Pick a dry day and plan for a weekend
You will want the door open and some things out on the driveway, so choose a dry, mild day. A small garage can be done in an afternoon. A full double garage that has not been touched in a few years is more realistic over a weekend. Have these ready:
- Heavy-duty garbage bags and a few boxes
- A push broom and a regular broom with a long handle
- A stiff scrub brush and a bucket
- Dish soap and warm water
- Baking soda or plain clay cat litter for oil spots
- Work gloves and a dust mask
- Labels or masking tape and a marker
Step 1: Empty and sort
Take everything you can carry out onto the driveway. It feels like more work, but it is the only way to see what you actually have. Sort it into four groups:
- Keep: things you used this year or will need this winter.
- Donate or sell: working items you have not touched in a year or two.
- Recycle or garbage: broken things, old cardboard, empty containers.
- Special disposal: old paint, motor oil, solvents, batteries and propane cylinders. These do not go in the garbage. Most Ontario municipalities run a household hazardous waste depot or drop-off day. Check your city or region's website for the location and hours.
Step 2: Clean from the top down
- Ceiling and corners. Sweep cobwebs from the ceiling, light fixtures and corners with a long-handled broom. Wear a dust mask; garages are dusty.
- Shelves and walls. Wipe shelves with a damp cloth and a little dish soap. Dust the tops of cabinets and the garage door opener housing.
- Windows and the door. Wipe the windows and the inside of the garage door panels. Check the weatherstripping at the bottom of the door; if it is cracked, it lets snow and cold in.
- Floor last. Sweep from the back of the garage toward the door so the dirt goes out, not into corners.
Step 3: Deal with oil and salt on the floor
Fresh oil drips: cover them with baking soda or plain clay cat litter, leave it for a few hours or overnight to soak up the oil, then sweep it up.
Older oil stains: wet the spot, add a squirt of dish soap and scrub hard with a stiff brush. Rinse with a bucket of clean water and push the water out with the broom. Very old stains may lighten rather than disappear, and that is normal on bare concrete.
Last winter's salt: white film on the concrete comes off with warm water and a stiff brush. Rinse and let the floor dry with the door open before you bring things back in. For salt that has spread into the house, see how to remove road salt stains from floors and carpets.
Step 4: Store things where they belong
A garage stays organized when everything has a home. Before putting things back, think in zones:
- Winter zone, near the house door: shovels, ice scraper, ice melter, boots and a boot tray. These are what you grab most often from December to March.
- Car zone: keep the space around the car clear so doors open without hitting anything. A rubber mat or a shallow tray under the car catches melting slush.
- Summer zone, at the back or up high: lawn mower, garden tools, hoses, patio cushions and bikes. Hang bikes on wall hooks to free floor space.
- Tools zone: a pegboard or wall rail keeps hand tools visible and off the bench.
- Storage zone: clear plastic bins with lids, labelled on the end, on sturdy shelving. Clear bins let you see what is inside without opening every one.
Use the walls and ceiling as much as the floor. Wall hooks, shelving and overhead racks get things off the ground, which also keeps them away from melting snow.
Step 5: Protect things from the cold
An unheated Ontario garage freezes in winter. A few things do not handle that well:
- Latex paint and water-based products can be ruined by freezing. Bring them into the basement or a closet.
- Some cleaning products and liquids can freeze, split their containers or separate. Check the label for storage temperatures and move them inside if needed.
- Garden hoses should be drained, coiled and stored so leftover water does not freeze and split them. Turn off and drain the outdoor tap from inside the house if you can.
- The lawn mower and other small engines have their own winter storage steps. Follow the owner's manual.
- Propane cylinders should not be stored in an attached garage. Keep barbecue tanks outdoors, upright and away from doors and windows.
Never run the car with the garage door closed, even for a few minutes. Exhaust contains carbon monoxide, which you cannot see or smell. A carbon monoxide alarm in the house near the garage door is a good idea. Wear gloves and a dust mask while you clean, open the door for fresh air, and use one cleaner at a time.
Keep it tidy through the winter
- Sweep out salt and slush every week or two so it does not build into a crust.
- Empty the boot tray and car tray when they fill with meltwater.
- Put things back in their zone right away; a garage gets messy one item at a time.
- Do a quick ten-minute reset on the first mild weekend of each month.
Common mistakes
- Putting everything back without sorting. You end up with a clean floor and the same clutter.
- Leaving paint and liquids to freeze. You find out in spring that they are unusable.
- Throwing hazardous products in the garbage. Take them to your municipal drop-off instead.
- Blocking the path to the house door. In winter you want a clear, safe walk from the car to the house.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best way to organize a garage for winter?
Empty it, sort into keep, donate, garbage and special disposal, then put things back in zones. Keep winter items like shovels, ice melter and boots near the house door, summer items at the back or up high, and use wall hooks and labelled clear bins to get things off the floor.
How do you clean oil stains off a garage floor?
For fresh drips, cover them with baking soda or plain clay cat litter, leave it to soak up the oil, then sweep it away. For older stains, wet the spot, add dish soap, scrub with a stiff brush and rinse with clean water. Very old stains may only lighten.
What should not be stored in a cold garage?
Latex paint and other water-based products can be ruined by freezing, and some liquids can freeze or split their containers, so bring them inside. Propane cylinders should be kept outdoors, upright, not in an attached garage.
Where do I take old paint and chemicals in Ontario?
Most Ontario municipalities run a household hazardous waste depot or collection day. Check your city or region's website for locations and hours. Do not put these products in the regular garbage.
How often should I clean the garage in winter?
Sweep out salt and slush every week or two, empty boot and car trays as they fill, and do a quick ten-minute tidy once a month. A bigger clean-out in the fall and again in spring keeps it manageable.
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