Rainy Day Organizing
The Garage

I always wonder why people want to save their garage organizing for sunny days.  What is it about sun that makes you want to open your garage door and start hauling out things that don't belong?  It seems like a great idea to start with; a Saturday afternoon, the sun shining, and the ability to spread items out in the driveway so as to have more room to work around.  But if the sun was shining (especially for the first time after our wet winters) I think you would be more inclined to go play golf, hang out with the family, take a bike ride, or do anything outdoors that doesn't involve "work".  I have to be realistic, that if you are not an organizer, then really organizing is considered work, not a fun way to spend the day.  


How can you do this when you... Don't have the room to move around, might get wet, can't open the garage door, it is too cold, etc.  

How to Start Organizing:
First: NO more excuses!  When I first moved to Oregon, I couldn't believe how much stuff people do here in the rain.  The east coast, where I am from, just calls off the sports game, or the picnic.  Oregonians bring umbrellas, or move the picnic under an overhang.  So treat organizing your garage the same way!  

Second: Divide your garage into sections.  You don't have to get it all done in one day!  Start with the section closest to the door, so when you start having items that can be tossed or donated they are the closest to the car/truck.  

Third: Grab some empty and sturdy boxes to divide up the items in.  Do not believe the labels already on the boxes, and do not be afraid to open a box if you already know whats in it.  

Tips to Organize by:
First: We all have boxes of memorabilia sitting in wait for us to do something with.  But maybe the box of memorabilia from when you were 30 does not hold as much meaning now as it did then.  Go through the box, and truly ask yourself what is worth keeping in your space.  Is it broken and you have been meaning to fix it?  Does fixing it rate high on your priority list?  If not, then is the item as meaningful as you originally gave it credit?

Second: Divide by type of item.  This means tools with tools, photos with photos, kids old toys with kids old toys, books with books, etc.  This will help you to truly see what you have and where you can cut back.    Do you have six boxes of old kid toys?  Are they for memories or for use later with the grandkids?  If they are for the grandkids, decided what is truly worth keeping - Use how many grandkids you might have, the possibility of them wanting that exact toy, based on sex, age, and what else will have come out in the market by then.  Maybe the legos are not worth keeping for the next 12 years as a "just in case".  If they toys are for memories, they are not doing any good in a box.  Find a way to display the favorites, give your kids their favorite toys back, or donate them to a shelter.  The kids there will gain so much joy from this simple gesture, and your garage with have more space for you to enjoy.

Third:  Everything you do store needs to be stored in the right bins.  Make sure that what will be ruined by more extreme temperatures, is not being stored in the garage.  Make sure that when stacking boxes, that the breakables are not on the bottom!  Spend the extra money to truly preserve what is worth keeping.

Organizing Key to Remember:
Set a goal before you start organizing and write it somewhere where you can see it.  Examples:  I want to park my car in the garage or I want to have a place to use my tools.  While organizing, remember your ultimate goal!  This will help you be stern with yourself while you go through your items.  Remember if you are doing this with a loved one, that your goals need to match so you are on the same level to begin with.  Professional Organizers, such as myself, are always here if you get stuck, need a hand, or need an outside perspective!