The garage should be thought of as the "backstage area" that keeps your home's interior and exterior running smoothly! However, homeowners don't always know what should be kept in garages. This quick guide to "all things garage" covers essential items to keep in your garage.

The Importance of a Home's Garage

Your home's garage is important because it's the place to store all of the items that aren't safe or appropriate for your main living space. The garage also provides a work area where paint splatters, drops of oil, and grass clippings can be tolerated. Unlike basements and attics, garages allow homeowners to quickly access tools and household materials without making journeys into tight, dark spaces.

What to Always Keep in Your Home's Garage

Most people see a garage as a place for storing tools, sports equipment, camping equipment, and other items that don't quite belong inside the home. Yes, a garage is a convenient space. However, it should also be an intentional space. Make sure you have these items parked in the garage!

1. Caulk

A tube of caulk can save the day when a small house issue pops up. Caulk can instantly seal up gaps between your walls and window frames to stop drafts on colder days. It can also be used to "freshen up" areas around baseboards and trim. While caulk can sometimes "do the trick" fully to solve an issue, it can also be a good bandage for a problem until you can get a professional in to do some work.

2. Industrial Extension Cords

A long, heavy-duty extension cord is essential because it allows you to power up essential tools or appliances in an emergency situation. When doing home improvements around the yard, you can also use a heavy-duty cord to power work equipment a distance away from the house. Outdoor extension cords can range in length from a few feet to a few hundred feet.

3. Oil

You don't want to get caught without oil in your garage. Every garage should have a designated oil area. While the cool and dry environment in a typical garage should be ideal, it's important to keep oil stored in a space with a relatively consistent temperature.

4. A Staple Gun

This is an underrated tool that has versatile benefits. Staple guns can be used to secure everything from carpeting to wiring in a flash. The beauty of a staple gun is that it lets you handle quick DIY fixes even if you don't feel handy enough to use standard tools.

5. A Health Kit

While you may already have a first-aid kit in your bathroom or kitchen, it's time to make a new one specifically for the garage. There's always potential to be injured when doing everything from tinkering with the lawn mower to hammering away at a woodwork project. Having a fully stocked first-aid kit with bandages, tape, ointments, eye wash, tweezers, and other essentials standing by in the garage will save you time when an emergency happens.

6. Spare "Parts" From Household Items 

Create a designated space in your garage for all of the "spare parts" from household items. How often do people simply toss aside spare hardware, carpet swatches, paint samples, and other items that are left over after home improvements? Trying to locate these items when you need to reference brands or product numbers for future projects can cause some big headaches. Just think of the struggle of remembering the name of a paint color you used five years ago if you need to fix a part of a wall that's been damaged! When you make an "accountability" section in your garage for all of these items, you'll be able to quickly reference essential items.

How to Make Your Home's Garage Unique

Every piece of "real estate" within a garage has to count! The best way to make a garage both unique and practical is to install a customizable storage system. This ensures that tools, hazardous liquids, and other items can be stored off the ground. Some storage options include shelves, lockers, cubbies, and built-in cabinetry with a workbench. These systems also make it possible to lock up potentially dangerous items. Hanging storage that consists of slatwalls helps to make items easily accessible while keeping them away from clutter. 

Don't underestimate the importance of good lighting when upgrading your garage to be more unique. If you work in your garage at night, you're probably constantly straining your eyes with ordinary incandescent bulbs. Upgrading to LED lights can help to illuminate every corner of the garage.

Finally, consider battling clutter by looking beyond your floors and walls for storage. Ceiling racks can nearly double the amount of storage space in a garage. This type of storage can be ideal for camping equipment, sports equipment, patio furniture, and car-related accessories.

Written by Taylor McKnight, Author for Best Oil Company LLC