How to Declutter Your Garage in 4 Simple Steps
If you’ve landed on this page, you’re probably wondering just how to declutter your garage…
Ah, the garage. Most of us have a love-hate relationship with our garage. We love having a place to store our car and all our stuff, but we hate how cluttered and messy it can get. It’s the catch-all for everything from holiday decorations to outgrown sports equipment. No wonder it’s so easy for it to become cluttered and overwhelmed!
Anybody who’s ever looked at their cluttered garage with a sense of dread knows that decluttering it can feel like an insurmountable task. But it doesn’t have to be. With a little bit of planning and elbow grease, you can get your garage back in shape in just 4 simple steps.
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Benefits of decluttering your garage
Most people don’t think of their garage as an important part of their home. It’s just a place to store the car, right? Wrong! The garage is one of the most versatile rooms in the house. It can be used for storage, as a workspace, a gym, or even as an extra bedroom. However, many garages are cluttered and crammed full of stuff, making it difficult to use them for anything other than a storage unit. Garage cleaning and decluttering can have many benefits.
You can find things easier
Most of us have been there. You’re looking for a specific item – let’s say, your gardening gloves – but you can’t find it anywhere. You rummage through every closet and drawer in the house, but to no avail. Finally, in desperation, you venture into the garage…only to discover that it’s crammed full of boxes, holiday decorations, and childhood memorabilia.
Sound familiar?
If so, then it might be time to consider decluttering your garage. Not only will it make finding things easier, but it can also help you to avoid losing important items in the clutter.
Read also: Decluttering Photos: How To Know What You Should Keep
You have space to park your car or enjoy your hobbies
This may seem like an obvious one, but if you’re like most people, your car spends more time parked on the street or in the driveway than in the garage – which, by the way is its intended use! By decluttering your garage, you’ll create a designated space for your vehicle, making it easier to keep it clean and protected from the elements.
Alternatively, you can use the space to enjoy your hobbies. If you’re a musician, for example, you can use the garage as a practice space. Or if you like to work on cars, you can set up a workshop in your garage.
It’s less hazardous
A cluttered garage is more than just an eyesore – it can also be a safety hazard. Not only is it difficult to find what you need when everything is crammed into one space, but it also increases the risk of trips and falls.
Furthermore, a garage full of boxes and old furniture is a breeding ground for pests, which can quickly spread to the rest of your home. Decluttering your garage not only creates a more attractive space, but it also makes it safer and easier to use. When everything has its own place, you can easily find what you need and put it back when you’re finished.
It’s a great workout
Not only will you burn calories by moving all of those boxes around, but you’ll also get your heart rate up as you lug heavy items from one side of the garage to the other. It’s a win-win situation where you get to clear out a load of stuff AND get a good workout into your day!
What do you need to declutter your garage
One of the most satisfying things you can do is declutter your garage. Not only will it make your life easier and less chaotic, but it will also give you a sense of accomplishment. And, who knows, you might even find some hidden treasures that you forgot you had!
So, what do you need to declutter your garage?
Bins or boxes
When you’re decluttering your garage, one of the most important things you can do is to get yourself some bins or boxes. Here’s why:
First, they will help you to keep your belongings organised. You can use them to sort your belongings into different categories, such as “tools” and “sports equipment.” This will make it easier for you to find things when you need them.
Second, bins and boxes will protect your belongings from damage. If you just pile everything up in the garage, it’s likely that something will get broken or what if there was a storm and your garage got flooded? If you put your belongings into bins, they’ll be better protected against the elements.
Finally, bins and boxes will make it easier to get rid of things you no longer need. If everything is neatly sorted into different categories, it will be easier to see what you can get rid of and what you need to keep.
Labels & a sharpie
When you’re decluttering your garage, labels are essential. A sharpie will help you make sure that your labels are legible and easy to read.
But beyond that, labels can help you keep track of what goes where. When everything is neatly labeled, it’s much easier to find what you’re looking for – and to put things back in their proper place when you’re done using them.
In addition, labels can help you stay organised as you declutter. You can use different colors or sizes of labels to designate different areas of your garage, or to indicate which items should be donated and which should be thrown away.
And if you have trouble staying on task, labeling each step of the decluttering process (e.g., “sort through tools,” “put away tools,” etc.) can be a great way to keep yourself accountable, especially if you’re someone who get’s motivated by ticking things off a list!
Patience and motivation
Speaking of motivation, when it comes to decluttering your garage, you’re going to need a lot of it. And patience! This is because, as mentioned before, the decluttering process can be a daunting task. It’s going to take time, effort, and energy to get it done – but it’s definitely worth it in the end!
