Countless Americans have admitted to not having the best garage setup to store all their tools, appliances, and hobby items. The main reason is that their garage is cluttered and overfilled. Are you having trouble remembering where you stored things, or don’t have the space to keep all the new items you want to purchase? The easiest way to fix this is to clean your garage deep, and there’s no better time to start than now.
Step 1: Make Piles/Groups
The best way to get started is to start pulling everything out of the garage and stacking it into piles. If this seems like a daunting task, consider inviting friends and neighbors over to help. If they need an incentive to help, perhaps you can offer them a reward of good food after the job is done. When you are ready to begin, you’ll need to make at least four groupings.
- Trash
- Broken/Rusted Items
- Things You Currently Use
- Items You Don’t Want, But Are In Good Condition
You may have another pile or two if you have enough items to fit other categories, but these are the main four. Now, some people will automatically combine their broken and rusted items with the trash pile. While that may be acceptable for some, we know that there are people who struggle to give up these items. If you’re one of them, what should you do?
Be honest with yourself. When will you fix it?
You probably can restore a good portion of broken and rusted items, but just because you can do it doesn’t mean you should. If you know it’s going to take you another 2 years before you even make an effort to fix it, get rid of it. Please give it to someone who wants it, or give up the fight and add it to the junk pile. Don’t hang onto it, because it will likely just sit in your garage gathering more dust and taking up valuable space for the next 5 years.
Step 2: Dispose of Your Trash/Junk Pile
The next step is to start clearing your piles, and the best one to begin with is the junk pile. Now, if you know before you even start cleaning up that this is more than your trash bin can handle, call a dumpster rental.
There are a couple of things to consider before you just rent a dumpster.
Items that cannot be placed into rented dumpsters
The items listed below should be disposed of separately through the proper collection services and not in a rented dumpster.
- Hazardous waste (paints, solvents, pesticides, batteries, and electronics)
- Construction debris (bricks, drywall, roofing, concrete)
- Large appliances
- Tires
- Fluorescent bulbs
- Propane tanks
- Medical waste
Grass clippings and other yard waste are permitted, but should be kept in a separate container. This allows these items to compost without interference from other waste.
What size dumpster will you need?
Most residential garage cleanups will not require anything larger than a 15-yard dumpster. Its compact size allows for easy placement in driveways or tighter spaces, making it an ideal choice for both residential and commercial use.
Step 3: Wash Out the Empty Garage
Now that you’ve gotten everything out of the way, it’s time to take the rags, soap, and hose or pressure washer to clean out all the nooks and crannies. You may need to wait for this area to dry before moving onto step 4.
Step 4: Go Through the Things You Don’t Want to Keep
If you’ve got friends helping with your cleanup, this part might go faster than expected. Ask anyone there if they’d like anything in the pile. Whatever is left in this pile should immediately go to a thrift store or be listed for sale online. If you are planning to sell any of these items, just make sure you’ve got a way to keep them out of the way in your garage/home. Put them into bins or nicely stack them in a corner where they are easily accessible and out of your way.
Step 5: Organize What You’re Keeping
This part typically takes the longest when cleaning your garage, but the results will be well worth it. Start organizing your belongings back into your garage. The best way to keep your garage from feeling cluttered is to keep as much stuff off the floor as possible. Utilize any available shelving, cabinets, hangers, nails, or hooks you may have. If you see you need more of these items, you can purchase them later. The goal for today is to use what you have without creating more clutter.
What to do when you’re out of wall space
Whatever is left can be placed on the floor. Large items, such as appliances, ladders, and bicycles, can occupy a significant amount of valuable floor space. That is why small items should be grouped in boxes or bins with similar items. Then label the boxes with their contents to make them easier to find.
For example, you may only have enough shelving for a portion of a specific category of item (e.g., gardening, sports, tools). If so, place the boxes of these leftover pieces next to the items they relate to. You can write down the quantity of each item inside if you know that information will be helpful to you as well.
Should You Consider Renting Extra Storage Space?
Some of you may still not have enough room in your garage after completing this process. This is where renting a storage container can be beneficial, but we believe it should be a last resort.
If you’re not careful, storage bins can easily become cluttered and forgotten because they are often treated as a catch-all for items you don’t use regularly. Treat these spaces with the same method you just used to clean your garage.
To take on the responsibility of renting a storage garage or mobile storage container, consider these things:
- Determine the right size and location. Do I have the land space for a mobile storage container?
- If you answered no, consider renting a garage instead.
- Will some items I store sit untouched for over two years?
- If you say yes, think through the reasons why. Perhaps this is an item you should consider giving away.
- Are these items things that hold memory or monetary value?
- Consider placing these items in weatherproof storage to prevent damage.
Ready to Clean the Garage?
We wish you luck on your deep cleaning journey. Sometimes, the most challenging part is just getting started, but we know that you won’t regret it. A clean garage not only makes your life easier, but it also gives you a sense of peace and pride in your hard work.
