How to Organize The Garage:
Car Supplies

When deciding how to organize the garage, I have found that it's MUCH easier to tackle the garage in bite-sized chunks. Here, we'll be working on organizing car supplies and car care items.

It's amazing how many items you can have on hand to take car of the routine (and not-so-routine) maintenance required to care for your car. And some of those supplies can be hazardous to your health (and your pets' health), so it's definitely worth it to pay attention to how and where you store them.

Here are some of the most common car care items:

• oil 
• gas cans
• window washer fluid
• antifreeze
• car washing and waxing supplies
• cleaning rags
• buckets
• spare parts

Safely Store Hazardous Materials

Store hazardous liquids high on shelves or in locket cabinets if children or pets have access to your garage. In addition, keep these liquids away from direct sunlight and other sources of heat, such as a furnace or hot water heater.

Use Containers to Hold Smaller Items

When deciding how to organize the garage, it helps to store loose, smaller items, such as cleaning rags, chamois cloths, brushes and other car care supplies together in plastic tubs or bins with lids, either clear plastic so you can easily see what's in them, or clearly label them with waterproof marker. 

Organize by Categories

One of the keys in how to organize the garage is to store things in categories.

Store car care supplies together, if possible, so you always know exactly where they are when you need them. You'll also easily be able to tell when you are close to running out of something when you can see your entire collection in one place.

If you find that you have extra room in your tub or bin, even while it may be tempting to add other unrelated items to the bin (because there's room, right?), stick to one category per storage area. In other words, if you bin contains car care items, limit that bin to car care items (don't add gardening tools to it, too!)


And when you're ready, move on to Organizing Your Garage: Gardening Supplies.

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