DIY Network

Organizing the Garage If your car is out on the street because there's no room for it in the garage, it's time to get organized. From "Today Show Tips" episode DTST-123

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Clearing the Toy Clutter

Do you sometimes confuse your garage with your sporting goods store? Are there bats and balls and other sports equipment everywhere? Well, it's time to put that stuff away. It's easy if you remember that the four walls of your garage are actually four more floors. With the right shelves and hooks, you can actually quadruple your storage space.

Sterilite makes a collection of some of the sturdiest plastic storage products available. One of them is a shelving unit that can be assembled in about 30 seconds; each shelf will hold 50 pounds. It only costs about $30.

Storage totes are great because they hold everything and they keep it all dry. If you have kids or pets, though, drill a hole in the tote. If the kids are goofing around and get stuck inside, that hole will be a very good thing.

The cabinets are great for storing anything toxic. You can lock the doors to keep the kids out of it. Also look for modular units that make storing toys easy and fun.

Rubbermaid has a system called the Fasttrack System. The track mounts horizontally on the wall with screws; the system has a variety of attachments for hanging hoses, tools, even bikes. You can adjust the hooks whenever you need to very easily.

E-Z Ancor's Tornado hooks have a pin in the back that acts as an anchor in drywall. You put the screws in with a Phillips screwdriver; they'll hold 30 pounds. If you hit a stud, the hook will hold 70 pounds.

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Re-use old jars to store nails, screws and other small items. Just screw the top of the jar to the underside of a shelf.

Going Green in the Garage

Organizing a garage means dealing with all the tools lying around. Here are some clever ideas for storing those tools. What's really exciting is that instead of shopping for a bunch of bins and boxes, you can create storage out of things you already have. It's the green way to store stuff.

Old jars get a new purpose as storage for screws, nails and other small items. Use a screw or two to attach the top of the jar to the underside of a shelf. Fill the jar with whatever, and screw the jar onto its top.

Pegboards are another storage classic. They're great because you can see everything; the tools aren't lost in a drawer somewhere. If you want, you can draw the outline of the tools on the pegboard; that way, you can tell at a glance if one is missing and could be in use building a tree fort.

An old bow rake finds new purpose as a convenient rack for smaller gardening tools.

A metal bow rake that's lost its handle can gain a new life in the garage. Remove most of the handle, drill a pilot hole through the remainder and screw it to the wall. It's perfect for hanging your garden tools.

Old metal garbage cans can get recycled, too. They're great for storing bags of soil and fertilizer — a great alternative to piling them up in the corner. Drill some holes in the bottom so that the nutrients in the soil or fertilizer can "breathe." Otherwise, they can go rancid.

Old tires can go green, too. It's not something you can do yourself, but tires can be turned into rubber mulch. It's a little more expensive, but it lasts for 10 years or so, and it doesn't fade. It won't wash away, either; it's heavier than regular mulch.

Some manufacturers also make garden hoses out of old tires, too, and they're less expensive than new-rubber hoses.

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