Start Your Garage Cleanup With the Perfect Bins
Garage bins are your best weapon against a cluttered, disorganized garage. They are the key to turning chaos into a clean, useful space.
But with so many options, what is the best type of bin for decorations, recycling, tools, or seasonal items?
Let’s dive into the world of garage bins and find the perfect solution for every item you need to store. Making the right choice now will save you time, money, and frustration down the road.
Your garage organization journey starts with one simple decision: choosing the right bin for the job.
How to Store Holiday Decor & Gift Wrap Like a Pro
For general holiday decorations, the best choice is a clear plastic box with a latching lid. This simple solution offers durability and a clear view of the contents.
Plastic storage bins are sturdy and can be stacked, which is essential for making the most of vertical space in your garage.
Always opt for transparent bins. This lets you see what’s inside at a glance, saving you from pulling down an entire stack just to find the Halloween lights.
Home organization experts recommend latched lids to keep mice, spiders, and other pests out of your decorations. While no plastic bin is 100% pest-proof, a tight latch is an excellent deterrent.
When it comes to gift wrap, a specialized bin is a must-have. A good one is sturdy, clear plastic, long enough for wrapping rolls, and has a latching lid.
We like the Iris Clear Gift Wrap bin because it properly protects gift wrap from moisture and crushing, even in a garage environment.
This 33-inch container holds nine rolls of paper, and its snapping lid keeps out pests and humidity. It’s a great way to keep your paper looking new year after year.
Protect Your Heirlooms: Bins for Delicate Christmas Ornaments
Not all ornament boxes are created equal, especially for garage storage. Let’s look at two similar boxes—one that’s all wrong for the garage, and one that’s perfect for protecting precious heirlooms.
Soft-sided, zippered containers like the Norlight box are great for indoor closets but are a poor choice for the garage. While they are transparent and have helpful dividers, they offer no protection from being crushed.
Furthermore, soft, zippered containers are not rodent-proof, even when fully closed. These should only be used in climate-controlled spaces where they won’t be stacked or squeezed.
For true protection, you need sturdy plastic and a latching lid. Brands like Homz offer transparent, stackable bins with built-in dividers.
Their 64 qt. container, for example, includes sturdy dividers to safely store 64 individual ornaments. This is the level of protection your cherished decorations deserve in a garage setting.
What Are the Best Bins for Garage Tool Storage?
There’s a big difference between simply storing tools and truly organizing them. Storing just puts them away, while organizing protects them while keeping them sorted and accessible.
For a complete solution, the best bin storage is a rolling drawer toolbox or a modular stacking system. This type of system gives you storage that is easy to move, protective, and organized.
These systems feature drawers that protect tools from dirt and grime but still allow for immediate access. Most units come with wheels and a handle for easy mobility around your workspace.
Constructed from rigid plastic and metal, they offer various drawer sizes for small items and larger tilt-out bins for bulky power tools. Many also include external features like cord hooks to maximize utility.
To learn more about tool storage, view our article: Organizing Your Tools: The Comprehensive Guide (opens in a new window).
How to Organize Small Parts Like Screws & Fasteners
For all the little fasteners that collect in a garage, open-topped wall-mounted storage bins are a great choice. They keep small parts sorted and within easy reach.
Just be aware that their open-top design means they won’t protect screws and nails from dust and cobwebs. Regular cleaning of your workspace is key.
The Akro-Mils brand is popular because its products are robust and manufactured to tight tolerances for secure stacking and hanging.
You can find open-topped bins designed to stack on a workbench or opt for a louvered steel panel to hang bins on the wall, freeing up valuable counter space.
How Can You Secure Your Investment in Tools?
As you fill a large bin with tools, the weight adds up quickly. This makes it important to have bins that are easy to move and can be locked to protect your valuable tools.
A heavy-duty tote like the Plano Sportsman Tote offers a great middle ground. It’s lockable (you provide the lock) and includes tie-down points for securing in a truck bed.
Be mindful of size. Once you go larger than a tote like this 24 in. x 24 in. x 15 in. box, it can become too heavy and awkward to carry when full.
While a lockable bin won’t stop a determined thief from taking the entire container, it provides an essential first layer of security against casual theft. It’s a simple step that can make a big difference.
