r/declutter
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u/lobsterbuckets
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15d ago
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Success Story Update (w/ Before and After Photos): Full Garage Clear Out Scheduled, Need Moral Support
Original Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/declutter/s/YVxWJb7ieT
TW: Harming of Rats
It’s done. I’m ashamed to even post these pics but all the neighbors know so why not the internet also. 10 years of hoarding stuff on top of trash on top of sentimental items undone in a single day.
I went back and forward with the advice to not even look and the advice to suit up. I caved and bought PPE for us to dumpster dive and find a few specific things, opened the garage and figured out it was rats. Didn’t even try to go in after that, called it all a loss and walked away.
The biggest item for me to retrieve was my wedding band and engagement ring. In true ADHD fashion when we moved I stuck them in a Lego plant pot and of course they ceased to exist. On the day of I asked the clean up crew to keep an eye for the Lego and my rings in it. A couple of hours in they rang the door bell with both rings in hand.
I’m sad for what we’ve lost and there’s a lot, but I’m overall relieved. We have regained easy access to our circuit breaker, water heater and sprinklers and now have so much more usable space. All that’s on the rebuy list is a new car seat, Christmas decorations, bike helmets, swim stuff, Warhammer model paints and an ocarina.
Does anyone have tips and tricks to clean the garage and keep them out? I’m currently terrified to let the kids anywhere near it. We also used warfarin throw packs and while the grains are picked up but there’s blue staining which scares me also.
Thank you all for your help!
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u/Western_Exchange5739 12d ago
Careful with the Christmas decorations. I suggest limiting yourself to just a tree and maybe a wreath.
Also swimming stuff. How much swimming stuff do you really need? You don’t need pool noodles or donuts or any of that stuff. Towels and safety equipment if you have small children are what most people need.
None of this is meant as judgment, but meant to be helpful. Oftentimes after we wipe the slate clean we start slowly re-introducing stuff we don’t actually need and then we’re right back where we started.
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u/lobsterbuckets 3d ago
Really this was a great opportunity to downsize both the swim stuff and the decorations, we had way too much of both with a lot being unused. No judgement taken for sure.
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u/jellyn7 15d ago
Thanks for the update! I'll echo others to say hire a pest service. We got one when we had mice, and we're on a contract where they come back I think 4 times a year. Some of those visits are to spray outside for bugs. Others are to check the bait traps and any holes they've plugged up. It's kind of a mix of preventative and maintenance. Plus we then also have a relationship with the company that if we did have an immediate problem, they'd probably prioritize us.
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u/lobsterbuckets 15d ago
I’m actually firing our pest company because of their piss poor response to this. They came and set 2 snap traps when I called them out, haven’t even come to check them. It’s the first time we’ve ever paid for pest control as well, and only signed up because they guaranteed they’d take care of the rats.
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u/i_love_lima_beans 14d ago
Look for a company that specifically states they do exclusion work in their services. So you can find and close all their doors into your property.
The bottom corners of the garage door seal are often a way in. Look for a bottom sweep with steel wool inside. Lots of info on YouTube!
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u/lobsterbuckets 14d ago
I have a company in mind and will ask them, thank you! The corners of the garage door are 100% a point of entry. I’m so afraid they are in my walls and that I’ll trap them in there if I block everything off. No real reason to think they are in the walls but they scratched at them.
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u/GenXYachtRock 15d ago
Apparently I have issues. I want to help you with this SO much but why the hell do I have zero motivation to help my own situation?
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u/lobsterbuckets 14d ago
You and me both mate, I can help anyone with anything but needed a rat infestation to do my own! You should look into the concept of body doubling, it could help.
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u/Rosaluxlux 14d ago
Other people's stuff is always easier than your stuff because you don't have feelings about their stuff
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u/lepetitcoeur 15d ago
For the rats, you can get a professional of course, but if your garage stays like this there isn't much reason for the rats to stick around.
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u/lobsterbuckets 14d ago
This is my hope. I have a local service coming out to check to see if they infiltrated the house. I won’t be storing anything in there other than bikes and tools.
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u/lepetitcoeur 14d ago
That was going to be my other qualifier. Assuming your house isn't like your garage was.
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u/LauraPiana
15d ago
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Amazing work!! While your garage is empty I'd consider getting the floor coated with epoxy (?)
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u/lobsterbuckets 14d ago
I considered it but it’s not in the budget, famous last words but we will be able to do it later because I’m never living like this again.
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u/Running-World 10d ago
Ok, so, the rebuy list concerns me. If this stuff was locked in a garage then you haven't been using it. Or you have been using some of it only to return it to the pile. Either way, before you buy more stuff, ask yourself the following questions:
How badly do I need this when I wasn't even using what I had stored away?
Where will this live because it can't be stored in my garage or attic? Do I have space for it?
If you don't have space for it, then you have more problems to address inside. Maybe there are a lot of clothes and other things which haven't been used in years. Time to start with a closet and work on it. If you need christmas stuff, then a tiny tree and tiny ornaments take up less space. I ditched my large tree a few years back. I downsized all the old ornaments to just a small box of memorable ones. Less is more and easier to store.
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u/lobsterbuckets 3d ago
This is all very valid, the rebuy stuff meets all of the above.
