A garage is the perfect place for storage of many different items from recreational items, to yard care items to food storage. But, without the proper methods for storage a garage can fill up very fast. There are a few tips and tricks that professional organizers use to save space and to use small amounts of space effectively.

Use See Through Containers: Transparent containers that are made to be stack-able are great for storage and saving space. These containers can be placed with like items. Unlike cardboard boxes, these items won’t sag or mildew. You will also be able to see if the containers have extra space when you need to store additional items without having to open them first. Use

Wall Racks: A wall rack works well for garden utensils and other outdoor items. These items are typically awkward in size such as a rake or a snow shovel. We all have at least one or two shovels in our Utah garages. These items can be stored without taking up much space when they are hung on a wall rack.

Do Not Store Unwanted Items: Be sure to go through your items at least once per season. If you have held onto a broken tennis racket for more than one year, it is time to throw it out or get it fixed. Also, be sure to throw away food storage items and fertilizer that has passed the marked expiration date.

Garages can be difficult to keep clean. Dirt, debris, grease, oil and many other substances can get stuck in between cracks and crevices in concrete garage floors. If you store a collectible vehicle, food storage or other items that should remain clean this can be a problem. Also, if you spend time in the garage for a hobby dust and dirt can be an issue.

There are several types of garage floor covering that can be used in a garage. They all have different price points and application processes. Here are the most popular garage floor coverings:

Epoxy Covering: A water-based epoxy applied to a concrete floor will create a smooth surface. There are several colors available. Homeowners with just a small amount of instruction can apply epoxy covering.

Garage Floor Mats: These can be inexpensive ways of protecting a dedicated space in the garage. But, they can cause problems when they need to be moved for cleaning dirt around them.

Tile Garage Floors: Tiling the garage area has become quite common in the last 10 years. Large tiles can be placed in the area to create an easy to mop and clean surface. The standard indoor tiles will not work for a garage that is used for automobiles. Tiles made specifically for this purpose must be used.

Oil leaks can create unattractive stains on cement on the driveway, sidewalk and in the garage. There are several products on the market that promote easy-to-remove oil components.

Grease cleaner and garage oil remover type products work well for getting rid of these stains. They are available at home repair stores. After purchasing one of these products, try to soak up as much oil as you can from the affected area. You can do this with a rag that is absorbent or an old sponge.

After you have done this, apply the oil cleaner as the instructions state. Repeat this process again to see better results. If you are still not happy with the results you can try an alternative Kitty Litter method. This requires a small to large bag of kitty litter, depending on the size and area of the stain. You will apply the litter directly onto the stain and rub it in with a towel or glove. Let this sit for at least a day and then remove with a broom.

There are many other household items that can be used for oil and grease removal including soda and liquid detergent. Sometimes a single stain may need several applications of different products to be removed completely.

There are several garage door opener companies on the market. Many of them are quite comparable. Consumer reviews consider three things when rating these garage motors including sound, reliability and warrantees. Here are some of the best-rated products on the market today.

Chamberlain Whisper Drive: This product is named the whisper drive because it is so quiet. Don’t confuse the silence with lack of power. This motor is strong and has a long lifetime span. It is also easy to install for a novice do-it yourself homeowner.

Genie H6000A-2K: This model is not as quiet as the Chamberlain Whisper, but is much quieter than most chain drive models. It is also less expensive than the “silent” openers. It also comes with an infrared safety feature.

Chamberlain PD752D: This garage opener is the best for heavy doors. It is twice as powerful as the average motor. It also features an exceptional 6 year warranty that will help homeowners to feel more secure about their garage door motor purchase.

The look and the style of your garage door is much more important to the overall look and design of your home than ever before. In the last 20 years the architecture of the common American and Utah home has changed significantly. The garage area is commonly towards the front of the home. This makes the garage door a main focal point.

The type of garage door that you choose for your home should match your home’s style and offer any solutions for your specific needs. For example, if you have a two car garage, but only one car a double door garage style may be a better option for you. This way you don’t need to open up the whole garage every time you pull your car in and out.

There is a variety of new and traditional style garage doors available. Many
garage door professionals offer free garage design consultations to go over styles, availability and prices of the various outer shells on the constantly changing market.

One of the most popular styles of doors this year is the wood finished style. This style looks wonderful on newer homes featuring outer materials of large stone and stacked stone. There are also styles that feature copper hardware that complements dark wood front doors and other copper materials on the outside of a home.

Some of the swankest and high tech garages belong to famous celebrities. These celebrities want the best space to store and to show off their pricey automobiles.These garages feature high tech and crazy components that can blow your mind.