One way to stay motivated is to set a specific goal for yourself. For example, you might want to aim to have your garage completely decluttered by the end of the weekend. Or, you could set a goal to donate or sell a certain number of items each day.
Another way to stay motivated is to find an accountability partner. This could be a friend, family member, or even a neighbour. Having someone to help keep you accountable can be really helpful when it comes to decluttering your garage.
How to declutter your garage in 4 easy steps
1. Take everything out of your garage
The first step to decluttering your garage is to take everything out. That’s right, everything. You might be surprised at how much stuff you have crammed into your garage over the years. Once it’s all out in the open, you can see exactly what you have and start sorting through it and getting rid of anything you don’t need.
While everything is out of the garage, this is a great opportunity to sweep and clean the floor space and walls.
2. Sort through your belongings
Now that everything is out of the garage, it’s time to start sorting through the items.
One of the most daunting tasks when it comes to decluttering your garage is sorting through all of your belongings. It can be tempting to just throw everything into a giant pile and sort it later, but this will only make the task more overwhelming in the long run.
Instead, take some time to sort through your belongings as you declutter. This will help you to better assess what you have and what you need to get rid of.
For example, if you come across a box of holiday decorations that you haven’t used in years, it may be time to let them go. By taking the time to sort through your belongings, you can declutter your garage more effectively and make the task less daunting overall.
Read also: How To Declutter Sentimental Items Without The Overwhelming Guilt
You’ll also need to sort into bundles of what you want to keep, what to sell, what’s being donated and what’s being sent for recycling.
Hopefully you won’t have too much to go to the dump as you’ll want to avoid sending too much waste to the landfill.
3. Create storage solutions
The next step is to create storage solutions that work for you. There are a number of ways to do this, but one of the simplest is to install shelves. Shelves can be used to store everything from boxes of holiday decorations to tools and gardening supplies.
If you’re short on space, you can even consider installing vertical shelves, which will help to maximise your storage options.
Another great way to declutter your garage is to invest in some storage bins. Storage bins come in a variety of sizes and can be used to store everything from sports equipment to holiday decorations. Bins are also a great way to keep small items organised and safe from being misplaced.
Finally, hooks can be used to hang tools, sporting equipment, or tools.
4. Bring everything you’re not keeping to the charity shop or recycling centre
Most recycling centres will accept a wide range of materials, from metal and glass to paper and plastics and even electronics.
And if you have any items that are in good condition but no longer needed, then taking them to a charity shop can be a great way to give them a new home.
Not only will this help to declutter your garage, but it will also be doing your bit for the environment and for those in need.
An important step when learning how to declutter your garage is making sure you finish the entire job in the timeframe you’ve given yourself. This means, bringing everything to the charity shop or recycling centre immediately after decluttering.
Unfortunately, oftentimes after garage decluttering, the boxes of items you want to get rid of end up sitting on the garage floor until you have time to bring them where they need to go. Over time, they’ll be pushed back further into the garage as new things come in, resulting in a decluttered garage again.
Garage organisational tools
Here are some simple storage solutions to help with keeping your garage in order after you have decluttered the space:
How to keep your garage clutter free
It feels great to declutter your garage and get rid of all the stuff you don’t need. However, it can be hard to keep your garage clutter-free in the long run. Here are some tips to help you keep your garage organised and tidy:
Keep everything in its place:
Make sure you have a place for everything in your garage. This will help you stay organised and prevent clutter from accumulating.
Purge regularly:
Don’t wait until your garage is cluttered before you declutter it. Set aside some time each month to go through your belongings and get rid of anything you no longer need or use.
Stay on top of repairs:
If something in your garage is broken, fix it right away. Don’t let broken items accumulate and take up valuable space.
And there you have it! By following these simple steps, you can declutter your garage in no time. Just remember to be patient, take your time, and don’t be afraid to get a little dirty.
With a little elbow grease and a lot of organisation, your garage will be the envy of the neighbourhood in no time.
For more decluttering tips, check out these related posts:
- How To Be Ruthless When Decluttering Clothes: An Essential Guide
- How To Declutter Your House In One Day: Room To Room
- 10 Pro Tips on How to Declutter Before a Move (FREE Checklist!)
- Why Is Decluttering So Hard: 9 Reasons You Can’t Clear The Clutter
Have you been wanting to learn how to declutter your garage? Do you think these tips will help you with the task?
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