Garage Cabinets And Storage: Safety And Efficiency In The Garage

Garage cabinets and storage may seem like an unnecessary luxury in a space that you are accustomed to using like a dumping ground for half-finished, half-started or totally failed projects. Whether you’ve been a fanatical DIY enthusiast over the years or even if you’ve only started doing it yourself in these recent times, you probably have a garage full of all sorts of gadgets, bits and pieces and potentially treacherous objects hanging around like an accident waiting to happen. While you may be used to skirting around the mess, don’t forget it’s unlikely to be just you who uses the garage. What about the other members of your family who might pop in when you are either not there or who like to spend time just hanging around when you potter away?

You have a responsibility to keep the area as safe as possible for everybody who enters the garage. Towards this end, here are some areas that you may want to think about.

Safety from Dangerous Chemicals

You may not think of substances like weedkiller, brake fluid and fertilizer as potentially dangerous chemicals. However, many of them are or can be more than just potentially dangerous; they can be lethal and need to be kept out of harm’s way as much as possible. The best idea is to keep anything that might have a harmful effect on the uninitiated on a high level and in a locked cupboard, one to which only you and possibly other responsible adults, have a key. A metal cupboard with a solid floor that will contain any leaks is ideal and these are easily obtainable from a good builders’ merchants, hardware or do-it-yourself store. If your garage cabinets and storage cupboards do not have locks, either fit one yourself, or attach a padlock to keep prying fingers out.

Safety from Huge Obstacles

On the other hand, heavy objects are safer when kept at floor level so they do not fall and injure somebody. Machines such as lawnmowers have sharp blades and are best kept in a cupboard or cabinet with doors. However, because of their size, they can easily be a tripping hazard so, if possible, try and keep them under a workbench or in a corner where nobody is likely to be walking past them constantly.

Safety from Sharp Objects & Sharp Corners

Tools with blades or other items with sharp corners should also be kept out of the general thoroughfare; cover or wrap where possible, and keep them in locked drawers or cupboards or high up out of the way of little hands. Watch out, too, for sharp corners on countertops and doors and either round them off with a file or cover or wrap them with a resilient but soft material.

Once the initial elements of danger have been covered, keeping your workspace generally tidy not only helps with safety but also promotes efficient and economical working practices. Try to have regular clearouts of all your garage cabinets and storage areas, just as you spring clean your home and put things away as soon as you finish using them.