fit both cars inside within only a few hours.

Here are 5 tips to organize your garage fast!

 

Install a rail storage system like the Rubbermaid® FastTrack® Rail™  (available at Lowe’s in the garage organization aisle).

With just one 12-piece Rubbermaid FastTrack Rail Garage Storage System, I was able to neatly store almost one full wall of stuff! The 12-Piece system came with 3 48″ rails, 2 ladder hooks, 2 multi-purpose hooks, 2 utility hooks, and 3 cooler hooks. The rails are mounted to the garage wall into the studs, and the hooks are clipped onto the rails. This setup gives an unlimited amount of different combinations to fit your individual needs.

Our garage before the organization.

This is the fastest way to organize your garage space. The adjustable and portable system installs quickly and the hooks lock onto the rail easily.

Personally, I love the unlimited adjustability and the locking grippers on accessory hooks, which provide reinforced security when attaching hooks to the rail.

Each hook holds up to 50 lbs. and, each rail is made with steel and holds 1750 pounds.

Hang bikes from the ceiling.

Hang bikes from the ceiling using hooks or a pulley system. Bikes are fairly lightweight, so they are easy to pick up overhead to catch a hook. A pulley system like the one pictured saves you from doing any lifting. Just attach the hooks to the handlebars and the seat, and pull  down on the rope to lift the bike up and out of the way. Just make sure you catch a stud when mounting your hook or pulley system.

Utilize garage building features like ledges.

Many garages have features that you can take advantage of for storing items. My garage has a concrete ledge that the walls sit on that gives me about 3 inches of “shelf” space for things like bottles and cans. You might have something similar, maybe even exposed studs or ceiling joists. You can hang things from ceiling joists like outdoor chairs or strollers. Exposed studs make great built-in shelves. Just cut some 1×4 stock to length, and mount them between the studs for some great built-in shelves.

Organize by tool/equipment purpose.

Effective organization will help to find things easily in the future. Store items according to categories. Garden tools, mechanic tools, outdoor furniture, toys, etc. should all be kept together. In the future when you need your garden rake, you’ll know exactly where to go to find it.

Store up…

Keep as much stuff off the floor as possible. Shelving is an obvious solution. However, there are many other solutions to achieve a clutter free floor. My favorite solution so far has been the Rubbermaid FastTrack Rail Garage Storage System. It’s way easier and faster to install than shelving, and it’s way more customizable. You can even purchase shelf brackets and a wire shelf for the Rubbermaid FastTrack Rail Garage Storage System!

My garage is now clear enough for me to fit both cars inside. I still have a few more things to store up and off the floor. I guess I’ll need to purchase more Rubbermaid FastTrack Rails from Lowe’s to get it done!

Do you need a better garage storage system solution?