Garage Storage Plans - If You Don’t Clean Your Garage Now, You’ll Hate Yourself Later
Admit it, the garage is one of the few, if not the only, places people don't get to see inside your home. So, what happens when part of the house is not visual to our guests?
Well, we usually stuff all things that don't have a home yet, into the garage. I'll admit, of course I have done this. I like to keep my house so clean that I don't want anything laying around the floor or the kitchen table. So, what's my solution to this? Well I shove everything in my garage because well, like I said before, no one ever gets to see the garage. However, this doesn't mean it's okay to do it.
Keep in mind, having inadequate things in the garage can cause dangerous scenarios.
Statistics
According to U.S. Fire Administration, every year there are 6,600 garage fires. 93% of them are in one- and two-family homes. These fires caused 30 deaths, 400 injuries and $457 million in property loss.
Apart from these statistics, doesn't the thought of a fire in your house frighten you a little bit?
Fire Safety Messages
Smoke Detectors
How many times have we heard about keeping our smoke detectors working? You're tired of hearing it so much but, it's so important that you do it. Your garage is as important as your bedroom. Double check you have a working smoke detector in your garage. It's recommended you replace your smoke detectors every 10 years.
Evacuation Plans
In case of a fire, it is best if you have a evacuation plan in place. Call for a family meeting and go over what will everyone do in case there is a fire. Make sure you plan for every room in your house, not just the garage. It is important to know what exit is safe to take when in an emergency,.
Propane Tanks
The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors says we should never store propane tanks inside. These tanks can catch fire, causing them to explode. If you have a propane tank, it's advised to always store it outside.
Paint or Chemicals
Keep cans of paint, cleaning products, or extra brake fluid for your car away from the garage. But a garage seems like the perfect place to put them, right? All these products can catch fire similarly like propane tanks, and as a result, it can cause an explosion. A solution to this is to keep the products in a shed that is completely detached from the house.
Keep Cars in Good Condition
Having your cars in good condition is key in avoiding a fire. If you hear there is something wrong with your car or you feel like something is up, take it to go get it checked out. It is important that you always take good care of your car by having its service done when it's due. What may seem to be a simple leak can end up costing your house to be in ashes.
Power Outlets
All garages have power outlets and sometimes we can get a little carried away with it. Having too many appliances connected to the power outlets can cause some serious damage. Electrical malfunctions are the leading cause of garage fires, that's according to U.S. Fire Administration.
Clean Garage Floor
It doesn't matter what starts the fire. Cardboard boxes as well as waste baskets are the first items to catch on fire. This causes the fire to spread like wildfire. The garage floor should always be clean and cleared.
Garage Storage
In addition to a clean garage, storage is also important. Now that the garage floor is clean, you have no clue where to put everything, am I right? UCLA Magazine says that researchers found that "cars have been banished from 75 percent of garages to make way for rejected furniture and cascading bins and boxes of forgotten household goods." In other words, you're not the only one that has a messy garage. But what if there was a way to have an effective garage storage system? Having things organized in a place to store each individual item can help in avoiding a fire. Install garage storage cabinets in your garage to help with managing storage. This takes up the least amount of space but, also storing the most amount possible. You can store about anything in cabinets: golf clubs, gym equipment, or car jacks.
Be sure to check out our blog post with information on garage cabinets you can buy and assemble yourself!
Overhead Storage
Overhead storage allows using the ceiling of the garage for storage. I'm sure that you currently don't use that space because you need something special to do it. I recommend you buy overhead storage at Garagecabinets.com. This option is a cheap way to add extra room. Having garage ceiling storage helps with maintaining the garage floor clean.
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