Tidying up and clearing out your garage doesn’t have to be hard; by taking proper steps and precautions, you can declutter it easily. Cleaning out and decluttering a garage will allow you to store your vehicle in a safer space because you’ll have more room and fewer risks like items falling on your vehicle.
Make Plans
The process can be time-consuming; Angi, says to create a clear plan with goals and a decluttering checklist if not hiring a garage cleaner and provides other tips.
For your plan or list, create headings labeled “easy tasks” and “hard tasks” or “smaller jobs” and “bigger jobs.”
Make headings for the following: garage sale items, items for the curb, items for neighbors/friends, items for donation, and junk.
For trash, consider renting a dumpster to help with junk removal and make it easier for yourself to clean out the area. You can choose the size that will be able to handle all of your removal needs.
Create a list with headings about objects that: belongs to others, have sentimental value, are typically used, used occasionally, and are almost never used or once a year. You most likely won’t keep anything you haven’t used for years.
Don’t throw away other peoples’ items without asking first, and consider trashing broken and old items, for example, toys and bicycles too small for your children.
Start Small
Begin with easy tasks and take it slow. Starting with painting is a good idea. Use Full Coverage Painting & Flooring to do the job. Work in short bursts over several days or longer to avoid burnout.
Start with a small section of the garage, for example, a corner or shelf, and get rid of obvious garbage.
Place gardening or yardwork tools in a wheelbarrow or rolling cart and put them in the yard.
Toxic items should be handled with caution and properly disposed of; take them to a drop-off location. Take care when getting rid of electronics.
Sports equipment is generally small or thin. Read on for tips on what to do with this category of item and others.
Store and Organize
After getting rid of unnecessary items, organize and store the rest.
If you need room for your car or more floor space, install plastic, metal, or wooden shelves. Use wire racks or hang up bikes on a bike rack.
Garbage cans hold lots of items and keep them dry. As mentioned above, sports equipment can easily fit inside one.
Don’t use cardboard boxes to avoid rodent and insect damage. Clear plastic bins can hold a lot and are transparent. You won’t need tape to close them.
Label everything, letting you easily find items later.
Separate parts of your garage into areas. For example, one for sports gear and another for gardening tools. Or, put small items in one area and big ones in another.
Objects used often should be kept within reach and found easily, and vice versa.
Maintenance
After doing the above, adopt habits that will keep the garage clean and organized. Winterize your lawnmower to avoid buying a replacement. Create another checklist and instruct your family on how to navigate the garage and keep it neat.
