If you have a garage, you’re most likely familiar with it being the drop-off point for everything you don’t want to look at or deal with. Unfortunately, you have to face the mess some time; it’s not going to take care of itself. This can be a daunting and intimidating task that requires more time and energy than you have, so Flow Wall has offered this simple 5-minute guide to help you get started.

Clean it up

The most obvious step is simply cleaning. Your garage won’t feel organized until the space is free from dust and mold. Also, you most likely won’t want to organize it until it is clean. Break the cycle by deciding to do the basics. Spend just a few minutes sweeping, dusting, and removing cobwebs. Use this opportunity to look for any signs of rodents calling your garage home. Once the space is clean, you will feel a lot better about jumping in and getting things organized.

Get rid of it

One of the easiest ways to deal with the mess is also one of hardest for some people. Throw it away or give it away. Sometimes the best thing you can do to organize is to simply get rid of the item, whether you sell, donate or dump it.

To get started, decide that you will get rid of ten items that are larger than a basketball. This may seem extreme, but if you have a hard time getting rid of things, setting a goal can be helpful. Look for things that are blocking walkways or shoved in random areas. Getting rid of ten items will be an energizing part of getting organized.

Designate zones

Designating zones is an essential step to not only getting things organized, but keeping them that way. There are a lot of ways to do this, but the point is to create areas for everything from yard care, holiday decorations, sports equipment and miscellaneous. You can draw a simple sketch of the garage and map out the zones or label the areas with signs.

Even if you don’t have the time to put everything in the right spot today, knowing that it has a place will definitely help as you try to tackle the project in the future.

Use a storage system

If you aren’t able to find more than an occasional few minutes to clean and organize, perhaps getting a garage storage system would be your best option. Storage systems can usually be customized and offer creative solutions for any garage size.

Storage solutions include hook systems for tools and bikes, slat walls with customizable shelves and storage cabinets. The right storage system can leave your garage feeling clean and looking under control.

Staying organized can take a lot of time, but getting started using easy tools and tricks can make all the difference. Even if you only have five minutes, with some easy objectives in mind you can have a clean and tidy garage in no time.