Spring Clean the Garage for the Last Time

ELMHURST, Ill., April 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Spring is in the air, and according to a recent study by the American Cleaning Institute™, an estimated 77 percent of Americans will attempt to make sense of the clutter accumulated in their homes and garages during the annual ritual of spring cleaning.  For many families, the need for a tidy and organized garage becomes a necessity since this space often transforms into the hub of activity in the warm spring and summer months – housing everything from sports equipment and toys to summer yard work tools and grills. While spring cleaning may seem like a daunting task, the garage experts at Chamberlain^®, along with garage organization guru Jaime Dietenhofer, believe that if homeowners organize and update their garages in the right way this spring, they'll never have to worry about spring cleaning again.

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"Too often throughout the year, the garage becomes a dumping ground for items that have no dedicated storage place," said Jaime Dietenhofer, lead designer on Garage Mahal and co-owner of GarageEnvy.com. "It can be frustrating to tackle a garage overhaul, but homeowners can take small steps this year to clean up that garage for good."

First, look to the ceiling of the garage for a simple fix. Consider replacing your old, outdated garage door openers – it can be a simple and cost-effective way to better manage the largest access point of the home and keep you connected.  Check out Chamberlain's Battery Backup Garage Door Opener enabled with MyQ™ Technology. With battery backup technology built-in, the opener continues to open and close the garage door even during a power outage to help homeowners maintain seamless access to their home and peace of mind. These new garage door openers are also equipped with MyQ Technology, which uses a unique two-way communication system that connects to other household devices and easily helps control them, adding functionality and convenience to something you already use every day – the garage door opener and remote.  In combination with Chamberlain's MyQ-enabled accessories, homeowners can also turn on the lights before they arrive home with the Remote Lamp Control or Remote Light switch as well as monitor the status of the garage door and close it from anywhere in the house with the Garage Door Monitor.

"According to a recent statistic, the average American will upgrade his or her cell phone six times over the next 10 years; however, throughout that decade the same archaic garage door opener can hang in the garage.  There's never been a reason to upgrade your garage door opener until now," said Dietenhofer.  "Chamberlain's MyQ-enabled garage door opener and accessories can truly bring the garage to the next level, and this smart home technology fits within any remodeler's budget."

In addition to giving the garage a tech upgrade, Dietenhofer recommends other simple tips to getting the garage in gear for spring.

• Establish the Function of Your Space: When tackling a garage makeover, homeowners should focus the garage's layout on the room's main activities. From workshop and playroom to home office and gym, homeowners can use time and budgets more wisely with a strong focus.
• Perfect Your Storage Solutions: Creativity is key when finding ample storage space. Not enough floor or cabinet space for all items?  Homeowners can easily install storage on garage ceilings to get rarely used items off the floor and organized above. 
• Safety First: Since the garage acts as the main entryway to the home for most families, it's more important than ever to protect the people and property behind it.  Chamberlain's MyQ-enabled garage door opener with Battery Backup ensures that families will never be stuck outside, even if the power is out.  Homeowners should also create a designated cabinet for paint, tools and other hazardous materials that is out of the reach of small children.

For more information on the opener, accessories and MyQ Technology, please visit www.Chamberlain.com or www.ActivateYourHome.com.

SOURCE Chamberlain