Articles Page 3

Junk Removal: Strategies to Tackle Garage De-Cluttering
Author: Christine Harrell

Most people would cringe if guests wanted to look in their garage. It is the one room in the house where unfinished projects, holiday decorations, sporting equipment and hundreds of other little unwanted items are stashed and forever forgotten. That is why it is important to set aside a junk removal day to tackle this problem before it becomes unmanageable.

Prepare Ahead Of Time

When taking on a large junk removal project like the garage, a little planning ahead can make a big difference. First, be sure to set aside double the amount of time this project is estimated to take. These types of open-ended activities can become frustrating when they are perceived to be going longer than originally scheduled. Second, consider a mini-bin rental or dumpster rental depending on the amount of stuff to be thrown away. Compared to stuffing garbage bags, having a bin onsite for trash disposal makes the junk removal process run smoothly.

Assess The Situation

The first step in completing a successful junk removal project is to open the garage door and pull everything out. Use the driveway as a staging ground to completely empty the room. It is important to remove even items that rightfully belong in the garage. This is the best way to see the space as a clean slate and begin reorganizing.

Touch Everything Once

Now that everything is in plain sight out on the driveway, it is time to begin determining what items stay and which should be donated to charity or trashed. Create piles for each category and begin sifting through the contents.

For the largest impact in regards to junk removal, it is important to be generous when considering which items go to charity or trash and which items stay in the garage. It is generally a good rule of thumb to put anything in the junk removal pile that has not been used in a year. Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule like particular tools that are only used when working on specialized projects. Those inline skates that have a layer of dust on them, however, should head straight to the junk removal pile!

Set Priorities

When addressing the items that are going to remain in the garage space, it helps to have an idea of their level of priority. For instance, tools and sporting equipment used on a daily or weekly basis should be easily accessible. Holiday decorations used only annually can be stored in less convenient locations.

Don't forget the larger items that may need room in the garage like vehicles, lawnmowers and bicycles. With everything out on the driveway for junk removal, it can be easy to forget that these big items need to squeeze back in too! It may be easier to put them back into their spaces first and then find room for the smaller items all around.

Keep Organized

Once the garage is back in place and the junk removal project is completed, it is easy to return to old habits and begin storing junk back in there again. Resist the temptation to mindlessly throw items into the garage without finding them a proper place. Return tools to their designated areas and keep bikes and sporting equipment from creating one large pile. Following these rules won't keep a garage perfect, but they may just keep junk removal down to an annual event!