…is that you have to find it in order to use it. I’m sure your garage is pristine, an honor to the Mancave name. My garage, however, could use some organizing. Or be bigger. I don’t see bigger happening in the near future, so I work on organizing.

It’s not enough to fill boxes and stack them away.  If you do that, you might be looking for the camping gear you bought on that great sale last fall and find the Christmas decorations you were looking for last December. I’ve tried labels, tape, all sorts of markers, and I’ve not been satisfied-but I think I’ve found a way I can mark storage containers that works.

First, get your storage containers. Temporary storage can be cardboard boxes, although if your garage is dry they’ll last for quite a while.

Second, get two rolls of tape: a roll of white Duck tape (or light colored), and a roll of clear packing tape.

Third, lay down a strip of the white Duck tape on the side or end (or both!) of the container you’re going to label.

Fourth, lay down a strip of the clear packing tape over the top of the white Duck tape.

And your label is ready to use! Write on the label with a dry erase marker, if you need to change the labels often-just wipe it off with your hand or cloth.  Dry erase marker does rub off easily, so if you need a label that lasts, use a permanent marker. Your label won’t rub off, but you can erase it by using alcohol as a solvent.

And just like that, your life is perfect with everything stored away! Let’s see, this box will be labeled “Headaches”, this one will be ” Pains of Posterior”, this one will be labeled “Work” -oops, I need a bigger box for that one….

Hope this gives you some help.  I’ve started labeling drawers and storage areas, and as I work with tools and other items, make a point to put them back in their labeled homes.

Organizing for the Good and True,

Billy Acre