Declutter the Garage: Garage Floor Edition

Even the most clean and stylish homeowners often view garages as storage spaces. Considering it is a part of the house most people visit every time they leave their home in their vehicle, it shouldn't be left as an eye sore. Even if you don't mind the clutter, a cluttered garage can result in a lot of time wasted sifting through everything to find a certain item.

If you really want to give your garage an effective makeover- the best way to go is from the bottom up. Most junk and clutter will be addressed when you start on the floor. If you are looking for a quick fix, this may may not be a great place to start. Without further ado here is how you can get started giving your garage a much needed face lift.

Paint the Garage Floor 

Oil spills, dirt, mouse droppings and lord knows what else, all cake on a garage floor over the years making the garage look like scenes from a horror movie rather than an integral part of your home. One way to really spruce up your garage, as well as ensure the long-term integrity of the garage floor, is to treat and paint the floor of your garage. Here is a website from DIY Network that takes you through the process of re-painting a garage floor.

To upgrade your floor even further when you do this, I recommend going for a more non-traditional color. We are all too familiar with the ugly grey of garages, and it has a negative connotation in our minds. Instead browse for colors like rose, sunset or any number of tan-hued garage floor paint colors to give your garage a more warm look. Here is one option for garage floor paint from Home Depot.

Clean the Garage Floor 

If re-painting the garage floor is just not in the household budget right now, considering using a pressure washer or hosing out your garage floor. This will get out oil, dust, nests and all the other gunk that accumulates on the garage floor. Even just a quick sweep will make all the difference in the appearance of your garage. You'll be surprised how much your garage will shine after preforming any of these relatively low budget steps.

Remove Junk off the Floor 

Like any room in a house, all items should have a place in your garage. Items that sit on the floor take up more space than they need to. It also makes things appear a lot more cluttered than they actually are in reality. Invest in shelves, organizers, hangers, bins, buckets or whatever else you need to get all the random items off of the floor. Make sure after you or a family member uses an item, that the item goes back where it belongs afterwards.

Avoid Using Cardboard Boxes as Storage in Garages 

Cardboard boxes are cheap, versatile and great for moving, but when it comes to permanent storage they are not ideal. Cardboard can absorb moisture, smells, dust and can attract mice, so it is best to avoid them as storage items in your home. Not to mention that ugly shade of brown reminds many of us of the horrible process of moving, so it makes look as if you are transit rather than trying to settle in your home.

Instead of cardboard boxes opt for plastic, metal or just about any other material, because these material will last longer than most cardboard boxes will in the elements. You can find great sales on storage shelves and plastic bins a couple weeks after holidays (mainly Christmas and Halloween) when stores are trying to sell off extra bins they have on stock. Also, IKEA often has bargains on these type of items, as well as plenty of attractive options.

Decluttering the Garage: Bike Rack for Garage Edition

The garage is frequently the most cluttered area in our homes. Besides storing our cars, the garage often becomes home to our tools, garbage cans, recycling bins and our recreational equipment. Fortunately, there are great ways to manage this clutter if you can find the time to do it. I have found taking one project at a time has helped me to slowly reclaim the space in my garage. The latest project to declutter the garage was quite rewarding for the amount of time spent.

A ceiling mounted bike lift is a recent addition to our home after realizing that a huge amount of my garage space was occupied by me and my husband's bicycles. The bicycles new home off the ground has given us a more convenient spot for a our recycling bins, and freed up some much needed storage space.

We hesitated on getting the bike hoist, because we were concerns that we would not use the bikes if they were placed inconveniently. The bike pulley system is quite easy to use though, and hasn't deterred us from riding our bikes yet. We only ride our bikes once or twice a week though. If you ride your bike on a daily basis I could see the ceiling bike lift becoming a bit of a pain. Before getting one, I would recommend considering how often you ride your bike.

The bike rack pulley system is very easy and fast to use. It takes about 5 minutes all together to take the two bikes down then place them back up after the ride is complete. Lifting them requires very little muscles, so do not worry if you do not have phenomenal upper body strength.

Not all Bike Hoists are Created  Equal: How to Choose a Bike Rack for Indoor Storage 

When I first began my search for a bike lift, I realized quickly I had no idea exactly what to look for. I had no idea what materials or brand would make the best system or even what the average garage bike lift should consist of.

The bike hoist is usually made of a pair of hooks that are raised with a rope. One hook is usually attached to the handles, and the other is attached to the seat.

Picture of a Bike Hoist System

Two ensure that your garage bike rack lasts a long time, I recommend going with systems made with sturdy materials. The last thing you want is for a bike to randomly fall down on your head while you are in the garage. The ceiling mounts should be made of steal, not plastic. The rope should be made of nylon which has a very long lifespan and strong endurance for ropes. I recommend getting hooks that have plastic or rubber covering to avoid scratches on your bike, but that is more of an aesthetic concern then a structural one.

How to Install an Indoor Bike Rack 

Installing the bike rack took me about an hour and a half, but I am not the most mechanically inclined person. It required lots of measuring, planning and drilling, but the results were worth it in the end.

For the bike rack installation you will need a Phillips head screwdriver, a tape measure, a ladder and a drill with a 1/8" bit. If you have a finished garage you will need a stud finder as well.

Step 1 (for those with finished garages): Use your stud finder to find where to attach the bike rack. This step is VERY important. If you do not attach your bike rack to a joist, the bike will topple down on you once you pull it up to the ceiling.

Step 2: Planning. When you choosing which way to situate the rack, keep in mind the back tire of the bike should be facing towards the pulley rope. If you do not do this your handle bars can be entangled in the pulley rope which is extremely time consuming to deal with.

Step 3: Drilling. Mount the bike rack to the ceiling with your drill. This is always the part that makes me a little bit nervous, but it really is a cinch to do.

Step 4: Measuring. You will need to measure the space between the handle bars and the back of the seat for each bike. The separation of the hook should match that distance for proper storage of the bike.

Step 5: Mount your bikes! Attach one hook to the handles, one to the seat then pull. It is very easy to do, and congratulations on getting this far.