- Take Everything Outside
While you may think moving items around during cleaning saves you time, you can clean a lot faster if no items are blocking your way. Put all garage items in your driveway if there is good weather outside. If you cannot take everything out because of bad weather, consider placing them in a different room that you can clean later. Clearing your garage first reduces the amount of time spent moving different items along the way so that you can easily clean the garage floor and other dirty surfaces.
- Get Rid of Items You Do Not Need
The next step is to separate your items into different categories such as what to keep, donate, sell, or dispose of. Items that you would like to keep can be organized in other separate categories such as tools, sports equipment, decorations, and winter stuff. Items that do not appeal to you but might be useful for someone else can be donated or sold. Junk or trash like broken electronics, random wires, old papers, and other garbage can be disposed of to create enough space for meaningful items in your garage.
- Clean the Walls
It is important to start by cleaning the walls and other top surfaces that are home to spider webs and dust. Use the bristle attachment of your vacuum cleaner to get rid of grime or spider webs lurking in the corners. With a bucket of warm water and mild detergent, grab a sponge and scrub the walls systematically with careful strokes starting from top to bottom. A step stool may come in handy when you want to clean hard-to-reach areas by the ceiling. Warm water helps to get rid of oily surfaces so it is important to keep it so by adding warm water every time it runs cold.
- Clean the Garage Floor
Garage floors are prone to oil stains and grease which can take a lot of time to clean. Some cat litter and basic cleaners can do the trick. Applying a layer of cat litter to the stain helps absorb the excess liquid. However, cornmeal or sawdust can be other better alternatives if you do not have a kitty litter. Afterward, sweep or vacuum the floor then work on the stain with a detergent or cleaning agent. A mild detergent can help you get rid of light stains but if you are looking for something heavy-duty, consider muriatic acid as it works on both oil stains and rust stains.
Rinse it off with clean warm water after soaking on the stain for about 10 to 15 minutes. If your garage floor has cracks, consider filling them with epoxy paste before sanding the area to level the surface. You can also use a sealant as it helps protect and maintain your garage floor.
- Organize Your Garage
Now that you have a clean garage, you need to keep everything organized and tidy. You can do this by installing wall hooks and shelves, and having label boxes and clear bins to distinguish different items. Create a floor plan for your garage so that you can have a section that is purposely meant for tools or grouping similar items. Seasonal items can be placed in those hard-to-reach areas and the bulkiest gear in the corner out of your car’s way. With a clean and organized garage, it is easier to pack your car or use the center of the room for other activities.
You are likely to have a lot of junk to throw away, donate, or recycle after a garage cleanout. It is important to rent a dumpster or hire junk removal and hauling services as they have a better solution for your unwanted items. It is also essential to schedule regular garage cleaning so that you do not pile up a lot of junk over time. Not only does this make your work easier, but also allows you to focus on other areas in your home.