One bin for all hardware
Mixing screws, anchors, nails, and fasteners of every size into one bin means dumping it out every time. Separate bins with records prevent that.
TOOL INVENTORY
Know where your tools are before the project starts.
Totely helps you track tools, hardware, cords, fasteners, paint supplies, and project gear across shelves, totes, drawers, bins, and garage zones.
Why the old system breaks down
The tool storage problem
Tools and supplies end up in different drawers, bins, shelves, workbench piles, and garage totes. When a project starts, you waste time hunting for the one thing you know you already own. The stud finder is in the junk drawer, the deck screws are in a coffee can on the workbench, and the drill battery charger ended up in a tote labeled "paint supplies" — so every Saturday project starts with twenty minutes of digging.
A more useful system
Make the container searchable before you close it
Number the tool bin, snap one photo, and let Totely spot what is inside. Search for "extension cord," "drill battery," or "deck screws" before buying duplicates. When you search, Totely ties the item to the container number, the photo inside, and the garage zone or shelf it sits on.
Build the record
What belongs in the record
Record the items you are likely to look for later, plus the numbered container and its location.
- drills
- batteries
- chargers
- extension cords
- screws
- nails
- anchors
- tape measures
- paint brushes
- rollers
- sandpaper
- wrenches
- socket sets
- safety gear
- plumbing parts
- electrical supplies
Find it later
Searches this setup should answer
Use the words you naturally remember. Totely points you to the numbered container and its saved photo.
- extension cord
- drill battery
- paint rollers
- deck screws
- socket set
- stud finder
- sandpaper
- safety glasses
Start small
A setup you can finish today
Number one container, photograph what matters, save its location, and test one search before adding more.
- Start with one tool shelf or tote.
- Add a number or zone name.
- Snap a photo of the contents.
- Review the AI-generated item list and save the garage location.
- Search naturally before the next project.
- Update the record when tools move or change.
Where systems break
Habits that create mystery bins
These shortcuts create stale labels and extra searching, even when the shelves look organized.
Buying duplicates
Buying a second tape measure or extra drill battery because you cannot find the first is a direct cost. A searchable record solves this.
No note on size or spec
Knowing you have sandpaper is not enough. A record that includes grit size or screw length saves a trip to the store.
Skipping the zone or shelf location
A record without a location is harder to use. Add a shelf name, cabinet number, or zone note and searching becomes finding.
Returning tools without updating location
A wrench borrowed for one job often lands on a different shelf than where it started. If the record still says Tool Drawer B, the next search sends you to the wrong place.
Keep organizing
Related storage situations
Practical next steps
Helpful guides
Storage Organization System
The Totely method: number, photo, search, find.
Learn more →Home Inventory App
How Totely works as a digital home inventory tool.
Learn more →Totely vs Spreadsheet
Why a searchable photo inventory beats a manual spreadsheet.
Learn more →Garage Tool Inventory System
How to track tools, hardware, cords, and project supplies in numbered bins.
Learn more →Garage Organization With Bins
A step-by-step bin system with numbers, photos, and shelf zones.
Learn more →Garage Storage Zones
Divide the garage into zones so tool bins and hardware stay findable.
Learn more →Garage Organization Guide
Full playbook for tools, totes, shelves, and garage overflow.
Learn more →Storage Templates & Checklists
Printable garage and storage checklists to start one zone at a time.
Learn more →FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How do I keep track of tools in my garage?
Group tools by type or project use, assign a number to each bin, shelf, or drawer, and photograph the contents. Totely saves the photo, location, and any notes so you can search by tool name instead of opening every cabinet.
Can Totely help avoid duplicate tool purchases?
Yes. If you can search for "drill battery" or "tape measure" and see exactly where yours is, you know whether you already have one before buying a second.
Can I track hardware and small parts?
Yes. Small items like screws, anchors, nails, and fasteners can be grouped by type and photographed. Adding size or spec notes to the record makes the search even more precise.
Should I label tool bins by category or number?
A simple number is more durable and flexible than a category label. Written labels like "Painting" or "Electrical" can become outdated as bins change. The number stays stable while the digital record holds all the detail.
Can I use Totely for shared household tools?
Yes. A shared Totely record means everyone in the household can search for a tool instead of asking around. The same search that finds your drill battery also tells them which shelf it lives on.
Should I inventory my whole garage at once?
No. Start with the shelf or tote you reach for most — fasteners, cords, or power tools. One numbered, photographed zone is more useful than a plan to catalog everything that never gets finished.
Can Totely track tools in drawers and on open shelves?
Yes. Drawers, pegboards, open shelves, and labeled totes all work the same way. Assign a number or zone name, photograph the contents, and save the location so search works whether the tool is in a bin or on a wall.
Find the right tool without digging.
Start with one shelf or tote. Snap one photo, let Totely do the item entry, and search before the next project.