How to Organize Your Garage Walls

Finding garage storage ideas is overwhelming. There are so many products out there that can help you organize your garage. There are a lot of garage shelving products that do the job, but what do you do when you have bulky stuff that doesn’t fit on a shelf? You use vertical storage using the walls in your garage!

I lost all hope of having my garage clean and organized when my husband took over half our garage space to build a hobby train table. I also lost hope of having a space to call ‘mine,’ where I could have all my tools and supplies to do my DIY projects.

Our bikes ended up blocking the access to the air compressor, and my foot got stuck in between them each time I wanted to reach for the beach chairs. Needless to say, everything that got moved to the opposite side of the said table was just deliberately dumped. Even the guest room had to pay the price since many of my tools and supplies ended up in the closet.

Garage Storage Products and Ideas

But last weekend, we put an end to a cluttered garage floor and found a better storage system using the vertical space (a.k.a walls), hanging the Rubbermaid® FastTrack® Garage Organization System. With the 4th of July festivities right around the corner, we needed to have our summer and beach gear organized and easy to reach.

The installation was a breeze. As I always say, the hard part is to start, but once we installed the FastTrack rails, I gained momentum and spruced up the place. I will show you how I installed two of these amazing vertical storage systems and give you some garage organization ideas.

How to Install Rubbermaid® FastTrack® Rails

First, we installed Rubbermaid® FastTrack® Rails. Made of heavy steel, these rails can hold up to 1,750 lbs. when hung properly on the wall studs.

How to install vertical storage in the garage walls. Clean up your garage with Rubbermaid® FastTrack® Garage Organization System. #GarageCleanUp #ad

The Rubbermaid FastTrack rails come in two lengths, 48-inch and 84-inch- Since we had a long and empty wall, we installed the 84-inch rail. Here is a list of what you will need to install it:

  • 1 – 84 inch Rubbermaid FastTrack rail. At only $15.77, it’s a steal!
  • 2 – Hardware packs (one pack only if installing a 48-inch rail)
  • Level
  • Measuring tape
  • Pencil
  • Drill
  • Hammer
Garage organization made easy. Clean up your garage with Rubbermaid® FastTrack® Garage Organization System. #GarageCleanUp #ad
  1. Locate the studs on the wall, measure, and mark with a pencil. Drill each hole. Hanging the system on the wall studs gives the steel rail the capacity to hold up to 1,750 lbs of weight.
  2. Each hardware pack includes 4 toggle anchors. So, you will be installing 8 toggles for an 84-inch rail.
  3. Insert the toggle anchor in the wall stud by tapping with a hammer. You can also use the pushpin included in the hardware pack.
  4. It will look like frame #4 in the picture above.
  5. Align the steel rail with the pre-drilled holes, and screw the rail to the wall using a driving bit. The rail provides 1-inch spacing between the holes for your easy installation.
  6. Slide the black cover over the rail. You are done!.

Now for the fun part. I was so giddy and desperate to get the attachments hung on the rail.

How to install vertical storage in the garage walls. Clean up your garage with Rubbermaid® FastTrack® Garage Organization System. #GarageCleanUp #ad

The wide arrangement of attachments allows you to create a custom system. Just snap the attachment in place, and secure it with the lever. The attachment will be fixed and won’t slide on the track. Therefore, your items won’t slide back and forth on the track.

Below is a list of the Rubbermaid® FastTrack® attachments we used:

  • Vertical Bike Hook (2), one for each bike.
  • Dual-Handle Hook for storing tennis rackets.
  • Cooler Hook for the bike helmet
  • Utility Hook for 2 beach chairs
  • Compact Hook for 2 lawn chairs

Here is a closer look at the hooks in action. I am thrilled with my organized garage!

How to install vertical storage in the garage walls. Clean up your garage with Rubbermaid® FastTrack® Garage Organization System. #GarageCleanUp #ad

How to Install the Rubbermaid® FastTrack® Wall Panel

Another great and inexpensive garage organization system is the Rubbermaid FastTrack Wall Panel. I think this is one of my favorite garage storage ideas. We purchased a 48-inch slat panel to install above my workbench. Another steal for only $14.97.

How to install vertical storage in the garage walls. Clean up your garage with Rubbermaid® FastTrack® Garage Organization System. #GarageCleanUp #ad

Along the same lines, the wall panel installation is as easy as installing the steel rails  (if not easier). Again, you just have to measure, drill, and install using a wall hardware pack, sold separately.

How to install vertical storage in the garage walls. Clean up your garage with Rubbermaid® FastTrack® Garage Organization System. #GarageCleanUp #ad

These are the attachment that we used for this system:

  • Tool tray, for my drill bits and screwdrivers
  • Tool cradle, for hanging cordless drill
  • Wall pegs (4 pack), used to hang earmuffs and level

Take a look at my workbench and this awesome wall pack. I can’t wait to DIY in this space!

Looking at it right now makes me want to go purchase another Wall Pack to hang right below it.

How to install vertical storage in the garage walls. Clean up your garage with Rubbermaid® FastTrack® Garage Organization System. #GarageCleanUp #ad

Here are some close-ups of the accessories

I love the tool tray,

How to install vertical storage in the garage walls. Clean up your garage with Rubbermaid® FastTrack® Garage Organization System. #GarageCleanUp #ad

Finally, a decent place where I can hang the level.

…and my cordless drill, so easy to find and reach. Can you see all the wear and tear?

garage shelves

Can I get a: ta-da?

How to install vertical storage in the garage walls. Clean up your garage with Rubbermaid® FastTrack® Garage Organization System. #GarageCleanUp #ad

Lastly, let’s look at the big picture!

garage storage ideas

Here are some quick tips for a successful garage organization.

  • For starters: declutter, declutter, declutter. Grab this printable guide for home organization to get you started.
  • Try removing the front tire if your bikes stick out too far from the wall. Most bikes have what they call a ‘quick release’ to allow better storage and transportation. That’s what we did. Worked like a charm.
  • Baskets are your best friend. Shop for inexpensive bins and baskets at your local dollar or discount store. You can contain and move things around easily.
  • Have seasonal and often used items handy and easy to reach. I used two baskets to hold boogie boards, beach gear, and sports balls.
  • A rolling cart is excellent to hold items that sometimes need to be brought inside the house. I use one for my cleaning products, and for now, the middle and bottom shelf hold our shoes.

The Rubbermaid® FastTrack® Garage Organization System is available at The Home Depot. Look for them in the Storage aisle.

These organization systems are not only inexpensive but quick and easy to install. If you are thinking of garage organization, you should give these a try!

If your garage looks more like a storage unit than a place to park your car, it is time to put these ideas into action!

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