One of the more challenging spring cleanups is the garage cleanup. Yet many make the mistake of thinking a few bins will take care of things. For those folks, I will remind you that its called a clean-up for a reason:

The primary job is to clean!

What you will really need are:

• Cleaning supplies
• Garbage supplies
• Any tools you may need (chances are those are in the garage, if you can find them).

The first step in any garage spring cleanup is to declutter your space. Start by going through everything in your garage and getting rid of anything you no longer need or use. This includes old tools, broken equipment, and anything that’s just taking up space.

Create two piles: one for things you can donate or recycle; the other for items to throw away.

You can approach this cleanup however you see fit. If you only have a few hours, you may want to go section by section. Some people prefer to spend a day emptying the entire garage. It’s your call on that one. Just remember that line about spring showers didn’t come out of nowhere. You want to be sure your cleanup won’t be subject to any rain delays.

Once you’ve gotten rid of the clutter, it’s time to organize what’s left. Use storage bins, shelves, and hooks to keep everything in its place as needed. You might find that once you’ve rid yourself of items you no longer need that storage bins won’t be needed.

Once you’ve decluttered and organized your garage, it’s time to give it a good cleaning. Start by sweeping the floors and removing any cobwebs or debris. Next, wipe down any surfaces with a damp cloth and cleaning solution. Finally, consider power-washing your garage floor to remove any stubborn stains or dirt.

Maintaining the garage

With your spring cleanup complete, you can now relax and enjoy your garage for the rest of the year, right? Not quite. The spring cleanup is part one. Much like the rest of your home, you want to develop a system of maintaining your garage so that cleanups in the spring aren’t a major time suck.

Garage maintenance doesn’t need to be much more than returning tools to their proper place. A regular sweeping, every week or two. If you have an ongoing project, be sure to clean up whey you conclude work for the day.

Maintaining your garage will not only reduce the time for spring cleanup. It will make it a space you actually want to spend time in and enjoy.