It’s that time of the year again, summer is starting to fade and fall is bringing about cold weather. This means it’s time to get your garage in order for the winter. Here are a few tips to keep your garage organized and ready for the fall and winter months ahead.

Observe Space: Observing your space is key to knowing what storage you can fit where and what types of organization products you are going to need for your storage items. This is also a good time to get rid of any items you don’t need by donating them or recycling broken or worn items. The best way to decide this is by taking out all of your items and going through them, so you don’t miss anything shoved behind a box or in a corner.

Sweep Out: Sweep out your entire garage before placing your items back in an organized manner. During summer we are in and out of the garage a lot which brings in a lot of dirt and dust. Get rid of this by taking advantage of all items out of your garage and thoroughly sweeping your garage floor.

Organization Products: Next decide which organization products you are going to need. There are multiple options from cabinets to shelving and overhead storage to accessories such as hooks, racks, and hanging bags.

Organize Items: Once you have decided on all the items you are going to keep and which organization products will work best for you, start organizing your garage items. The best way to do this is to separate how often items are going to be used. Since winter is on its way, things like skis, sleds, and fall décor should come from the highest point of your garage down to eye level and below. Items like pool gear, summer sports, and summer décor should be placed higher up.

Garage organization may seem a little overwhelming at first, but breaking it down step by step can help put your mind at ease.