Defend Against Leaf Litter And Keep Your Garage Clean
Autumn can be a welcome season after the heat and humidity of summer. However, it's also the start of leaf-litter season. That means crunchy piles of old leaves working their way into every crevice in your garage. If you're a new homeowner who's never dealt with leaf invasions in a garage before, here are a few steps to take now and throughout the season to control leaves and keep your space clean.
Build Your Defenses
Garage doors are meant to sit very close to the ground when they're closed, but they still leave a small gap. This prevents them from getting caught on small rocks that might have been kicked over by the door, but it also allows leaves to scoot inside on windy days.
Install a low barrier on the floor right behind where the door sits when it's closed. You can find adhesive barriers, so don't worry about trying to drill through concrete to install screws. Each brand will have specific instructions, but in general: Clean the floor in the area where you want to install the barrier. Keep the door closed and position the barrier so that the door and barrier don't hit each other. You might want to mark the floor with chalk. Remove any paper backing from the barrier and press it onto the garage floor.
These barriers are low enough that your car shouldn't have any trouble moving in and out of the garage. You will have to be careful not to shuffle or drag your feet. The barriers can pose a trip hazard if you're not paying attention.
Sweep the Perimeter
Sweep or rake up leaves outside on the driveway and lawn daily. If you want, you can do a thorough sweeping once a week. But you should go through the area and quickly sweep up what you can daily. That will reduce the amount of leaves that could get into your garage when the door is open.
Maintain Vigilance
Despite the sweeping and barrier, you're still going to get leaves blowing inside when the door is open. After you've closed the garage door for the day, sweep up anything that made it into the garage. Don't leave it for another day because the leaves can work their way into crevices and corners. That could provide a hiding place for critters that you never want to see inside, including rodents and bugs.
Watch Your Back
Don't forget your garage's back door! If your garage has additional doors leading to the backyard and side yards, install smaller barriers on the floor just inside those doors, too. Otherwise, you'll end up with a leaf-litter problem at the other ends of the garage.
Protect the Center
Finally, vacuum the area just inside your house by the connecting door, if any. If you have an attached garage, you should have a door leading directly into your home. Even if you have to go up stairs to get to the main portion of your home, you can track those leaf bits up with you. Vacuuming the entranceway reduces the number of bits that move further into your house.
It's also a good idea to get your garage door inspected for leaks and drafts. A company like Mike's Garage Doors is a great resource for professional garage door inspections and repair.