Take “spring cleaning” to the next level by prepping your garage for the summer months. Whether you use your garage as a prime entertainment space during warm weather with music playing, games, and other activities- or, just for storage, there are plenty of things you can do to make sure you are maximizing your space. At Amega, we’ve sold and serviced garage doors all across the Central Iowa area and have found very quickly in our years of service that every garage is unique to the owner. Some use them as workspaces for automobiles, carpentry, or other hobbies. Others use their garage to cycle in and out home decor and storage throughout the year. Some people even park cars in their garages!
Whatever you use your garage for, here are our tips and tricks on preparing your garage for the summer!
Declutter, Organize & Deep Clean
Always start by assessing the state of your garage and sort out how to begin decluttering. Remove any items you no longer need or use. Or, keep a list of things from inside your home that you’re ready to move into the garage. From there, organize these items into categories such as tools, sports equipment, gardening supplies, camping gear, etc. Utilize your current garage storage setup to create new spaces or work with existing ones. If you don’t have a storage setup, then we’d recommend building or investing in one before you do this.
Once you’ve gone through everything, time to deep clean! Over time, garages can get dirty quickly, especially since they open to the outside elements almost daily. Take an old rag with warm water and some dish soap, wiping down storage containers, shelving, decor, tools, and lawn care equipment. Afterward, move any large vehicles out to get to the floors to sweep out any cobwebs or excess dirt and dust. If you’re feeling highly motivated, take a powerwash to the floors and really give it that deep clean!
Test Tools & Equipment
Most people tend to keep their tools and bigger pieces of equipment in the garage if they don’t have access to a storage shed. When decluttering or re-organizing your garage, take the time to test all of your items. You probably haven’t used some of them since the end of summer last year, so it’s a great opportunity to check that everything is still in working order. Make sure your lawn care equipment starts and that it receives the proper maintenance it needs before you use it. Inspect your tools to ensure there is no rusting and take inventory for any projects you may be working on this summer. And lastly, be sure to test any bikes by raising or lowering seats to the height you need and filling up tires that may have deflated over months of no use.
Protect Your Garage Against Pests
As you’re inspecting your garage, be sure to keep track of any cracks or gaps in the walls or foundation to prevent pests from entering the garage. Consider using pest deterrents such as traps or repellents, and seal up any areas that are exposed to the outdoors. Make sure that anything you buy is placed in spaces that are away from foot traffic or could be easily accessed by small children. If you see signs of a bigger pest problem, then consider hiring a pest control professional to make sure you cover all of your bases.
Add or Improve Ventilation
While we’re looking forward to warm, summer heat– humidity is right around the corner. If your garage is an entertainment space during the summer months, be sure to install vents or fans to improve air circulation in the garage. This can help reduce heat buildup, so you aren’t “suffocating” while trying to work on projects and hobbies or host your family and friends.
Ensure Your Garage Door Is Working & Maintenance Is Up to Date
And last but not least, be sure to check that your garage door is in working order. If the winter weather hasn’t been kind to it, keep track of what seems to be wrong by looking for any odd movements or noises. Be sure that your weather stripping is still intact, and that your garage door is opening and closing with no delay. If any of these signs stick out to you, then it might be time to hire a professional garage door inspector to take a look at it.
At Amega Garage Doors & Openers, Inc., we can install, inspect, and repair any garage door. Our team of expert technicians will work with you directly to develop a plan that is not only perfect for your garage door’s needs but also perfect for your budget.