Over the winter, our garages can move to a bit of a disarray.
It’s cold outside so we don’t spend time tidying up and cleaning up the dirt.
However, as the weather gets warmer, I see many homes with their garage emptied onto their driveway during a “deep clean”.
This is also a wonderful time to consider making the space more sustainable.
Below are three recommendations to get your summer off to a great start in the garage.
Clean It Out
The first phase of the cleaning process is to empty and sort.
The reason driveways are full is that homeowners want everything out of the space to clean deeply and then make decisions on what to put back in.
For the items no longer needed, we can sort them into two categories initially – trash and not trash.
Getting Rid of What We Don’t Want/Need
Once the initial sort is complete, these two piles can be separated further:
Non-Trash – These items can be sold, given to a family member/friend, or donated.
Trash – These items can be sorted into hazardous, curbside recycle, and garbage.
For hazardous materials, knowing the proper disposal procedures for each item is important. A great resource is Earth911. You can enter the item and your location. Then, you can see drop off locations in your area for the item.
Hazardous waste days in your community are another great time to get rid of these materials at one location. A quick search online should provide the dates in your location where you can bring many items at once and drop them off in an efficient “drive through” process.
Consider Energy Efficiency
A final consideration during garage cleaning is energy efficiency. Since the weather is warm, this is the perfect time to do a bit of maintenance or upgrades. Here are areas to consider:
Doors – The garage doors protect us from the outside heat and cold, while the door from the garage to the house is key to keeping the indoor temperatures from leaking out of the house. the seals of both the indoor and garage doors and do needed maintenance to keep the seal as tight as possible.
Flooring – Keeping cracks sealed will keep garage debris (salt and chemicals) from leaking into the ground below.
Refrigerator/Freezer – Do you have one in the garage? Do you really need it? Removing the appliance could save energy and some money.
Lighting – Check all lights and change bulbs as needed. Using LED lights will improve efficiency.
Summary
This is the perfect time of year for a garage clean to make the space one you aren’t trying to avoid.
Taking a little extra time to dispose of items in a sustainable way and do a bit of maintenance will go a long way to making your garage one shade greener.