When was the last time you were able to park your car in the garage?  For many the garage becomes a storage catch-all area with no organization.  You can’t park your car in it because it is a jumble of tools, yard equipment and outgrown toys.  Making effective use of your garage can give you a lot of additional storage space plus the ability to park a car in it.  While most people consider cleaning the garage the “man’s” job, sometimes it is up to us women to take charge and whip it into shape.  Get your husband and children to help you in this task.  Here are some things you can do to get your garage organized this weekend.

• Go to your local home improvement store and buy some large boxes, duct tape, heavy duty garbage bags, and hooks.  (If you can afford it and have the space, maybe buy some new shelving units.)  Take everything (yes, everything) out of the garage.  Try to sort the items by type as you take them out so it will be easier to organize them later.
• Once the garage is empty, sweep it out the best you can.
• Put the things you are throwing away into garbage bags right away.  Don’t even bring them back into your garage – leave them at the curb or on the side of the garage.
• If you have some items that are in good shape, how about a garage sale?  Put these items in boxes and mark them appropriately.
• Perhaps there’s a better place to put the shelving units and new hooks?  Get everything all organized inside the garage before returning the “stuff”.
• Find appropriate places for everything you are keeping and put it away.

Finally, just finally, you might be able to use your garage again for parking your car.

No matter what, take the time to keep your garage in its new clean and organized state.  Hopefully you won’t need these cleaning and organization tips again!