Stop and clean up potential hazards like oily spots on the floor immediately. Clear away tools, scraps, and other obstructions as soon as they pose any risk to you operating your shop tools and machinery safely. Get in the habit of quickly cleaning up whenever you move from one work area to another—for instance, when you switch from working under your car to repairing body damage near the trunk. If you’re in a single work area for a long stretch, take a break every 30 or 60 minutes to do a quick cleanup.
Start with the shop vacuum so you can suck up and filter out as much of the fine particulates as possible. Brushing fine dust will simply make it airborne until it resettles in the shop. Invest in a good shop vacuum with a long, flexible hose, attachments, a generously-sized canister on wheels, and a high-quality filter.
Keep both a push broom and a traditional long-handled broom in the shop. Push brooms are better for cleaning larger areas more quickly, while traditional brooms are better at reaching tight spaces.
As an alternative to commercial shop rags, use scrap rags (such as from old T-shirts) and a heavy-duty, all-purpose spray cleaner.
Cleaning up at the end of the day means that you can get right to work on your next workshop day with a clean, organized space. Starting off with a clean shop can also motivate you to keep it that way throughout the day. Collect all the trash and throw it out. Then dust and wipe everything. Start from the top to the bottom of a room. This technique is more efficient as it ensures you don’t have to clean anything twice as debris falls on the lower surfaces. [6] X Research source Finish up by vacuuming, then mopping the floors. Incorporate cleaning into your daily routine. [7] X Research source
If you’re not using your table saw, for instance, lay a drop cloth over it. Similarly, tape or clip up plastic sheeting to cover open shelving or pegboards that contain tools you don’t currently need. When you’re done working in the shop, ball up the sheeting and cloths, take them outside, and shake them out so they’re ready to go for next time.
Alternatively, it may make sense for you to invest in a central dust collection system for your shop, which can be attached to several different tools for convenience. Basic models start at around $30 USD, while higher-grade models can cost well over $100. [10] X Research source
An air purifier will also work, but these tend to be quite a bit more pricey.
Here’s another shop vacuum tip: Open a trash bag and press it down into the empty collection canister. Fold the top of the bag over the lip of the canister, then secure the top of the shop vacuum in place. When it’s time to empty the canister, remove the lid carefully and slowly fold in and cinch up the trash bag to prevent dust from escaping. Your shop vacuum’s filter traps many of the fine dust particles that would either resettle in your workshop or end up in your lungs if you aren’t wearing proper breathing protection. It’s always better to clean up fine shop dust with a shop vacuum rather than a broom and dustpan.
If you have enough room in your workshop, consider adding a “keep but store” pile as well. This is for items that you rarely use but don’t want to get rid of. Stash them in labeled boxes. To keep workshop clutter in check, sort through your stuff once per year. And give the shop a good cleaning at the same time!
Put workstations that require extra space, like a table saw where you often cut long pieces of lumber, either in the center of the shop or along an open wall. Put workstations that you often use in tandem nearby. For example, if you frequently go straight from using your table saw to working at your sanding table, locate them near each other. Prioritize safety when storing flammable or explosive materials. Create a space for gasoline cans on the floor along a wall that’s far away from any heat or ignition sources. Store propane tanks in a caged-in area outside, not in your shop—they’re too much of a fire hazard.
Pegboards are great for hanging up hand tools that you use frequently. Open shelving is great for mid-size tools you use frequently. Cabinets are best for tools and gear that you want to protect from shop dust and other elements.
Store paint on open shelving, but only on the lower shelves to reduce safety hazards. Sort hardware like nails, screws, bolts, and fuses into individual (and labeled) baskets that are made to hang on pegboard. Alternatively, store them in small, stackable storage drawers on your workbench. Hang belts, hoses, lengths of chain, and similar items from nails in the wall or hooks attached to your pegboard. Put tools you use infrequently in labeled tool boxes or tool chests.
For instance, when you’re finished using your hammer, don’t just set it on the nearest open spot on your workbench. Take the extra few seconds to hang it in its designated spot on the pegboard. Keeping a workshop (or any other workspace) organized is all about instilling new habits. It needs to become second nature for you to do things like put your tools away as soon as you’re done with them. It takes time, but you can do it!
