cleaning shop

[rhett]

I think everyone agrees that having a clean shop makes shop time more enjoyable, more proficient and ofcourse safer. While a major clean up is often tedious and time consumming, sometimes it's a must. I just wanted to share three very simple habits I have adopted that have proven to be very effective in keeping my shop clean.

Everything must have a place: Take the time to give all your tools and supplies a designated home. If everything has a place, then there is a place for everything. You will no longer have to hunt for stuff you know you have. Unless it is a tape measure or pencil, which seem to hide from me everytime I set them down.

Pick up behind yourself: It is hard to do this one when your caught up in what you are doing. Remember, you are trying to avoid a major clean-up here so even a little will go along way.

Start out picking up: I put away a minimum of 7 items everytime I enter the shop. No I do not have OCD. This little habit takes less than 5 min but will have your shop clean/maintained in very little time.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. I feel quite confident that if you put even one of these habits into effect it will make your shop a better place to be. Anyone elso have suggestions.

[DaveO]

Rhett, I would agree with you. I find that when my shop has been cleaned up throughly, I am less likely to make a big mess. I find that I like to put things back where they go as I use them vs. spending a weekend doing it all. Also I have found that when my shop has become a big mess (which it often does once I have a major project going on) it is easier to make it messier. It's the whole snowball effect. Cleaning up a bit at a time, like you suggest is easy, but once you fail that, the exponential compounding of the mess can increase dramatically until it takes a major effort to regain control again. BTDT and have the T-shirt

Dave

[Splinter]

I totally agree Rhett. Another little safety habit I like to do is keep push sticks/devices near the tools where they should be use. I think I am more likely to use them if they are handy.

[Jim Murphy]

It is satisfying, in an OCD sort of way, to follow the maxim of a place for everything and everything in its place. For me, identifying drawers and cabinets by such categories as "measure and mark", "cutters", "sand", "paint", "glues", "fasteners", "clamps" makes cleanup simple. I agree with walking in and putting things away upon entry, and I try to do the same upon exit, to the point of putting up things that I will need tomorrow. However, as any visitor can attest, the best laids plans of mice and men oft go astray, to use another aphorism.