Look, I’ll level with you. I spent last Saturday doing this exact thing, and my back is still a little sore. I’m not a professional organizer. I’m just a guy whose wife finally put her foot down after I left the garden hose out for the third winter in a row.
Let’s get one thing straight right now: this job is boring. It just is. But it’s the kind of boring that saves you money and a massive headache later. I learned this after I had to throw away a perfectly good Weber grill because the burners rusted solid. My dad hasn’t let me forget it.
So, here’s what I actually do now. No corporate jargon, just real talk.
Step 1: The “Why Is This So Heavy?” Phase
You gotta clean everything. I don’t mean a quick rinse with the hose. I mean, get a bucket, put some hot water and a good squirt of Dawn in it, and actually scrub. That film of grease on your grill? The mysterious sticky stuff on the patio table? The dirt caked on your garden tools? Get it off.
I use one of those green scrubby pads for the grill grates. It’s weirdly satisfying watching the gunk come off. For the furniture, just a rag or a soft brush so you don’t scratch it.
Then, and this is the part I used to always skip, you HAVE to let it dry. I mean, really dry. Not “it looks dry” dry, but “I’ve left it in the sun for two hours and wiped my hand over it and it’s totally dry” dry. If you don’t, you’re basically tucking your stuff into bed with a wet blanket. Mold city.
Step 2: The “Where the Heck Am I Supposed to Put This?” Panic
This is the real problem, right? My garage is a black hole of holiday decorations, my kids’ old bikes, and things I swear I’ll fix someday. There is no room for a bulky patio set.
Here’s my solution for the stuff itself:
- Cushions: I used to shove them in black trash bags. Big mistake. They came out smelling like a locker room. Now, I use those big plastic storage bins with the yellow lids. They’re stackable and critters can’t get in. A little pricey upfront, but they last forever.
- The Grill: After it’s clean and dry, I cover it with a proper grill cover. I also make absolutely sure the propane tank is disconnected. My buddy stores his in the shed and it makes me nervous. I keep mine outside, away from the house, just to be safe.
- Garden Hose: This one seems dumb, but it’s important. You have to get all the water out. I disconnect it from the spigot, drag it to the top of my driveway, and coil it up so the water drains out. A hose with water left in it will freeze and split. I killed a perfectly good hose that way.
Step 3: My Secret Weapon for a Saner Home
Alright, here’s my confession. Even with all this cleaning and breaking stuff down, I still had no room. I was trying to jam things into every corner of the garage and it was a nightmare.
So, a few years back, I broke down and got a small storage unit. I was stubborn about it at first—”I don’t need that, it’s a waste of money”—but let me tell you, it’s been a game-changer.
I use a place called Accent Self Storage just a five-minute drive away. I got the smallest size they have. All my summer stuff—the patio furniture, the lawn mower, the kids’ inflatable pool—fits perfectly. In the fall, the summer stuff goes in. In the spring, I swap it with my snow blower and my Christmas decorations.
It’s not just about storage; it’s about getting my garage back. It’s about not having to look at that stuff all winter. It’s about peace of mind, and for me, that’s worth the monthly fee.
The Bottom Line
So that’s it. My no-BS guide. Clean it, dry it, and if you’re out of space, don’t drive yourself crazy trying to be a storage Tetris master. Just get it out of your hair. Your future self, sipping a lemonade on a clean, mold-free chair next May, will thank you for it.
Now I’m gonna go try and convince my wife that I deserve a beer for all my hard work. Wish me luck.d VERY affordable) size to put away summer sports equipment and things like motorcycles?
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