Blog

Your garage is probably the biggest, most unorganized space in your home. Many people use their garage as a catchall room for things too big or too unpleasant to keep in the house. However, this is a perfect recipe to ensure there’s no room for cars. Having a functional, uncluttered garage in Colorado is necessary to escape the long winters and golf-ball-sized hail storms. 

Follow these five spring cleaning tips for your garage to create a space you can take pride in.

Make a Plan

Tackling a job this size requires a plan of action. First, decide what you want to use your garage for and what is needed. For example, do you need space for your car, a workstation, and organization? Decide upfront what is required to create the space you dream of. 

Next, create a list of your cleaning needs and schedule your preventative maintenance. At least once a year, you should be checking your garage door for wear and tear. This maintenance prevents premature aging of your equipment and reduces the likelihood of an accident. Spring is also a great time to schedule preventative maintenance for the rest of your home. 

Remember these items for your cleaning list:

• Gloves and safety gear if you’re using a cleaning solution
• Cleaning rags and a push broom for cement floors
• Trash bags
• Ladder and/or stepstool

Start With What’s Easiest

Many homeowners put off spring cleaning the garage simply because the job is overwhelming. There are empty boxes from Christmas, old broken bikes, random yard tools, etc. It’s hard to know where to start. 

That simply means you should start with the easiest part–decluttering. It’s surprising to see just how much space you really have when you get rid of trash and things you no longer need. It also makes maintaining your garage easier throughout the year. 

After removing the trash, organize your things by category:

• Donate
• Keep
• Recycle
• Throw away
• Sell

Check for Safety and Energy Efficiency

Continuing with your preventative maintenance, you should check to make sure your garage is safe from security threats as well as the elements. Your garage door is the most significant entry point into your home. Any damage or malfunction reduces your home’s security and lets out energy. 

During your routine check, you want to examine your garage’s weather stripping, garage door mechanisms, and the garage door itself. While garage doors last for 15-30 years, the mechanisms like the springs, motors, and rollers break down in half that time from the frequency of use. If your door has trouble opening or closing, you likely need a garage door spring replacement. 

Spring is also a time when everything becomes more beautiful. Your home should be no exception. A garage door panel replacement can improve your home’s curb appeal and ensure the proper function of the door. 

Give Everything a Home

Finally, it’s time to put everything in its place. Don’t be fooled by TV makeover shows; organizing is the hard part. You’ll need to decide what your storage needs are currently and what they might be in the foreseeable future. Also, consider what your budget is for shelving and organization units. 

An abundance of storage is usually the safest idea. Start by getting everything off the floor. You can accomplish this by mounting shelves and a pegboard with S hooks. Be careful that your shelves don’t interfere with the garage door function. 

Next, put loose miscellaneous items in bins and label as many things as you can. Labels will help children keep up the maintenance because their items have a clearly defined home.

With a good plan and a little elbow grease, you can make the garage of your dreams. At American Garage Door, we’ve been helping homeowners achieve stunning curb appeal for over 30 years. This spring, schedule your preventative maintenance service to ensure your garage door keeps ticking along for years to come.