Garage storage primer - Brief Article

Sunset, March, 2000 by Barbara Boughton

* Increase lighting in the garage, especially if you'll be using power tools. That means having adequate circuitry as well as several outlets. Light cords should be gathered up and kept out of the way.

Storage products

A host of storage products can be found at hardware stores, at closet and home improvement stores, and in home and gadget catalogs such as Held Everything (www.holdeverything.com) and Improvements (www.improvementscatalog.com). Here's a sampling.

* Hoists. Today's bike hoist pulley systems operate like blinds: Pull on the rope to raise and lock the bike in the air and loosen the rope to lower it. Similar systems for pulling canoes or kayaks up to the ceiling are also on the market.

* Bins for tight places, such as between a washer and dryer.

* Fold-away equipment, such as folding steel sawhorses.

* Sports equipment racks for everything from skis to soccer balls.

* Magnetic wall strips for tools.