5 must-haves for the shop that aren't tools?

The best answer I can come up with: “The ones that you need for the job at hand.”

But here’s the real secret: Many of the things that make your time in the shop better, more productive and more fun aren’t tools, per se. Sure, they may fit the technical definition, but you know what we’re talking about here: Those indispensable items that make shop time more fulfilling but don’t fit neatly into that socket or screwdriver category.

Here are five important items that I recommend keeping in the shop–after, of course, you pick up a proper fire extinguisher or three.

Let there be… Light!

If our reader surveys are any indication, the average age of anyone reading this means you may be squinting a bit to do so. We feel your pain there. Working under a hood or in a wheel well is a real tax on the eyes, so taking extra steps to increase the brightness is well worth the trouble.

Exactly what kinds of lights do you need in the shop? Answer: Yes to all of them.

When it comes to fixed lighting, too much is never really too much. And while we tend to think of fixed lighting as something that is always located overhead, remember that not all the work you do on your car is going to be from the top down. Fixed lighting from the side or even below can save a lot of squinting and straining when it comes time to focus on that rusty pin stuck in that rusty brake caliper.

Handheld lighting, too, benefits from variety. A beam flashlight is sometimes best for illuminating a deep crevasse under your hood, but other times a larger bar light better fits the bill. Or a light with a magnetic base, or one that mounts on your head, or clips to your glasses.

The point here is that variety is best, and you’ll never regret adding a different type of illumination to your shop arsenal.

Throw in the… Towel!

Another required item in your high-functioning workshop is towels. All sorts of towels. Obviously heavy-duty blue paper towels and traditional red shop rags are a staple of every workspace, but there’s value in pretty much every type and material of towel.

I’m also a huge fan of the “sacrificial” towel. A stack of old bath or beach towels that you no longer care about is a requirement whenever we’re turning a wrench.

One minute you may be using one as a bench cover when dropping a water pump that may or may not be empty, and the next you’re tossing one under a steadily increasing stream of foul-smelling fluid from a component that still contained oil.

In any case, the real benefit of these sacrificial towels is that you simply feel zero guilt disposing of them after they helped you solve a problem.

Get… Connected!

The troubling fact is that we rarely do any job–large or small–in the shop without consulting the internet at some point. As such, proper shop connectivity is as important a tool as a 10mm socket.

And we’ll also recommend that you not simply rely on a smartphone as your shop’s internet device. For one, handling it with filthy hands is a great way to dirty or even break your likely expensive phone. Plus, the tiny screen can make it awkward if you’re trying to view a wiring diagram or parts chart.

Your workshop is a great place to demote an old home computer, which maybe gets hooked to a demoted large-screen TV as well. That can be a great asset in reading tables or diagrams, quickly ordering parts, or simply asking for advice on our forum.

Clean… Sweep!

Even if you’re fortunate enough to have a lift in your workshop, you’re still going to spend some time on the floor. It’s just an inevitable fact of life. Keeping that floor clean is important for being happy and productive in your work environment.

There are no magic bullets here: A shop vac, a leaf blower and a broom and dustpan will serve as your primary weapons against dirt and debris, but we can give a tip or two on how to make those things more effective.

First, you should have a shop vac nozzle dedicated to floors, especially if you use a shop vac on your car. There’s nothing worse than sliding a nozzle across clean upholstery and leaving a greasy streak because it had just vacuumed a dirty floor. Separate your nozzles by use and mark them accordingly.

Next, a small blower can be a great time-saver when it comes to cleaning the floor. It can also reach deep corners and beneath benches. If you are already using cordless power tools, chances are whatever ecosystem you’re invested in has a handheld blower in the lineup. It’s worth the investment if it isn’t in your quiver already.

And every good floor care kit should include a broom, mop and a floor squeegee. Even on porous concrete, a soft squeegee is great for cleaning up moisture or even helping contain spills. It’s not a luxury, it’s a necessity that you’ll find plenty of use for.

Last but not least… First aid!

No workspace is complete without a basic first aid kit. Practically everything you do in your shop can lead to injury, and even injuries can compound if not dealt with immediately.

Even if you only do the most basic mechanical tasks in your shop, you’re still dealing with sharp edges, hazardous chemicals and hard surfaces. You should have the ability to quickly deal with minor cuts, scrapes, punctures, burns and foreign object removal. Bonus points for eye wash, and double bonus points for dedicated spill containment. While a spill may not be an immediate first aid hazard, it can quickly turn into one if that spill is slippery, hot or toxic.

Also, don’t use your first aid supplies for anything but first aid. Sure, that medical tape can come in handy for your projects, but buy another roll for your toolbox instead of pilfering the stuff that needs to help keep your blood on the inside.

And restock those first aid supplies as soon as you use them. There’s nothing worse than rushing to your first aid kit for a bandage that isn’t there while you’re actively oozing.