We probably don’t need to tell you that life is hectic. People between the ages of 25 and 54 work an average of 40.5 hours a week. And, of course, this doesn’t include other obligations like household chores, yard work, friends, family, and more.
Therefore, it’s only natural that most of us have areas of the home that build up with junk and clutter. While this isn’t uncommon, it is a problem. Clutter in your garage creates the perfect environment for mice and other pests to live.
At some point, cleaning out the garage becomes a necessity. But where do you even start?
Summer is right around the corner and we are here to help you in your quest. Keep reading for our top tips on decluttering your garage.
Set Aside Plenty of Time
Depending on the amount of clutter and junk that’s built up, cleaning out the garage will take a considerable amount of time. While you shouldn’t burn yourself out by trying to do everything in one day, it’s important to set aside enough time to complete the project.
Many of us fall into the trap of getting 75% done with a project, taking a break, then never finishing what we started. Don’t let this happen or your clutter will come back before you know what happened.
Commit your entire weekend to garage cleaning. Give yourself a strict schedule to ensure you stick to the process. For example, on Saturday and Sunday, you could:
- Start working directly after breakfast at 9 am
- Take a lunch break at noon
- Get back to work from 12:30 to 2
- Give yourself the rest of the day off to avoid burnout
If you can’t get your entire project done in this amount of time, you might need to continue cleaning out the garage the weekend after.
Take an Organized Approach
One of the most important decluttering tips is to take an organized approach. You should make it a top priority to get rid of as much unnecessary junk and clutter as possible.
To achieve this goal, go through every item in your garage individually. Otherwise, you’ll glance over tons of things that you don’t need and they’ll end up back in your storage space.
Start by pulling everything out of the garage. This will also help you organize the possessions you intend to keep as you put them back.
Organize the items into four piles or boxes:
- Keep
- Sell
- Donate
- Trash
You can make a substantial amount of money selling valuable items online. This includes sporting goods, recreational equipment, clothes, tools, old electronics, appliances, etc.
If you have things that aren’t worth selling but can be used by someone in need, donate them to charity. Trash the items that aren’t sellable or appropriate for charity.
Implement Creative Storage Solutions
This brings us to our next point. After cleaning out the garage, you must put the items you keep back in an organized fashion. Don’t butcher your garage cleaning efforts by haphazardly throwing things back inside without any sort of plan or organization.
There are tons of garage storage and organization solutions. We recommend keeping as much stuff off the garage floor as possible. This will limit the potential for future clutter while maximizing your space.
Buy or build a shelving system wherein you can organize your belongings into individual totes. Label these totes for easy identification and access to your storage items.
For tools and lawn care equipment, mount hooks on the walls to keep them off the floor and out of the way. We also suggest using wall space to mount things like garden hoses, extension cords, ladders, jumper cables, and other common garage items. Use ceiling-mounted hooks for bikes.
Get Help
Cleaning out the garage will feel like an insurmountable task if you have to do it alone. Wrangle up your family to make sure you’re not the only one taking on this monumental project.
If you live alone or your family members are unable to help, ask your friends to lend a hand. We find that the promise of pizza and evening drinks is enough to coerce most people into giving you free labor.
The more hands you have on deck, the faster the project will go.
Work With a Professional Junk Removal Specialist
So what do you do if you need help cleaning out the garage but your friends and family can’t help? Great question. In this case, hire a junk removal specialist that can help you sort through your stuff.
However, even if you have help from friends and family, you might still need to hire a garage junk removal company. What else are you going to do with all the stuff you need to throw away?
If you don’t have a truck and trailer, you won’t be able to haul big items like furniture and old appliances to the dump. You might also have too much stuff to handle on your own.
That’s why companies like Rubbish Works Junk Removal exist. They’ll show up at your house on garage cleaning day with their massive trucks and plenty of manpower. Not only will they help you load all of your unwanted junk into the truck, but they’ll also take care of its disposal.
Use Music to Stay Motivated
Finally, accept that cleaning out the garage is going to be a process. Again, you might be at it for several hours each day.
Create a playlist full of your favorite songs to help you stay motivated. Music will also add energy to the environment which will help everyone stay focused on the task at hand.
If you have people helping you, make sure the music you’re playing is something everyone can appreciate. People won’t work as hard if they’re being blasted with music they find unenjoyable, annoying, or distasteful.
Are You Planning on Cleaning Out the Garage?
We hope these cleaning out the garage tips help you maximize your efficiency. We know this isn’t typically an enjoyable project. Follow our guide, stay focused, and ask for help to make the most of your time.
And if you’re looking for more cleaning tips or homeowner advice, you’re in the right place. Check out some of our other articles before you go to find the information you need to improve your life.
