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Conquering Your Home's Summer Clutter

By hElEn KoRnBluM

Sports equipment migrates around our homes during every season, but summer poses the biggest organizational challenges. You may know where your children are, but are you sure about the location of their helmets, beach toys or camping gear, especially when you’re already running late for a sports meet, lesson or field trip? Welcome to the club.

soluTIons for: THE GARAGE Your garage may already be clogged with sports equipment, leaving your car to sizzle in a hot driveway. After you purge the junk and unusable stuff in the garage, the next step is to select an

area to dedicate to sports gear.

If you can afford a high-end solution, look into wall-mounted track systems. These strong horizontal “ribs” support hooks, shelves and baskets to store everything from bikes to ping pong balls. Monkey Bars Storage solutions is a local franchise worth researching.

If you want to see other options, look at Pinterest for sports equipment organizing. You can mimic the effect of professional installations using pegboard (with ¾-inch holes) in any configuration to fit your garage walls. Be sure to use pegboard spacers behind it so you will have the depth necessary for the hooks. The various clips and hooks sold for pegboard will allow you to hang helmets, rackets, fishing rods, bags of balls and bikes. If you’re housing a lot of bikes, start with Lowe’s to find versatile racks. The configuration of your space will determine if you need a vertical, horizontal, wallmounted or floor solution.

What about that overflow of balls for each sport? Mesh or wire bins can help. An old-fashioned shopping cart would work. The Container Store features some wire mesh toy barrels for balls, too.

Trash cans, clear storage boxes, and

cubby units are also useful for sports gear. Make sure the height of any trash can you use is at least three-fourths the height of the gear (think hockey or lacrosse sticks), or the can may topple.

soluTIons for: THE MUDROOM What can you do if you don’t have a garage? Your mudroom might accommodate a Rubbermaid Sports Organizer, which offers some upright storage for bats or rackets as well as a mesh bag for balls. If you can move winter items from your entry closet, put up pegboard for summer usage. You might also consider a deck box near the house or in the sunroom to round up equipment in one place.

Load in a supply of sturdy canvas tote bags for the smaller items that will travel with you or each child to the pool, field or course. These will hold towels, sunblock, water bottles, small toys and snacks for a busy day.

have a good time. and then teach the kids to put all that summer stuff away where it belongs when you

get home!

 Helen kornblum is a life coach and organizer in Gainesville, Fl. She owns Natural Order Organizing. Her specialty is coaching teens and young adults who have ADHD or ADD.