As the days get shorter and cold weather approaches, the yearly ritual of preparing your home for the colder weather is now underway.

Homeowners will change furnace filters, rake a never-ending amount of leaves, clear out gutters, and plant bulbs for spring, to name just a few of many necessary fall tasks.

Don’t procrastinate on fall garage storage preparations!

Taking a proactive approach to your fall garage storage considerations will serve you well throughout the colder months. You’ll also notice the benefits when the warm weather returns.

1. Get decluttering!

Getting your garage organized and keeping it that way requires you to declutter regularly. As a rule, it should be your very first task when it comes to your fall garage storage preparations.

Garages are the go-to dumping ground for items that you’re reluctant to part with or just can’t find a storage spot for within your heated living space. Anyone with a well-kept garage space will undoubtedly be taking the time to declutter this area at least once a year (at minimum). The benefits of decluttering include:

• it frees up space for indoor parking and improves garage functionality and organization
• implementing better storage solutions such as garage cabinetry is easier
• it makes your garage safer by eliminating tripping hazards from items left on the floor (like rakes)
• locating items when you need them will be easier

2. Clean your garage floor.

Your fall garage storage tasks should include making sure your space is clean and as free of dirt, dust, and grime as possible. A garage floor coating is extremely durable and resilient, but even it requires occasional cleaning. Luckily, that requires relatively little effort on your part.

After decluttering, give your garage floor a good sweep and thoroughly rinse off the remaining debris with a hose. Make sure any electrical outlets that might come in contact with spray from your hose are covered up. Then remove the remaining water from your floor with a good squeegee. Your clean newly coated floor will look just like new.

3. Turn off your outdoor water, and empty and store all hoses.

Before freezing temperatures become a possibility, make sure your home’s outdoor water connection is shut off. Drain the lines as much as possible as well. This will significantly minimize the chance of pipes bursting, which can be an expensive repair.

Your garden hoses should also receive attention when you’re carrying out your fall garage storage preparations. Garden hoses should be kept coiled and unkinked at all times to prolong their life and prevent cracking and leaks.

Invest in a hose reel to make this easier and keep hoses off your garage floor or walkways. Great options for this would be high-quality wall-mounted reels and portable hose reel carts, in addition to excellent kink-resistant garden hoses that are very durable.

Specifically, water left in hoses that freezes can rupture the hose or cause it to crack. An undrained hose that’s left connected could also cause ice to potentially creep its way into your pipes and cause them to burst.

4. Make sure certain items aren’t kept in the garage.

More than a few homeowners make the mistake of using their garage to store items that should be stored in their heated living space. Here are a few items that you shouldn’t be keeping in the garage:

• paint, cleaning products, and many household chemicals (cold temperatures affect their consistency, color, and effectiveness)
• electronics you plan to donate (condensation can damage solder joints and cause circuit boards to rust or crack)
• clothing or linens that aren’t in vacuum-sealed storage bags
• propane tanks (store them in a shed or covered outdoor area)
• paper, which attracts rodents and other pests

5. Make your garage more energy efficient.

Your garage doors are the largest moving object in your home. They also account for as much as third of your home’s exterior. Therefore, it’s in your best interest to make sure this home feature is properly outfitted to maximize your garage’s energy efficiency.

Make sure your garage doors are properly insulated to keep as much warm air in and as much cold air out. Modern garage doors offer much better insulation features than older models, which can help lower your heating costs.

Steel garage doors, in particular, are a popular choice for homeowners looking for garage doors that provide stylish aesthetics and effective insulating features.

Adding insulation to your garage ceiling and walls can have a major beneficial impact on your garage’s energy efficiency. This can be a big job, but it’s a smart long-term investment.

Make sure your garage doors, window frames, and any other doors have weatherstripping to eliminate drafts. Weatherstripping can peel and crack over time, so be sure to inspect it periodically. You can also eliminate drafts around window and door frames, vents, and any outlets with caulking.

Remember, improving your garage’s energy efficiency during the winter also means it’ll be more energy efficient during the rest of the year. A well-insulated attached garage should ease the burden of your air conditioner when the weather heats up.

6. Make better use of your garage’s wall space.

One of the most commonly underutilized storage areas in garages is its walls. What’s the main thing that’s keeping you from using your garage for parking? Floor clutter, of course!

