Free Your Space: If I had a hammer

Posted by Annette Reyman on July 25, 2012

Oh, the number of projects promised to these summer months with a countless string of good intentions all loosely attached by a sticky note marked, “TO DO (as soon as I find my tools).”

We have been buoyed through the busy-ness of the school year, keeping pace with work, school and extra-curricular schedules, by the knowledge that summer will come. There will be a break when the little annoyances that plague our days can be dealt with once and for all: the leaky faucet, the missing piece of molding in the hallway, the cabinet whose hinge needs tightening, the towel bar awaiting installation.

It’s not that we mean to ignore these home projects. It’s that in spending the few hours we have set aside searching for the right tools for the job, a well-meaning attempt can quickly turn into a cool drink in the yard with a commiserating neighbor.

The reason these jobs gather dust might be that we haven’t first tackled the project that supports all others: our tools. When it comes to tackling around-the-house projects, nothing is quite as encouraging as having a handy, well-organized set of tools. Here are some tips for getting — and keeping — your tools organized:

Go on a treasure hunt. In order to know what you have to work with, you have to know where everything is. Start your tool-organizing endeavor by scouring the house for tools. You may have most of them in the garage or utility room, but are there any strays in the kitchen drawers? Under the bathroom sink? On the bedroom floor? Now’s the time to gather them all to one place.
Rate your findings. Do you have a hammer? Do you like the size and weight? Is the handle in good condition? Do you have more than one? More than three? A broad assortment of tools can be useful, but only if they work and offer good variety. Evaluate all your tools. Put them in size order. If you have doubles, decide which is better. Remove any tools that do not make the cut.
Complete your collection. Is there anything missing for the projects that you have lined up to do? Were you able to find both flat- and Phillips-head screwdrivers? Do you have or need a power drill? Make a list of exactly what’s missing and search the local fliers for summer sales.
Choose your storage. In order to provide proper storage for your tools, you need to know how large a storage container you need to have. Is a small toolbox sufficient or do you need to invest in something larger? There is also the option of hanging pegboard in a work area so that tools can be hung. And power tools will need their own shelf space.
Set up your space. Once you have decided on the tools and the type of tool storage, it is time to set it all up. Completely empty out the area and clean the space. Set up your toolbox, peg board and storage shelves. Keeping like items together, put all your tools away.

If tool accessibility has been holding you back from checking all those little fix-it tasks off your list, taking the time now to get your tools organized will pay off over and over again in the future. Rather than the frustration of knowing that there is yet another item to add to the list, you can feel the pride in being able to go directly to your toolbox and handling the job on the spot.

To contact Annette Reyman for organizing work, productivity support, gift certificates or speaking engagements in the Greater Philadelphia area call (610) 213-9559 or email her at annette@allrightorganizing.com. Reyman is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO®) and Board Member of its Greater Philadelphia Chapter. Visit her website at www.allrightorganizing.com or follow All Right Organizing on Facebook.