Having a clean garage is not only great for your car but also your health. Dirty and cluttered garages are a breeding ground for mold and dust.
Before winter, you should check your garage for cracks and seal them. This will prevent cold air from entering your garage and heat from escaping.
Inspect and Replace the Springs
Garages get a lot of wear and tear, and the springs are no exception. Keeping an eye out for signs of wear and tear and replacing the springs when necessary is essential to keeping your garage door in working order. The springs are responsible for counterbalancing the weight of the garage door, which helps the opener lift it. Over time, the springs can start to weaken, and if they break, it can cause your garage door to become stuck or fall too quickly.
If you notice any of these issues, have your springs inspected and replaced by a professional immediately. Failing springs are dangerous to your home’s occupants and personal property, so they should not be left unchecked. If you have extension springs, make sure they are lubricated regularly and that they have retention cables (which keep the spring from hitting someone or something if it breaks). Torsion springs require a little more maintenance, but regular lubrication can extend their life and help them remain in better condition.
Most people don’t spend much time thinking about their garages when they’re going in and out of them on a daily basis. Because of this, many homeowners forget to do the simple things that can go a long way in keeping their garages in top shape.
One of the most important things you can do to keep your garage in good condition is to create zones within it. This will allow you to separate the space into areas that make sense for you and your family. Some examples of these zones might be a work space, a toy / bike area and a gardening zone. Creating these zones will keep your garage clean and organized while also making it easy for you to find what you need when you’re in there.
Another important task to complete on a regular basis is to inspect your garage for signs of pests. Often, pests like carpenter ants and termites will move into a garage because of the exposed framing and rafters. If you see any of these pests, it’s important to call your local exterminator as soon as possible to prevent them from spreading to the rest of your house.
Clean the Garage Floor
The garage floor is an easy place for dirt and stains to build up over time. You can use a standard mop or stiff-bristled brush to scrub away most marks and stains from the floor, but a pressure washer is a more powerful option. Once you’ve cleared the floor of any large items, spray the entire area with a commercial concrete cleaner or degreaser using your pressure washer. Allow the cleaner to work its magic on the floor for a few minutes, and then rinse it off with clean water.
A degreaser will remove most grease stains from your garage floor, which may have come from automotive leaks or spills. You can also find special chemicals designed to eliminate oil stains from concrete. If you want to prevent these stains from returning, you can put down a mat in your garage or keep metal objects off the concrete floor completely. Also, try to avoid letting drips sit on the concrete for long periods, and if you do have to pour out some automotive fluids, soak them up with a rag immediately.
Acid is another method that can be used for removing stubborn stains from the concrete, but it’s important to understand that this will damage the floor over time. Also, it’s important to protect your drywall and any outlets that are lower than the floor when you’re using this method.
Lastly, there are certain chemical products that can be used to remove rust stains from the concrete. Lemon juice and vinegar are both effective options because they have acidic properties that help break down the rust. If you notice rust spots on your garage floor, simply pour pure white vinegar or lemon juice onto the stain to see if it will dissolve and fade.
For more durable stains, you can use an all-purpose cleaner that is safe for epoxy floors. These types of products are available at most home improvement stores, and they will usually work to remove grease and soil efficiently. It’s also a good idea to avoid direct sunlight on the floor, as this can cause it to yellow or fade over time.
Keep Your Tools Organized
The garage is often a catch-all for items from garden supplies, bikes and sports equipment to tools and random knickknacks. Over time, it can get overcrowded and cluttered making it harder to find the tools you need at a moment’s notice. The best way to keep your tools organized is by creating zones for them in the garage. This will help make them easier to find when you need them.
Start by going through your entire collection of tools and sorting them into categories, such as hand tools, power tools, gardening tools and more. From there, you can create zones based on the categories you’ve grouped together. For example, you might place your lawn tools on hooks on the wall while storing your power tools in cabinet drawers.
If you want to go a step further, invest in a set of slatwall racks for your garage. These will allow you to hang everything from bicycles and sporting equipment to shelves with bins for storing small items, like screws, nails and craft supplies. You can even install a mason jar shelf that will allow you to display and organize small things, like screws, nail polish, keys and spools of thread.
Once you have your tool collection sorted, be sure to label them so everyone in the family knows where they belong. This will help prevent tools from getting misplaced or contributing to future clutter. If other family members also use the garage, Woman’s Day recommends setting rules or guidelines so that your tools are returned to their proper home after each use. You can also post a list of your rules or a tool map in the garage so it’s easy for anyone to see what needs to be done.
Keeping your garage in tip-top shape is important for reducing the amount of dirt and grime that enters your home. It’s essential to clean it regularly and complete a deep cleaning once a year. In addition, by keeping your tools organized, you can work faster and more efficiently. This is especially true during the wintertime when your garage can collect a lot of dirt and grime from snow, salt and other road debris that ends up on the floor of the garage.
Get Ready for Winter
Often, a garage gets neglected and the things in it end up getting dusty or dirty. Even worse, the mud and dirt that accumulates can be tracked into your home. Fall is the ideal time to clean up and organize a garage. The summer stuff is put away, and you can get to the winter supplies that you’ll need in the coming months.
Make sure the moving parts of the garage door – such as the hinges and bolts – are tight. This will help prevent them from rusting and working themselves loose. Also, add a light coating of lubricant to the moving parts. This will make them smoother to operate and reduce the risk of damage.
If you haven’t done so already, install an organizer system for storing seasonal gear like ladders and sporting equipment. This will keep them out of the way and make it easier to access them when you need them. Adding a shelf above the workbench is another great option for storing items like rakes and brooms. A wall-mount fold-down workbench (such as the Goplus Wall-Mount Folding Workbench; around $150 on Amazon) provides a sturdy surface that tucks out of the way when not in use.
Check for gaps in the walls of your garage and in the ceiling, especially if it shares a room with the house. This is where cold air can seep inside and wreak havoc on pipes, furniture, and personal possessions. Seal these spots with caulk or expanding spray foam.
Finally, if your garage door is showing signs of wear and tear, it’s probably a good idea to replace it. An old door is more prone to cracks, chips, and dents, which can lead to expensive repairs in the future.
By taking the time to perform these important maintenance tasks, you can protect your home, car, and belongings from winter weather damage. It may seem tedious, but it will pay off in the long run when you can avoid costly repairs and enjoy your home, garden, and vehicle to the fullest this winter.