What Are the Best Bins for Dry Recycling?
To make sorting recyclables effortless, consider using different colored recycling bins. This visual cue helps everyone in the family put the right item in the right place.
Brands like Suncast sell their flip-top recycling bin in multiple colors. You might assign blue for paper, green for glass, and yellow for cans to create an easy-to-follow system.
Flip-top bins are cleverly designed to be stackable while remaining accessible. The lids sit just outside the stacking rim, allowing you to open them without unstacking the bins.
However, this design has a flaw for garage use: the lids are not airtight or pest-resistant. For this reason, these bins are only suitable for clean, dry recyclables like paper and cardboard.
How Can You Prevent Pests and Odors From Wet Recycling?
Storing wet recyclables like unwashed cans and bottles in the garage requires a different strategy. The residue from soda, beer, and milk can attract insects, rodents, and other pests.
The common flip-top stacking bins won’t work for this task. Their lids are not airtight, providing an open invitation for bugs and creating unpleasant odors.
For storing wet cans and bottles, the best garage storage bin is a plastic container with a firm, latching lid. This creates a seal that prevents pests from getting in and odors from getting out.
Better yet, always rinse and dry cans and bottles before putting them in your garage recycling bin. Letting them dry on a counter for 24 hours prevents a sticky, disgusting sludge from building up at the bottom of your container.
Should You Keep a Compost Bin in the Garage?
Composting turns household food waste into rich garden fertilizer, but the process has specific requirements. It needs oxygen and occasional turning to work correctly.
If you don’t let air into the bin, the contents will rot and get slimy. If you do let air in, you are also letting in flies, gnats, and other bugs.
For these reasons, composting is not a garage-friendly activity. It can attract a shocking number of pests and create powerful, lingering odors in your home.
If your heart is set on it, you can find resources to guide you. However, we strongly advise keeping this process outdoors to maintain a clean and pest-free garage.
Choosing the Best Garbage Bins for Your Garage
Whether you haul your own trash or use a service, one truth is universal: there is always more garbage than there is garbage bin. This overflow leads to unsecured lids, which is an invitation for trouble.
Here’s a simple rule: if you think you need three garbage bins, buy four. Never let your garbage see the light of day, as it is too attractive to bugs, raccoons, and other wildlife.
When selecting a bin size, consider the availability of liners. It’s easy to find liners for standard 32-gallon bins, but you should always confirm you can source bags for larger 33-gallon-plus bins before you buy.
Always choose heavy-duty plastic bins over metal ones. From experience, metal bins are loud, difficult to wash, and seem to hold odors forever.
As confirmed by top consumer reviews, modern plastic bins, especially those on wheels, are far more durable, easier to clean, and simpler to use.
Pest-Proof Bins for Storing Food in the Garage
Food is a magnet for everything from bears and raccoons to insects and flies. If you absolutely must store food in the garage, the right container is non-negotiable.
Your food bin must be sturdy, well-sealed, and have absolutely no air vents or drain holes. Following safe storage guidelines is crucial to prevent contamination and wildlife encounters.
Look at the two bins below. The clear one with latches is far superior for food storage than the one with a simple snap-on lid.
We’ve seen raccoons and even bears easily defeat a snap-on lid. The latches on the clear box create a much tougher seal for an animal to open, providing significantly better protection for your food stores.
Your Garage Bin Action Plan
For decorations and general storage, use clear plastic bins with latching lids so you can see the contents at a glance.
Protect delicate heirlooms like Christmas ornaments in a sturdy, hard-sided box with built-in separators—never a soft-sided bag.
Use open-topped hanging bins for easy access to small parts like nuts and bolts, but keep your garage clean to manage dust.
Always use stackable, flip-top bins for dry recycling only. Wet items require a bin with an airtight, latching lid to deter pests.
For food storage, a securely latching lid is mandatory to keep animals out. A simple snap-on lid is not enough.
Buy more garbage bins than you think you need to prevent overflow, and always choose durable, wheeled plastic bins over metal.
And finally, keep composting outside. It’s a great activity for your garden, but it doesn’t belong in the garage.
