A Place for My Stuff

When did a three-car garage become such a desirable feature to new homebuyers? Perhaps when a growing pile of children's toys, storage boxes, seldom-used equipment, and out-of-date appliances slowly choked their formerly luxurious two-car garage.

Cleaning and organizing a garage is about as fun as a root canal, but there is hope when it comes to salvaging your present one. There's even an association of folks ready to help you see the light through clear garage windows. "Few people like to clean out and organize their garage," says Barry Izsak, president of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO), a nonprofit educational association whose members include organizing consultants, speakers, authors, organizing products manufacturers, and retailers. "People hate to throw things out, so instead of taking an item all the way to the curb or the dump, they leave it in the garage. They tell themselves that they'll make a decision and get rid of the item later, but in reality, they turn their garage into a purgatory for unused things."

Sound familiar? While you may suddenly be of the mind to make some changes, executing such a chore requires more than rolling up your sleeves and buying a new box of trash bags. "When people find that they can no longer fit either car in the garage, or use it for any of its intended purposes, they finally come to the conclusion that they have to do something about it. But they have no idea how to succeed in accomplishing the task," says Izsak, who has written a book on the subject titled Organize Your Garage in No Time. "There are some simple steps that can organize the worst garages." Those steps are as easy as purging, sorting, and storing.

Don't know where to start? Break the task into small, manageable tasks. And don't wait until Sunday afternoon to get started. Spreading the organization process over an entire weekend or several weekends will help you maintain your stamina and enthusiasm.

Purging is one of the most important steps and perhaps the toughest because it forces you to make decisions. Something — or more likely some things — must go. Ask yourself a few simple questions. (If you're worrying about lying to yourself, try it in front of a mirror.)

Ask yourself a few simple questions:

• Do I really need this? If you can't answer quickly, it's likely that all seven weed eaters are anything but essential.
• When was the last time I used this? If it's been more than two years, toss it. If you want to throw out your children's old toys but are afraid the kids will pitch a fit, pick a weekend when they'll be away. They'll likely cry if they see you throwing out a toy they never play with, but they probably won't even notice it's gone when they get back.
• Is it in good and safe working condition? If an item requires any amount of repair or reconditioning, you're looking at another opportunity to procrastinate.
• Is the item still relevant or useful? Do you really think your spouse is ever going to let you hang those old black-light posters?
• Do you have a logical place or space to store it? Maybe, but remember that the space where you hope to park your car is off-limits.

What's the worst thing that will happen if you get rid of it? Sure, your in-laws may ask about the unwanted lava lamp they gave you last Christmas, but they're getting more forgetful every year.

If these questions still find you riding the fence regarding any item that stands between you and a fully functioning garage, try repeating the following mantra: If in doubt, throw it out.

Once you've purged and sorted the surviving items into categories such as tools, lawn equipment, hardware, and storage, there are a number of organizing products that span a broad range of costs. Major brands such as Coleman, Garage Tech, Gladiator, and Rubbermaid offer storage containers and drawers as well as shelving and wall panel systems designed to simplify your storage and organization needs.

Remember, maintaining a clean garage is just like sticking to a diet. Your garage will only stay fully functional if you stop the insanity of dumping future items in the organized space you've created.

Tim Polzer's work has appeared in The New York Times and the Boston Globe.