The garage is the one area of the house where all of our unneeded stuff seems to pile up in one spot. Going through the garage to eliminate and toss most of the clutter, however, often leaves you with piles of clothes that you do actually need, but have nowhere in the house to keep them.
Clothing items are often not used year round, so they end up in boxes that just get piled high in the attic or garage, creating quite an eyesore. In addition, it becomes difficult to get at them when you need them, if you can even find what you need. There are some things you can do, however, to streamline the organization of your clothes and be able to find what you need, when you need.
Wash, wash, wash
Often times we neglect to wash the clothes we will not need for a while, and this only creates more work down the road, and causes nasty smells to boot. Leaving dirt and grime on clothes only serves to provide a breeding ground for molds and various forms of bacteria, so wash everything before you store it away in the garage.
The floor is not meant for storage
A garage floor is for you car, nothing else. Water heaters leak, water seeps in from the outside, oil from the car gets on the floor, and variety of other mishaps occur that could ruin any boxes that you put on the floor. Eliminate this occurrence by creating a shelving unit in the garage to store your clothes on, or even opt for some storage cabinets that enhance the look of the garage at the same time.
Mothballs are not your friends
While mothballs are useful at keeping insects away from your clothing, they are not helpful for young children or pets because they are essentially a pesticide. So, while they are still commonly used today, avoid putting them in your storage closets in the garage.
As an alternative, consider a cedar-lined box, or even just adding cedar chips to the location where you are storing your clothes. They accomplish the same core objective as mothballs, but with zero toxicity. If cedar chips are not your thing, or you cannot find any in your area, lavender chips are a perfectly suitable alternative. Both of these options are not toxic, and they also have a smell that most enjoy and does not bother hardly anyone.
Insecticides should be used first, not second
Once you have cleaned out the garage, you need to get rid of all the insects that typically lurk in that area of the house. Insecticides certainly work for this purpose, but should be used before putting the clothes in storage.
Delicate clothes do not belong in the garage
The garage is not typically climate controlled. Delicate clothing should not be exposed for long periods of time to moisture and extreme heat. If you want to protect the investment you have made in your clothing collection, leave the delicate clothes inside where you have more control over the climate.
A quality garage door can protect your clothes
Clothes should be stored in an area that has the best climate that is possible given the environment. You also want to keep burglars out of the garage. For both of these reasons, and others, you might want to consider whether or not your existing garage door is both safe and secure, and that it is properly insulated.
The experts at A‑1 Overhead Door Systems can assist you in finding just the right garage door to suit all of those needs.
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