How To De-Clutter Your Garage

Have you had no time to de-clutter your garage? Then make time to do so this winter to protect your precious car, van or bike from theft and to keep it clean. Are you running out of space? No worries, I have a few solutions to help you to sort it out.

It’s great if you own a house that comes with a garage, but it often becomes a dumping ground for your junk. Often, the junk will accumulate and you end up with no usable space. So plan to take charge of it and here are three things you need to remember to do when you are de-cluttering. To keep, to throw or to sell. Divide your items into these categories to make your life easier.

To Keep:

I bet there are a lot of things you want to keep. So be ruthless and sensible. Is it necessary to keep them? If yes, the items that you do not want to part with, for example, antique furniture, childhood memories, tools etc. Store them neatly in a clear plastic box or wrap them up with cling film so that you can see what’s inside the box/item. You can buy some heavy-duty shelves, wall-mounted storage hooks, pegboard organizers or ceiling storage racks to store them.

If you are running out of space, maybe you could hire a professional to board up your garage loft to give you more storage space. Or you can opt for self-storage near you, like the storage units in Basingstoke. Self-storage can offer you more than just temporary storage; with extended access and conveniently located facilities, it can also protect your delicate furniture from warping from the freezing cold wet garage! In some facilities, they even offer to store your caravan which could help protect it from theft and vandalism.

To Throw:

Do they belong in the black bins or can they be recycled or disposed of? If the item is in good condition and still has plenty of life, why not donate them to charities, like British Heart Foundation and The Salvation Army? Many charities take large household items like sofas, tables, chairs and many more. Give them a call to arrange an appointment!

If they don’t take your items or your items are broken, you can either hire a skip or hire a man to remove them for you but make sure they are licensed. If you are able to do it yourself, why not go to your local council recycling centre to recycle them properly? Do a bit for your environment rather than throw them in the landfill. Or freecycle them via your local neighbourhood sites or Facebook.

Many people like to keep half-used tins of paint inside their garage with the idea that maybe one day they might use it. More often than not though, it doesn’t get used so it’s unnecessary clutter. Did you know that paint has a shelf life? If you are not using it to paint or touch up after a year, you should recycle your tins at your local council recycling centre.

To Sell:

It is always nice to earn a bit of money from your unwanted items. If there is value, take a few photos and list them online on websites or via an app. Nowadays, it is so easy to list them. If the item does not sell after a few months of listing, then give it away to charity rather than clutter your home.

Once you have done these, you will have a big, spacious garage! Having a clean garage will make your life so much easier to find your things and you may be able to park your vehicle more easily away from prying eyes. A garage can help keep your car cleaner, frost-free and safer overnight. It can also potentially drive down car insurance costs.

So remember, de-cluttering is an ongoing process. Don’t wait, start now – to keep, to throw or to sell.

Disclosure: This is a featured post.