Wouldn’t it be easy if you could keep your home clean without worrying about where to store all the different cleaning supplies? The struggle is real as you must figure out the best location while considering the safety issues surrounding the chemicals you use. Let’s see if storing cleaning supplies in the garage is viable.
A garage is a convenient location for most cleaning supplies. However, it requires some planning owing to all the other stuff in the garage. There are cars, generators, lawnmowers, etc. As such, you need to map out a floor plan when you want to store cleaning supplies in the garage.
This feature focuses on storing cleaning products in the garage and good places in the house for the same. I’ll also touch on the things to consider when choosing a storage location.
How to Store Cleaning Supplies in the Garage?
Divide the Garage into Sites: Device a floor plan to store and keep track of different items. This way, you can keep dangerous chemicals separate to avoid mix-ups.
Consider Open Shelves: Place storage baskets and caddies on open shelves as they make it easy to store supplies according to the area you’ll be using them.
Use Closed Cabinets for Dangerous Chemicals: A closed cabinet is handy for dangerous chemicals such as bleach, ammonia, toilet cleaners, chlorine, and hydrogen peroxide.
Utilize Vertical Space: Designate a vertical space for brooms, mops, and yard tools. You can hang these items using hooks or clip holders. The same area can also store other things such as lawnmowers and vacuum cleaners.
Places in House to Store Cleaning Supplies
Laundry Room
The space above the washer and dryer is excellent for open shelving to store laundry detergent, stain removers, and fabric softeners. For easy access, you can also keep all-purpose cleaners and window cleaners in the laundry room.
Under Various Sinks
The toilet, tub, drain, and glass cleaner can go under the bathroom sink. On the hand, dishwasher pods, stainless steel cleaners, dish detergents, and sponges are easily accessible under the kitchen sink.
Storage Closet/Cabinet
You can create your storage closet if you have no designated area for your cleaning supplies. It will allow you to store and organize based on the items you have and use. The closet can include open shelving, pullout drawers, caddies, storage baskets, and vertical space for vacuum cleaners, mops, etc. Then, label stuff to make it easy to find all your cleaning agents.
Things to Consider in Storage Selection
Proper handling and storage of cleaning supplies are critical to a safe household. These are the things that we deem essential when considering a storage location.
Temperature
Cleaning supplies should be kept in moderate temperatures in a well-ventilated space. Yet, they should not be kept near an HVAC system as they can spread fumes throughout the home. Liquid cleaners should not be kept in the garage in summer or winter because the extreme temperature swings can impact their containers.
Identify Toxic Cleaning Supplies
All cleaning products have a label to specify their toxicity. Some will have the ‘Danger’ label, while others have a ‘Warning’ sign. Both labels indicate that the substances can be fatal when ingested. Therefore, they should be stored in locked cabinets. You should also know how to clean up after a spill and handle human exposure.
Know the Shelf Life
All cleaning products have an expiry date. Others, like bleach, will lose their effectiveness once you open the bottle. Organizing items while keeping their shelf life in mind is good practice.
Other things to keep in mind:
- Corrosive and flammable products should not be kept together.
- All cleaning supplies should be stored below eye level in locations that children and pets cannot access.
- Flammables should not be kept in the open.
- Incompatible chemicals should not be kept together—for example, vinegar and baking soda or vinegar and bleach.
- Keep toxic products that look like beverages out of reach. For example, Windex can be mistaken for a sports drink, while Pine-Sol can be mistaken for apple juice.
Final Thoughts
Finding the optimal place for your cleaning supplies is critical. As you can see, you can store cleaning supplies in the garage. Nevertheless, there are essential things to remember. Still, grouping cleaning products and stashing them in different areas in your house is a good organizational idea.
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