11 Surprising Signs Your Garage Needs Purging

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With all the things stored in various areas of the garage (Affiliate Link), it's no wonder we have a heck of a time organizing this space. Instead of waiting until the garage (Affiliate Link) gets unruly, why not start organizing it when you see the signs? Below, I discuss eleven signs to help you realize you need to clear out and organize the garage (Affiliate Link).

Jump to:

Why organize and purge the garage?
How do I know if my garage needs purging?
11 Signs your Garage needs Purging
What should I use to make my space more organized?

Why organize and purge the garage?

Organizing your garage (Affiliate Link) has obvious and surprising benefits. Below are the pros of purging this space.

Make space for a car.

Yes, I know that is the ultimate goal. When it's raining, and you need to get out of the car to enter the house, you will be grateful you organized this space.

Protect your vehicle.

Piles of stuff in your garage (Affiliate Link) can fall on a vehicle and damage the paint. And, if you can't park your car in the garage (Affiliate Link), it will get weathered being outside over the years.

Able to access all your stuff quickly.

Having a place for everything and everything in its place will save you time looking for items.

It will save you money.

It will reduce the likelihood that you need to buy an item you already have.

Make additional room for kids play when the weather is not great outside.

I have found that attached garages in homes are wonderful places for kids to hang out. I once helped a client organize part of their garage (Affiliate Link) into a recreation room for her kids. As long as every dangerous item is hidden, it is a wonderful open space for the kiddos when the weather isn't great.

You will have more room to organize other stuff.

Yes, I know you don't need more stuff. But, if you purge the unused items, you can make room for stuff you will use in the future.

How do I know if my garage needs purging?

Making yourself aware of the clutter can be challenging after learning to ignore it. Visit my “How to awaken to clutter” three-post series to help you see the clutter again.

HOW TO AWAKEN TO THE CLUTTER IN YOUR HOME – PART 1

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Part 2: HOW TO AWAKEN TO THE CLUTTER IN YOUR HOME

and HOW TO AWAKEN TO THE CLUTTER IN YOUR HOME – PART 3

If you already see the clutter, but don’t know where to start, below are 11 signs your garage (Affiliate Link) needs purging right now. I also added some tips to get these signs back in order.

11 Signs your Garage needs Purging

1. The piles of bins have now reached five feet from the floor. Examine the bins at the bottom; are the lids compressing into themselves?

2. The car supplies have several unusable, open, and old oils. Consider bringing old items to a hazardous waste drop-off like on our Recycling Location and Shredder Events page.

3. Three or more half-full bags of fertilizer/seeds are sitting on the floor. Storing these items in a stackable plastic bin will keep them fresh.

4. The bicycles are laying on top of each other taking up way too much space on the floor. Vertical space on the wall is great for bicycles.

5. Winter supplies like salt are dwindling, and shovels/racks are leaning up against the wall and, at any moment, will tumble. Using wall-mounted tool handle holders will keep the items contained on the wall.

More Signs your Garage needs Decluttering

6. The available wall space is not used for hanging or mounting. Use vertical space to store items off the floor.

7. The dangerous toxic items are available to any child or pet who can easily access them. Keep hazardous items behind doors and in locked cabinets.

8. The gardening, home improvement, and car supplies are overflowing with duplicates and rust. Ask yourself how many gardening tools (Affiliate Link) you need.

9. There are cabinets but each shelf has mixed items in them making it difficult for you to find anything. Clearing out each cabinet then grouping them works best before returning the items in the cabinet.

10. The hoses and cords are tangled in intertwined and knotted piles. Getting cord reels and wrapping the cords and hoses around them keep the cords at bay.

11. Lastly, if your Garage (Affiliate Link) needs decluttering, look at your donation piles, which are taking up a corner of the garage (Affiliate Link) floor and hiding items you don’t want to donate. Move these items to your vehicle right away, and you will make instant room in your garage (Affiliate Link).

Join our Decluttering and Home Organizing Support Group

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Do any of these signs make you feel like you need to clear the clutter? If you answered yes, below I share some options to help your space get organized.

What should I use to make my space more organized?

After you purge the unwanted and unused items, it’s time to reassemble the space correctly. Below are items I love to use in clients' garages. I found these on Amazon, which offers various items to organize your garage (Affiliate Link). Note: If you click through and make a purchase on this site, I will receive a small referral commission at no cost.