Are you unable to move through your garage at all, never mind trying to park a car in there? Following the tips below will have your garage looking so good--your neighbors will want to hire you to do theirs! Here are some tips to help you reclaim your garage from the clutter:

1. GARAGE FUNCTION.
The first step to reclaiming your garage is to decide how you are going to use your garage. For instance, will you be setting up a workbench area? Will you need storage space for extra canned goods, paint supplies and so forth? How about yard care storage? Oh yes, I almost forgot, parking the car!

2. GETTING STARTED.
Now that you have decided how you are going to be using your garage, it is time to begin the journey to reclamation. Step one is to divide the garage into quadrants or sections. You can divide your garage into as many sections as you like to keep each one to a manageable size. You do not want to overdo the first time out and be too discouraged to continue. Your plan should be to take small 'bites' out of the clutter and disarray. Once you have decided how large your sections will be, decide on how long you would like to spend in each section.

3. BEGINNING THE SORT.
Start in your first quadrant or section, and be sure to set a timer for the amount of time you have set for your task. The first step will be gathering your tools. For this activity, your tools will consist of the following: large trash bags, several boxes and a marker. The trash bags are for trash. Each of the boxes should be labeled as follows: donate, goes elsewhere, recycle and garage. You will likely need several boxes labeled garage. At this point, do not be concerned with where in the garage these items will go. That will come later.

4. MOTIVATING MUSIC.
As you sort, play some upbeat music. Not only does the music give you a beat to work to, but it also helps to take the drudgery out of the work. We know that if it were not drudgery, we would not need to be reclaiming it. So crank up those tunes and sort on!

5. SECTION COMPLETION.
At the end of your designated time period, take out the trash. Put the items for donation into your trunk to deliver them to your favorite charity drop-off on your next errand run that takes you by the charity. Put away the items that you put into the 'goes elsewhere' boxes. Take a well-deserved rest and be sure that you reward yourself for all of your hard work.

6. CIRCLING THE GARAGE.
Continue around the garage in the direction of your choice. Sometimes it is easier to move in a clockwise direction and sometimes it is easier to move from front to back on one-half of the garage, and then from back to front on the other half of the garage. There is no right or wrong way to complete the circle. The way that works best for you and the way that you function is the correct way to do this. When you start sorting items, you will likely have many boxes labeled 'garage.' Do not worry about these, no matter how many you collect as you go around the garage. This type of sort actually gives you a much better idea of what you really need to have in the garage. In just a few more steps, you will be doing another sort as you begin the final stage of the journey of reclamation.

7. LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.
As you make your way through the garage and as you remove the trash and donation items after each session, you will begin to notice something. There is more space in your garage. It just keeps getting better and better! Now would be a great time to give yourself another reward for coming this far. You are almost beyond your adventure, so find something that feels like a reward and enjoy!

8. DECLUTTER COMPLETE, NOW WHAT?
Once you have completed the de-cluttering, it is time to decide where your 'zones' or 'centers' will be. For instance, if you have a workbench zone, a yard care zone, and a pantry spillover zone, you need to plot out the 'footprint' of each zone. Once this is complete, it is time to move to the next step.

9. GARAGE BOXES.
Now is the time to address the boxes labeled 'garage'. Begin by sorting these items into boxes labeled with your 'zones'. Do not toss any of the emptied boxes just yet. You may need more for each zone. Now you are ready for the last leg of this journey!

10. RECLAIMED.
By now, you realize that the light you saw at the end of the tunnel was not a train! You have completed your sort and have an excellent idea of exactly what, if any, storage and/or workspace you will need to purchase. Because you de- cluttered before trying to figure out the storage, you will only purchase what you need. Set up each zone exactly the way it will work best for you, stashing each zone's items in their proper place. When you have everything put away in each zone--viola, you will have reclaimed you garage! Congratulations! Sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labors.

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by Maria Gracia - Get Organized Now! http://www.getorganizednow.com FREE Get Organized Now! Idea-Pak and E-zine, filled with tips and ideas to help you organize your home, your office and your life, at the Get Organized Now! Web site.