Hello, Friends!

The middle of Summer is the perfect time to take back ownership of your cluttered garage!
Since this is a large project, you should check the weather and ask family members (or really good
friends) for help.
Since organizing your garage can take a whole weekend, plan to start early! It’s helpful to have plenty of
snacks, drinks and quick things to grab for lunch or as an energy (and courage) booster.
Organizing your garage doesn’t need to be boring. Play your favorite music! Wear comfortable clothes
and plan to stay until you achieve victory!
HERE ARE A FEW of the things you'll need to help you succeed:
Ask yourself, “How do I want to use the garage?” Some important possibilities are
Storage
Parking – vehicle, lawn tractor, bikes
Work Space
Hobby Center
Man’s Cave
How can you create your plan?
Measure and look at the vertical space.
Do I need shelving and where can I place it?
What items do I need closer to the door of the home? Where do I put that chest freezer/ fridge?
What items do I use seldom / seasonally?
Who uses the garage and do I want to create a station for each person?
What kinds of items/categories will I find?
Do I need to hire a handyman to handle installing garage storage cabinets, workbenches, garage shelves,
hooks, baskets and more?
Are there items to sell or donate?
Do lawn or backyard chemicals need to be locked up?
NOW, TAKE EVERYTHING out of your garage and place it all into categories on your driveway. Here are a
few examples of categories to use:
Landscape
Toys
Tools
Car
Camping equipment
Seasonal decorations
Garbage / Recycling / Returnables

NEXT, BE BRAVE — start with things you definitely want back in the garage and items that tend to be
larger in size.
Next, you can bring in one category at a time and pace yourself. Set a timer and keep in mind how much
daylight you have of the remainder of the day.
A few more tips are:

• Know the distance between shelves and maximize your containers.
• Buy clear containers – easy to see and can re-use for any future projects.
• Label your containers, boxes, and zipper plastic bags with a felt marker.
  Wear your grubbier clothes and comfortable shoes, such as running shoes. Don't wear open toe
  shoes or flip flops. You don’t want any tripping hazards.
  GOOD LUCK! Taking on a task like this may be daunting, but just think of how much peace of mind it will
  bring each time you enter your spruced-up garage!

IF YOU HAVE items for hazardous waste days, put them aside and keep your eye out for any postings
come early fall.
AND, A REMINDER: many cities have Hazardous Waste Day in October, and that's right around the
corner. In Livingston County, it is scheduled for certain days. You should call for details and an
appointment at 517- 545-9609. Similar schedules are used in Genesee County and Washtenaw County.

Upcoming Dates for Hazardous Waste for Fall 2023

Ingham County-
https://hd.ingham.org/forparents/healthyhomes/hazardoushouseholdwaste.aspx
Livingston County https://www.livgov.com/dpw
Genesee County - Keep Genesee County Beautiful - http:// http://gcmpc.org/recycle-day/
Washtenaw County - www.washtenaw.org/287/Home-Toxics-Paint-Oil-Pesticides-More

Happy Organizing! Follow me on Instagram Logical_Placement or
Facebook, for weekly organizing tips and tricks!
Your local professional organizer,
Betty Huotari