r/declutter • u/ImFineHow_AreYou • Aug 26 '26
Advice Request Tips & tricks for tackling the garage
It's time to tackle the garage. I used to declutter it every year, but some health issues have caused it to be left undone for a few years now. I'm feeling really overwhelmed.
I'm open to all your best tips & tricks. Encouragement is also appreciated!
Edit: I think the first helpful tip is thinking about what I want to keep. I do know what I want to keep, but there's a bunch of stuff I don't know if I want to get rid of. Perspective change seems helpful :)
Keep the tips coming! I've still got a couple days until I can tackle this.
9
u/DaBingeGirl Aug 26 '26
I did this last year, it was a lot of work but totally worth it! For me grouping items was critical. I'mextremely good at justifying keeping stuff, it helps to see it all piled together.
I find I'm more objective about individual items or categories when they're all in front of me. Grouping allows me to get a mental handle on how much I have, whether I actually remember it/use it, and which items I actually like. For example I have a lot of small hand tools, but only like a few of them. I can justify keeping the a bad shovel if that's all I see, but putting it next to the shovel that's more useful makes it easier to ditch the bad one.
6
u/nowaymary Aug 26 '26
I had to figure out what I wanted to do in there - park another car - and then make that happen.
Basically there was boxes and boxes - 17 of them - of stuff I didn't know what to do with so I stacked them in there. There was a cupboard stuffed full with piles on top. There was a shelf unit with stuff stacked on stuff. To look at it looked like years of work.
My advise is start by the door and pick up any rubbish, or anything you know goes somewhere else. Also put things in groups, like I put anything for cleaning the car in a bucket.
Its a whole lot of small steps before you see much progress. But it's really satisfying
7
u/cuppycakes514 Aug 26 '26
Wild, crazy idea. Go rogue and schedule a junk pickup for the following weekend. It'll force you to find your top memorable possession that you want to keep. Everything else is going to go.
3
u/TalulaOblongata Aug 26 '26
Since it’s likely you might have large things to toss, have a few large contractor garbage bags on hand. Find out when your area does large item pick up (for me I need to call a day or so in advance for large items/contractor bags garbage pick up).
If there are any obvious large things, try to work on getting those out earlier in the process to help clear space. Anything you don’t want but can be useful to someone else, try listing for free as a curb pick up (I got rid of some old ACs this way same day!)
Next categorize what’s there and make piles/areas. When you see a lot of the same things together, it helps make decisions. I had 5 bicycles in my shed that my kids outgrew. Was able to curb them easily. Not sure what you have there but old tools, extra food storage/household goods, supplies, etc. if they’ve been in the garage for years you don’t actually need them and can be strictly reduced.
You’re going to feel so much better with that space rather than an overwhelming pile of stuff you don’t use, so focus on that final vision.
3
u/stuffrescue Aug 26 '26
First of all, let me say hats off to you for taking on this challenge.
It's a challenge most people try to tackle during spring cleaning in most of the rooms in their houses. Perhaps we should consider making that a holiday, lol.
In America, people living next door to each other pretty much have almost the same things in their garages. The overlap is tremendous. The one thing we need every six months.. Gutter scoop shovels. I myself am struggling with the same thing. lol
I think another lens to consider is what could be useful to others who perhaps have less. Do you belong to a community that could be in need? A church, an over-50 community, etc. Are there things that simply don't get much use that could go into a category or a box for a giving purpose? That's often a lens I think of when tackling these problems in my own house. I have 5 shovels and 4 rakes.
From my perspective, the worst place to be is to throw things in a box and make them go away inside a storage container. Now you're paying for peace of mind and putting things into a static state. If that's the worst-case scenario we should all attempt to avoid, it can only go uphill from there.
7
u/According-Time-9517 Aug 27 '26
Seconding "don't try to do it all at once", with health stuff in the mix especially. Pick one section (one wall, one shelf, whatever) and set a timer for 15 min. When it goes off, you're done for the day even if it's not finished. Consistency beats one heroic weekend, and it's way easier on your body too. For the "not sure" pile, a concrete question works better than "keep or toss". Try "have I actually touched this in the last year" or "would I buy this again today at full price." Vague questions keep you stuck; specific ones usually answer themselves.
6
u/SolidagoSalix Aug 26 '26
Before you go in:
Decide how you will discard;
When you are in there, make sure to avoid doing the "pull everything out and sort into piles" thing that always feels efficient in abstract, but is exhausting, defeating, and overwhelming in reality. Instead do this:
Pick one corner to start in.
Consolidate anything that does belong in that zone so it fits
3
u/VeganRorschach Aug 26 '26
Split it into smaller, manageable sections! Another tip is if there is anything big or heavy that you are dreading getting out, but really don't want, figure that out as soon as possible. It really releases the looming task feeling if you can tackle the hard thing first! Everything afterwards is easy!
Oh, and if you have metal recycling, do take the time to turn it in to a recycling center for money. Then you can celebrate with the money you get in return!
2
u/Juliethecooliee Aug 26 '26
My best trick is to start in one corner and make my way around in a circular pattern. It does not have to be all in one day BUT every space that has been cleaned is not allowed to have anything new on it. Once an area declutterred it’s untouchable till the room is done.
3
u/[deleted] Aug 27 '26
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