Garage storage units are waterproof, sturdy containers that allow your items to be protected from the elements. Some are made of transparent, plastic, allowing you to see what you have at a glance. Others are designed to store a particular type of item, such as a bike storage unit. Some have shelving, making the most of a tight space. Selecting the right number and types of units you should purchase for your own garage storage needs, however, requires knowing not just what’s out there, but also awareness of your own habits of use and storage.
Organizing
List the items that you normally store in the garage. Sort them into categories of frequency of use. Holiday decorations would go into a different category than items used for lawn care or regular car maintenance. List any items that require special kinds of storage in a separate category, such as items that are fragile or need protection from excessive heat or cold. Note items that are used together.
Look at the potentially available space in your garage. This includes space currently occupied by things you are planning to put into a storage unit, but would not include space occupied by something that cannot be made more compact, such as your car. Check the walls of the garage to see if a pegboard or other wall storage unit might be secured, and check the ceiling of your garage to see if items can be stored in hanging baskets. If you have a tight space and many items to store, you will need to think beyond conventional storage solutions.
Shelving
For items that you use regularly, choose a storage unit with shelves or drawers. This will allow you to take advantage of vertical space while keeping items accessible. The Sterilite 4-Shelf Shelving Unit is sturdy, easy to assemble, and each shelf can hold up to 150 pounds. And should you decide to pare down the number of items you have stored in the garage, the design of the Sterilite Shelving Unit can fit easily into a pantry, laundry room, or home office.
Bins for Small Items
For small to medium sized items such as nails, screws, rolls of tape, small tools and other items, a storage unit using drawers or bins is a good choice. Drawers should have a clear plastic front, so that you can see the contents at a glance. Open bins are a good choice for items that don’t require protection from the elements like Gladiator garage storage units. The Gladiator GarageWorks GAWESB6PSM Small Item Bins unit is made of heavy duty plastic and includes labels for each bin. This can be crucial if storing items of a similar size in different bins, such as sorting drill bits by size. Each bin has a weight capacity of 5 pounds, so small items that are heavy for their size should be distributed among several bins. The looks of the Gladiator GarageWorks small item bins are perfect for a garage or workshop.
Tool Storage
For garden tools, snow shovels, and other items for the outside of your home, a rack is your best bet. A garage storage rack will keep those long handles steady and separate, so you can grab what you need, when you need it. Rake tines can be particularly delicate, so if you have a metal rake, a storage rack will keep the tines from being bent by heavier tools or even the weight of the handle. The Rubbermaid brand has been known for producing reliable, durable plastic goods for the house and garage, and this is especially true for Rubbermaid garage storage units. The Rubbermaid 5E28 Deluxe Tool Tower Rack with Casters can hold up to 40 tools and has casters for easy mobility. Two of the casters lock for when you need the rack to stay put.
Bicycle Storage
Storing all your transportation methods can be a challenge if that includes cars and bicycles. A poorly stored bicycle can cause damage to your bicycle, cars, or other items in the garage. Keep your bicycles safe with a rack that can store them compactly. Bicycle storage units can be wall-mounted or free-standing to make the best use of a limited space. Some can store two bikes, but many can store up to four bicycles at a time. The Racor Pro PLB-2R Two-Bike Gravity Freestanding Bike Stand can be wall-mounted or freestanding. The vinyl-coated cradles hold your bikes firmly without damaging the finish and the bike stand assembles quickly.
The Coleman brand offers a variety of garage storage products. From their Garage Utility Organization Kit to several garage cabinetry products, you can rely on Coleman to provide products that can meet all your garage storage needs. Their Bike Storage and Organization Kit screws into the garage wall for a secure fit, and their 18-Gauge Tool Drawer makes quick work of organizing most tools and supplies. Coleman has Storage and Organization Hook Accessory Kits in two sizes, which makes it possible for you to store many tools on the walls, right where you can see them. Coleman garage storage units come in several sizes and configurations, so if you need to store a little or a lot, Coleman has a product to serve your needs.
Once you have selected your storage units and filled them, the key to staying organized is to return each item to its proper place once you have finished using it. If you find that you keep leaving an item out, that may be a sign that it needs to be in a more accessible spot, as its frequency of use may demand that it be stored in a manner where it can be more easily retrieved, so getting it when you need it isn’t such a chore. Label all opaque drawers, so that items are not misplaced. While it takes a little longer than simply dumping the item where you can, it streamlines your tasks when things can be found easily.
Organizing your garage can take some time, however it is well-worth the effort when you see the finished product.