Want to live better? Tidy your garage!

Garages can be so much more than a dumping ground for excess stuff. Learn how to use your garage to save money, lower stress, increase living space, and even run a business.

For many people, the garage is a dumping ground for boxes, equipment, and clutter, but it has the potential to be so much more. Brand giants Amazon, Disney, Apple, Microsoft, and Google started in garages. Why not do something amazing with your own garage?

Read on to learn more about the many benefits that come with decluttering your garage and for ideas of what to do with the space.

Most Americans have garages, but don’t make the most of them.

A study by the Department of Energy found that “66% of all occupied housing units in the United States had a garage or carport” as of 2017. Despite the vast number of garages, many people don’t even park their cars inside the garage. Even when the garage is filled with spillover items, 9% of American households rent a self-storage unit to hold even more.

This Takl user needed help clearing out all the junk in their garage.

A Takl junk removal job cleared all that clutter out quickly and easily, making their garage better than ever!

Why are garages so full of stuff?

Sometimes clutter is due to a recent event, such as a move, but other times it is a problem that worsens over time. Some garages are so packed with stuff that the owners don’t even know what they have in there or where to find it. Even if the boxes are labeled, they might be inaccessible thanks to the mountains of clutter in the way.

There are many factors that contribute to clutter. Wires, light bulbs, unorganized tools, impulse buys, unused furniture, items bought in bulk, and even empty boxes wind up in the garage along with all those items you’re afraid to part with in case you need them “someday.”

A tidier garage isn’t just an organized space. It’s a way to save time, reduce stress, and do more with your home.

An organized garage can lower stress.

In a poll conducted by on-demand home services app Takl, 57% of respondents said they can’t fit their cars into their garages. Findings by UCLA in Life at Home in the Twenty-First Century[1] cite even higher numbers, stating that 75% of garages in the U.S. are used for storage rather than cars. UCLA also found cluttered garages may contain a staggering 300 to 650 boxes, storage bins, and items. Is it any wonder these garages stress homeowners out?!

Clutter reminds us of unfinished business. Just seeing how many boxes there are to sort through can make you want to run screaming back into the house, slam the door, and pretend the garage doesn’t exist. Then of course there’s the stress of figuring out when and how long it would take to get all that work done. Having an organized garage is worth the investment, though, because of the long-term benefits including reduction in daily stress, saving time when you need to get something, and removing the sense of unfinished business every time you go into your garage. Plus, you don’t have to organize the garage by yourself. Finding someone to help you out will simplify the organization process and save the time and energy spent going it alone.

Navigating this garage was like an obstacle course. It needed some serious help!

Thanks to this Takl organization job, this garage feels more spacious than ever.

Use a garage sale to earn extra cash.

While you’re organizing, you might as well earn some money off your old stuff. Make sure you organize everything so you don’t lose anything you wish to keep. Find help for packing and moving boxes. You can also set up your garage sale so browsers can easily find what they’re looking for. This will help you clear out that extra stuff quickly and easily.

Making room to park can protect your vehicle.

Parking in the garage helps to protect your vehicle from weather like rain, snow, ice, and hail. It also keeps your car out of the sun, which prevents UV damage such as faded or peeling upholstery, paneling, and paint. Keeping your car indoors can also save time in the morning since it takes less time to heat up in cold weather or to cool down in the summer, plus you can skip the ice scraper during the winter.

Your garage can help you reach your fitness goals.

Freeing up space in your garage offers other options besides just parking your car. You can use the open space for an at-home gym. Find a Provider on Takl to assemble or move exercise equipment. You can also keep the workout simple by rolling out a yoga mat. The organized space will ease your mind so you can meditate on happy thoughts.

This Takl user is ready to meet their fitness goals after having their new exercise bike assembled.

When your garage doubles as a gym, book a Takl cleaning to dust off that equipment and put it to good use!

You can give your hobbies a new home.

Have a new desk delivered, assembled, or moved into the garage to create a workshop or craft room. This can serve as a private retreat for having fun with your hobbies, or if you’re looking to make money off your skills…

You can use your garage to run your own business.

As mentioned before, plenty of outstanding businesses start in the garage. One Takl user found a Provider to organize the garage, making it easy to access the jewelry that serves as part of an at-home business.

This Takl user had her jewelry organized, using her garage to save time and grow her business.

Think you don’t have time to take care of the garage? With Takl, you choose the time that works for you. You also choose the background-checked Provider you want to help out. See how quick and easy it is to Takl your garage!

Ready to make the most of your garage? Just Takl it!

[1] Jeanne Arnold, Life at Home in the Twenty-First Century: 32 Families Open Their Doors, (Los Angeles, University of California, 2012), 44.