I am guilty. I’m one of those who doesn’t pay attention to the garage except if I need something from it. Or if I’m going out and I need to pull out the car.Sadly, I’m not an isolated case. Garages are often brushed off and go unnoticed by other residents as well. But that's not to undermine the importance of a garage in one’s home. In fact, it is one of the most functional and vital spaces of our houses. Garages have power and utility tools, lawn mowing, and gardening equipment—and most importantly, it stores your car. It’s important, and we’d argue that it should even be made mandatory, to ensure that the garage is as safe and secure as possible.Because heavy-duty and sharp things constantly move in a garage space, safety must be one of the top priorities that every homeowner should pay attention to. We listed down some garage safety “protocols” and habits that we learned throughout years of stories from friends whose garages are certified safe.
1. Store hazardous chemicals properly.
There is no garage that does not have products that are hazardous, especially for homeowners with cars. These include paint and solvents, pesticides, gasoline, fertilizers, cleaning products, and car fluids. These. must be kept out of reach from children and pets who are the most vulnerable to these chemicals. You must lock them up and put them in the ceiling or wall area.FlexiMounts has the Classic 2-Pack Wall Shelving WR Series that can carry weights of 200 to 400 pounds. It is made of powder-coated steel and the buckle design has velcros that prevent it from falling. It can be easily installed by one person who should secure it to a wall stud or a solid concrete wall. Another option from FlexiMounts is its Classic 4’ X 8’ Overhead Garage Storage Rack that comes with hooks. It should be mounted on the ceiling, following its step-by-step instruction and installation template. The rack is made of cold-roll steel and its height can be adjusted from 22 to 40 inches. It is also waterproof so perfect for chemicals that might accidentally spillover.
2. Keep power tools in a safe area.
Kids get out of our sight all the time and it won’t be a surprise if they’ll wander to the garage. They might take an interest in the tools they find there which can be dangerous to themselves, their playmates, and guardians. Make sure this doesn’t happen by storing your power tools properly. These are used on a regular basis so it might not be a good idea to store them at a height. Buy a utility box where you can put all the tools that you need and are using. Once stored and locked in a container, put them all in the 2’ X 4’ garage Shelving Heavy Duty FS24. It’s adjustable, made of carbon steel, and can carry up to 4,650 pounds. It might be better if you label your containers even with just paper and pen to make it easier for you to identify where you placed your power tools.
3. Sharp tools must also be out of reach for kids.
After usage, most people would just leave a rake, shovel, and other sharp-edged yard tools in a corner or on the table. These can become incredibly dangerous if they are not properly stored. To solve this problem, you may want to buy a work table with a built-in drawer. FlexiMounts has the WB201 or a durable workbench with a built-in drawer. It’s made of cold-roll steel, adjustable, and can carry up to 3000 pounds of weight. The frame is durable and the one-inch wood surface is 100% rubberwood. You may place some of your sharp tools inside the built-in storage drawer, for convenience. and safety. The drawer is made of solid steel and 26.2” wide.
4. Maintain the cleanliness of the garage.
Make sure that once you complete a project in your garage, the last step is to clean the mess you’ve made. Sweep the floor, return tools to where you got them, and throw away disposables such as oily rags.
5. Check the garage door regularly.
Do you know that for most American houses, the garage door is the home’s biggest moving object? Because it’s big and used daily when you’re out with the car, the garage door is very important to notice. Look at the door springs and cables periodically to check if they have worn out. Keep the remote to the door out of reach for children. Know how to use the emergency release handle of your garage door. Make sure that the garage door photo eye sensors are unobstructed and clean.
6. Throw away expired chemicals and old paints.
We won’t be surprised if there’s an empty or half-used paint can in your garage, especially if you’ve lived in your house for a while. Throw them away if they’ve been there for too long. Car batteries, tires, and vehicle parts that can’t be used anymore must be disposed of instead of occupying space in the garage.
7. Improve your garage lighting.
A lot of accidents can happen from poor eyesight so avoid this by installing a modern LED light fixture in your garage. This can improve energy efficiency and give uniform lighting to your garage. With improved lighting, moving around the garage would be easier which also makes it safer.
8. Invest in fire safety measures and take them seriously.
The best way to prevent a fire is to never start it. But even if you’ve already been following these fire safety protocols, it pays to install. additional measures. You may add a smoke alarm or heat detector alarm to keep you alert with an unusual smell or build-up of smoke and flames.
9. Check electrical cords, replace those that are old, and be wary of them when using.
These are fire and shock hazards so make sure that when you’re plugging a specific tool that you are using the right cord with the correct gauge. As a final note, do not overload your garage outlets with charging devices and extension cords.
