8 Tips for an Organized Garage

Bucket It

Hanging buckets or paint cans make easy, inexpensive organizers. Use them to store all your car washing supplies together and tucked away. A hanging bucket also works well to hold a hose and sprinkler—wrap the hose around the outside and tuck the sprinkler inside.

Window of Opportunity

A plastic window-box planter is another great on-the-wall organizer. Try gathering your garden or auto tools inside to store and carry where you need them. The planters are also the perfect size to hold cans of spray paint.

Organization in the Bag

Make your neighbors think you’re a golfer! Look for a cheap golf bag at a yard sale. It’s perfect to stash in a garage corner as an organizer. Stuff long-handled tools like rakes and shovels in the main compartment. Pockets can house work gloves and smaller hand tools.

Repurpose an Old Filing Cabinet

Storing more files electronically these days? Move your old filing cabinet to the garage. Turned on its side with the drawers removed, it can hold anything with a long handle. Use the drawers to hang or stack in another place.

Hold More Than Concrete

Cardboard concrete-forming tubes are inexpensive buys from home improvement stores (under $10) that can store tools, sports equipment, and more. Secure each tube to a garage stud with a plumbing strap.

Simple Sorter

Don’t throw those old egg cartons away! Use them to sort small items like nails, screws, and nuts.

Have a Ton of Hardware?

Cut the tops off laundry detergent containers, and use them to organize your nails, screws, bolts, and other hardware. Label the handle side and stash them on a shelf, so it’s easy to grab what you need. Old jars secured to the underside of shelves by their lids can also contain all those little bits.

See also: 8 Clever Tips to Organize Your Entire Home in a Weekend.

Bungees for Balls

Shelving systems work great for garages. But what do you do when it comes to sports balls that want to roll to their escape? If totes or laundry baskets won’t fit, simply string a few bungee cords vertically across the open area, from the bottom shelf to the top shelf, to create a ball cage. No more rolling!

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