Create a safer and more organized garage space with these essential safety tips.
For many folks, the garage is more than just a place to store the car or pile all that extra junk you’re going to sort through and donate to Goodwill…someday…maybe. The garage can be a DIYer’s sanctuary, a mechanic’s Mecca, or even the launchpad for the next multimillion-dollar business idea.
No matter what you use your garage for, one thing is certain: serious effort is required in order to keep it organized, safe, and productive. Items are constantly being moved around, piled up, or stored. Tools and equipment are forever being moved in and out. Dirt, debris, rain, and even small animals and bugs are a continual nuisance.
It’s easy for your garage to get out of hand or even dangerous. The following tips and tricks will help you create a more organized environment that can optimize usable workspace and give you the garage you’ve always wanted — one that’s safe and functional for you and your entire family.
Curb the Clutter
Perhaps one of the biggest hurdles to maximizing your garage safety and efficiency is the amount of clutter that quickly accumulates. One day you’re “just setting this here for a minute” and the next, you could be on an episode of Hoarders.
Too much garage clutter prevents you from being able to park your vehicle, makes it difficult to find things, and can be a primary safety hazard. Stacks of stuff risk falling on you or a family member. Boxes, newspapers, and other flammable materials can create a pretty serious fire hazard, not to mention attractive hiding places for rodents and other pests.
Purge your garage of any unnecessary junk. Use storage cabinets, organizers, shelving, and peg boards to optimize organization of important items and make them easily accessible. If you’re limited on floor space, then look up. Anchoring shelves to the ceiling or hooks higher on the wall is a great way to get stuff up and out of the way, creating more valuable floor space.
In addition to keeping as much debris and clutter off your garage floor as possible,look out for leaks and spills. Slips and falls are no joke – especially when the only thing there to catch you is a very hard and unforgiving cement floor. Keep the garage floor clean and mess-free; a good quality degreaser and pressure washer will usually do the trick.
Lighten Up
One simple and dramatic thing you can do to improve the overall safety of your garage is to upgrade its lighting. If you’ve got a garage that uses two bare incandescent bulbs and the measly lights supplied by your automatic garage door opener, then you’ve got plenty of room for improvement.
Consider installing modern and energy-efficient LED lighting for a brighter and more uniform experience. If you have a workbench or project area inside your garage, you could install light fixtures directly above it to make it easier on the eyes while you work and easier to find tools and supplies.
Brighter lighting will also illuminate stairs, shelving, boxes and other items, making it easier to get around without a bodily collision.
Store Tools and Equipment Properly
When improperly stored or just left lying around, hand tools, yard tools, power tools, and equipment can pose some of the biggest safety risks to not only you, but also children and pets. Working on projects or vehicles usually requires the use of a surprising number of tools, which you may be tempted to toss on the table or off to the side after a long day, especially if you’re planning to get after it again in the next day or two.
Tools with sharp or pointy edges are always a safety hazard, as is most equipment that you would use in a garage for projects, so it’s important to have a proper organizational system for them. (This means you finally have an excuse to get that rolling tool chest you've been eyeing)
Consider investing in a system of lockable garage storage cabinets for larger tools, power tools, and bulky equipment. This will help prevent accidents, as well as prolong the life of expensive tools by protecting them from dirt, debris, and damaging moisture. If you have stationary tools that can’t be easily moved, be sure to disconnect them from their power supply when not in use.
A slatwall storage system is a great solution for yard tools, while a peg board system is often your best bet for more compact and frequently used hand tools. It lets you see exactly where everything is and access it easily without spending valuable time searching through a drawer for that 10 mm wrench (again).
Chemical Safety
The garage often becomes a catch-all for your household chemicals. It can be a maze of paint, fuel, lubricants, fertilizers, cleaning products, pesticides, solvents, and a variety of other caustic materials. Every one of these items poses a risk to exposed children and pets. It’s also very annoying to spend half an hour searching for that one can of brake cleaner, which you could have sworn you left right on that table…
After purging whatever you don’t need, a lockable cabinet or shed with proper ventilation can be a literal lifesaver when it comes to storing chemicals and hazardous materials. Just be sure to double-check storage instructions on each item, and label them accordingly. Also, take care to create a cool and dry environment, as extreme temperatures can have disastrous consequences.
Additionally, any cans with corrosion or those with significant wear should be discarded. Check with your town prior to tossing things in the trash, since most chemicals have very strict rules for disposal and many towns offer hazardous chemical drop-off or disposal days to make it easy for you. Most auto parts stores will accept used automotive fluids and even old car batteries.
Lastly, always be sure to prioritize your personal safety when handling chemicals. Put on protective gear like gloves, long sleeves, goggles, masks, and aprons to prevent dangerous inhalation or burns.
Fire and Carbon Monoxide Precautions
While hopefully not primary concerns in your garage, the risk of fire and carbon monoxide exposure still poses a safety threat to you and your family. Even if you are very cautious about limiting your risk of fire, take some time to install some proactive safety measures. Mount a fire extinguisher or two near the door of your home and one near often-used workshop spaces. Of course, you’ll want a heat detector or smoke alarm as well.
Since your garage is meant to house vehicles, it makes sense that you would want to install a carbon monoxide detector too. This is especially important if you like to do vehicle repairs and maintenance in your garage and find yourself running them while inside. Even with good ventilation and open doors, toxic gases can still build up. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Inspect and Service Garage Doors and Openers
Speaking of garage doors, they’re surprisingly easy items to forget about – despite being likely the largest moving part in your entire garage. Many times, folks just take for granted that the garage door goes up or down whenever you push a button…until it doesn’t.
Since it’s a mechanical piece of equipment, you need to periodically inspect garage door cables and springs for wear. Regularly test the auto-reverse safety feature and make sure that all sensors are properly aligned and unobstructed. Keep the garage door opener remotes out of reach of curious children and, of course, always know where the emergency release handle is – just in case.
Inspect all locks on garage doors and doors into the house. Garages often hold some of the most valuable items in a home, and sadly, they’re often the most overlooked when it comes to locks and security. If necessary, upgrade to something that will ensure optimal protection of your space and its valuables.
Car Jack Safety
Whether you spend hours doing your own car repairs or you occasionally need to jack up your vehicle for a quick tire change, jack safety needs to be a key consideration.
Before jacking up your car, make sure you’re using the right jack for the job. Refer to the owner's manual for the correct specifications regarding your vehicle’s weight and size. Additionally, confirm your equipment is safe to use by examining it for any questionable wear and tear.
Park the vehicle on a flat and level surface to ensure the jack remains steady during use. Position it properly at designated jack points,and never rely solely on a single jack when elevating your vehicle. Use jack stands or ramps to hold the car securely and always block the wheels to prevent the car from rolling while you’re working under it. Lift gradually and steadily, using smooth and controlled movements to avoid sudden jerks or excessive force. Once finished, lower the vehicle the same way – slow and steady.