After the warm weather days are gone, it’s easy to shut your garage door and never look back. Unfortunately, this neglect will lead to stacks of boxes and a large mess waiting for you as soon as spring begins to bloom. Instead, stay ahead of the game and use these tips to keep your garage organized during the winter—you’ll thank us later!

Do the ultimate purge
Take the time to determine how you want to utilize your garage—maybe you want to be able to park two cars, or store lawn-care equipment—and get rid of everything that hinders this from happening. The winter is an ideal time to donate gently used goods to local shelters or charities.

Avoid clutter drop spots
Do you have one spot that seems to keep accumulating all sorts of junk? Find a way to organize that space wisely! If open shelves invite clutter, use labeled bins and boxes to help you keep the mess from maximizing. Eliminating the option to drop things where you please can be extremely beneficial.

Maximize your space
When space is limited, the best solution is to get things off of the ground. Walls and ceilings offer premium storage space that is often overlooked. If you’re going the DIY route, utilize wall hooks and mounted shelving units. On the contrary, if you’re willing to spend a pretty penny, there are numerous customized garage organizing systems on the market.