Adding a slatwall storage system to your garage walls will make it a lot easier to maintain an organized garage. A slatwall also adds a more clean, finished look to your garage interior. And by making use of the many slatwall accessories available, you’ll be able to hang up most of your tools and belongings that are only used during spring and summer.

And because slatwall panels give you so much extra storage space, you can find a dedicated year-round home for all your tools. There’ll be no need to switch out summer tools like rakes with snow shovels, or vice versa. This can save you many hours of time over the coming years. Seasonal transitions in your garage will be a breeze!

7. Test all garage alarm devices and check your fire extinguisher.

Many fire departments advise you to test your smoke, carbon monoxide, and heat detectors a minimum of twice a year. Make a practice of doing so when the clocks go forward and go back.

Your garage should have a heat detector and carbon monoxide detector installed, so make it a habit to add testing these devices to your fall garage storage and preparation to-do list.

If your garage also contains a fire extinguisher that can be stored in colder temperatures, give it an inspection. Check that its expiration date is still good and check its pressure if there’s a pressure gauge.

If you’re not storing a fire extinguisher in your garage, store one just inside the door that enters your home from your attached garage.

What’s that, you say? Your garage doesn’t have a fire extinguisher, carbon monoxide detector, or heat detector? Investing in any or all three of these inexpensive items is a sensible idea as an extra safety measure to protect your home.

8. Prepare your equipment and tools for winter storage.

A little preventative care when storing your lawn tools and equipment for the winter will extend their life. This also includes patio furniture. Take the time to declutter any tools that are barely used or worn out and no longer useful.

Lawn and garden tools like wheelbarrows, rakes, shovels, tillers, and edgers can be hosed down, which should remove most dirt. To remove stubborn caked-on soil and dirt, hose the tools down and use a light wire brush for cleaning (this can also be used to remove light rust). Make sure to dry all washed items before storing them.

Now let’s give your cutting tools a little attention. Your pruners, loppers, shears, saws, and hedge trimmer blades will likely have sap on them. Use a cutting tool cleaner (or turpentine, which is also effective) to remove any sticky residue. Also, inspect the sharpness of the tools’ blades.

Powered yard equipment needs even more care before storing them for the winter to maximize their life. Clean any grass clippings and residue from lawnmowers and grass trimmers.

For gas-powered equipment, drain all gas, oil, and other additives from the tools and dispose of the fluids properly. Consider an end-of-season tune-up for your lawn mower so you’ll have one less thing to deal with when spring comes.

9. Look up to find more fall garage storage space.

Along with a garage’s walls, its vertical space is rarely used to the best of its abilities for storage. Remedy that and find more fall garage storage space by adding specialty overhead racking to store your bulkier and seasonal items.

Because these larger items have more weight, you’ll need a more heavy-duty storage solution, which overhead racks provide. Up to 600 lbs can be supported on most adjustable racks, which are available in a variety of sizes.

With these bulky items stored vertically, you’ll be amazed at how much space this can free up on your garage floor. Parking will be easier and you’ll be able to quickly locate those storage bins or totes full of holiday decorations when needed.

10. Add a garage heater.

Using your garage as a workshop gives you the freedom to tinker and repair things in your own private space, without worrying about messes or noise. Cold weather limits your ability to use it comfortably, however.

Your multipurpose garage space can be more useful during the year’s more frigid months by adding heating to it. Needless to say, 24/7 garage heating during the winter can get expensive, unfortunately.

One alternative solution is to use a portable electric heater. An even better idea is to get a more effective heating solution that can be fastened to your wall, like an electric radiant infrared heater.

Many 110V and 220V models have a long power cord and remote control. They’re meant to heat a smaller area of your garage so you’ll be able to continue using your garage for your hobbies all year-round.

Why Choose BTA Self Storage

BTA Self Storage may have a location closer to you than you think! Our four locations in Rockwall, Royse City, Forney/Terrell, and Wills Point not only have climate and non-climate storage units, parking for your RVs, boats, and vehicles, we also have all the moving supplies you need from boxes to furniture covers along with trucks and trailers. BTA Self Storage is family and locally owned and operated too. We have been in business since 1998 and our friendly employees are waiting to help answer your storage questions.