One of the most famous celebrity auto enthusiasts is Jay Leno, who actually has a website devoted to his love of cars called “Jay Leno’s Garage.” Now if you have caught any of Jay’s clips at home on the Tonight Show you may have already seen his garage. This is a space that looks like a car museum. It is clean and beautiful.

Cribs, an MTV show, features homes of celebrities and often times their garages. The garages range from ordinary to extraordinary. Some celebrities and basketball stars even have created their own personal dance club spaces in their garage.

If you are looking to upgrade your garage you may want to take a look at the latest in garage space innovations by looking at some awesome celebrity garages. On the other hand, you can stay on the conservative side by speaking with a decorator, designer and professional garage door expert for advice and ideas for improving your garage space.

Attached garages are the standard type of garage. But, they weren’t always the standard. Homes from the 1960’s and earlier are often seen with detached, stand alone garage styles. What are the advantages of each type of garage?

An attached garage is very convenient. During rainy weather you can park your car directly in the garage. This saves you from getting wet or cold. Also, many families have a freezer or secondary fridge in their garage. If their garage is attached to their home, oftentimes the fridge or freezer is only a few feet away from the kitchen area.

A stand alone garage can offer safety from automobile and chemical fumes that may seep into a house with an attached garage unit. Also, if a garage is used for hobbies or a teenager’s band practice, the sound will not reach the house. These garages, however, may be more expensive to construct because separate electricity needs may be necessary.

Consider what you use your garage for and how each style will look on your home. This will help you to make the decision between building an attached garage or a stand alone type.

It is the time of the year for garage sales. If you haven’t been garage sale shopping before, you may want to try it. There are treasures to find and adventures to be had throughout the valley at these owner-direct sales.

You may not always find the exact thing that you are looking for at a garage sale, but you are sure to find things that you never knew you wanted or needed. One person’s junk is another’s prize. To be sure to find all of the best items at a garage sale, here are a few tips from some garage sale addicts:

Get There Early: The early bird certainly gets the worm at these sales. The best stuff is sold fast. Any sale that you get to after 10 am has been picked over already.

Have a Plan: Many newspapers and sites such as Craigslist list addresses and items that will be sold at garage sales in the area. These can provide you with a starting point for your day’s adventure, but don’t remain married to your plan. If you see a sign for a promising sale on your journey, veer off of your planned path.

Have Fun: You don’t have to find an amazing item to have fun at a garage sale. These sales are great places to meet other people and members of the community. You will meet other people that love the rush of finding a wonderful item.

It is finally warm enough to clean out your garage and get organized. Do you ever drive past a neighbor’s clean and organized garage and wish that yours looked the same? It may be a big job to clean up your garage, but once it is done it is easy to maintain.

First, go through your garage by sections. This will allow you to move items that you want to keep and continue to store into a section that you are not currently cleaning. You will want to throw away broken or unused items. Also, you will want to keep track of all of the items that you use regularly such as shovels and rakes.

Next, you will clean each section. You can do this with power washers or shop vacs. Getting the dirt, dust and bugs out of your garage is the first step to feeling comfortable in the space.

After you have cleaned each section of the garage and thrown out unwanted items, it will be time to organize. At this point you will have an idea of the types of items that you use regularly. These should be stored in easy to access places in your garage. If you have food storage, this should also be easy to access. The other items should be moved to shelving units. If you do not have shelving units, it will be an optimal time to get some.

When your garage is clean it is less dangerous. Chemicals and other dangerous substances won’t be spilled or forgotten about. Garden tools will be stored safely instead of strewn around the space. A clean garage is great anytime of the year.

Many of the items that are frequently stored in the garage can be dangerous for both children and pets. These items can be stored in the garage and not pose a danger if they are stored correctly and children are taught to stay away from them.

Small children and pets should not be allowed to be in a garage without full supervision if any items that impose dangers are stored in the area. Chemicals stored in garages pose many risks and can even cause death. Some of the items include car oil and antifreeze coolant. These items are dangerous when stored low enough for pets and children to reach. They are also dangerous when they have leaked onto the garage floor surface.

Other chemicals commonly found in garage areas include snail bait and rat poison. Both of these items are often paired with sweet smelling and tasting ingredients that can be enticing for children and pets. It is important to keep these items locked away in cabinets and stored out of reach.

In addition to chemicals, other items with sharp edges such as rakes and bush clippers should not be near a Utah garage door. Gas cans and other items that contain chemicals must also be locked away. Children or pets may be able to open them. Even animals such as raccoons have the ability to get into closed containers.