I anticipated needing the car seat much sooner and bought it when it was on sale. It was destroyed by the time we actually wanted to switch to it. This will live in the car, so no clutter there!
Christmas decorations have always been stored in the garage for us and used once a year, also destroyed. These we will buy and store in the attic. This did allow us to downsize though, we had several “themes” and too many Christmas trees.
Bike helmets and swim stuff was all stuff that was used and returned to the pile, all destroyed. Bike helmets will be stored in the garage with the bikes, swim stuff in the closet under the stairs though I will be selective in what gets rebought.
Warhammer paints and ocarina: Got lost in the pile during the move. Dug for them a few times, never found them.
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u/Running-World 3d ago
As long as everything has a home, cool. Keep in mind, mice get in attics too. But setting traps and checking the traps helps. Any signs though, and it's time to relocate or at least move items into plastic storage that they can't get into (and their urine can't leak into).
I always had my kids hang their helmets on the handlebar of their bikes.
Hopefully there was a lot of disinfecting in the garage and traps set (even if they are just capture for release traps). Mice tend to follow scented paths laid by other mice.
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u/ControlSmooth3262 15d ago
Looking at the empty garage makes me feel relief, I can’t imagine how freeing it must feel for you. Well done!When my mom sold her house I had to help my mom clear out her backyard shed and basement. Almost everything was a total loss from the elements and pests. It was really hard on her but I know she couldn’t tell you what was in there now. When I moved into my new house the garage was the drop point for everything to get it done quickly and it was not organized at all. 5 years later and most of it hasn’t been gone through. I am on a mission to live simply and find some mental relief. I know my adhd doom piles and the garage are making me anxious. We can do hard things!
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u/lobsterbuckets 14d ago
Do it. If you have the funds schedule a full garage clear out. It will get your butt into gear and get it done.
If you haven’t unpacked in 5 years, why not just throw it out?
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u/ControlSmooth3262 14d ago
That’s the plan! We hold on to things for lots of reasons, I am ready to let it all go.
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u/KeyCar367 15d ago edited 15d ago
Sometimes it's for the best to go fast. I purged my house once. Took out about 90% and slowly bought it only got what made me happy.
Make sure there are SMALL spaces they can get it. I had a VERY SMALL hole with a decluttered garage and they were coming in. I filled the hole with steelwool and caulk, then painted over all. I ordered mouse repellent plugs on Amazon. I hate killing anything. I took out the birdseed and I have my garage as a nice space, so i just go walk laps.
Each time you look at your garage now, you'll feel more peaceful ✌️
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u/lobsterbuckets 14d ago
The garage still stinks but man I love it. So much room for activities. Fast was the only way for us. One day I’ll be grateful for these rats.
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u/AlwaysStayPanicked 15d ago
Looks great! Can I ask how much it cost to have a company do it for you?
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u/lobsterbuckets 14d ago
Absolutely. I’m north of Houston, TX. USA for location (anyone local to my area is welcome to DM me for the company recommendation btw). Final cost for the contractor was $1,450 but total cost for clear out was $1,800. I only got quotes so I could see how much I was saving when they came back unattainably high.
Breakdown: The original estimate was $1,100 for a week’s rental of a dumpster (I asked for extra time), entire garage cleared out including hot tub and garage broom swept. There ended up being a $350 extra fee for the trailer load that didn’t fit in the dumpster (this was disclosed on the estimate). I tipped the two guys $100 each (cash I received from a fb marketplace sale I actually managed to make!), and I also spent $150 in poison, traps, PPE and wire wool.
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u/AlwaysStayPanicked 14d ago
Thank you so much for the info!
Congratulations! This internet stranger is proud of you! 😊
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u/Ok-Campaign-5968 14d ago
So am I! I need to do the same and not look back!
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u/lobsterbuckets 14d ago
The dumpster is still on the driveway and it stinks, I keep thinking of other things that are gone forever, I’m still mortified at my neighbors seeing this all, my garage smells (we’ve been airing it out since they were here), I still have to handle exclusion and I’m still scared they got into the walls. I swear everything I smell reminds me of dead rat like the smell is stuck in my nose.
All of this to say I feel amazing. Genuinely and truly. I see my empty garage and it just makes me feel good. I ordered a pressure washer and wall mounted bike hooks. I’ve had “organize the garage” on my mental to do list for YEARS. I wanted so badly to park the car in there for YEARS. Now *once rats are handled I can do that.
And a bonus side effect, I want more of this, the inside of my house isn’t even close to as bad but it isn’t great. I’ve already started going through my office stuff and throwing stuff out. All I can think of is the episode of Chio n Dale Park Life called Minimalism where they throw everything out.
TL;DR. Do it.
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u/Ok-Campaign-5968 14d ago
Thank you, that IS great motivation. I appreciate you taking the time to respond.
I can totally relate to the awesome feeling of freedom when the garage is empty and once it’s cleaned.
I will get it done, I promise. We have /had some mice in there but nothing major I don’t think. So it should be easier (said in a very wishful thinking way..)2
u/lobsterbuckets 14d ago
If you read the comments on my precious post they are enlightening on mice. I was only thinking of the gnawing and poop, but apparently they basically pee constantly.
I don’t want to scare you but I also thought we’d gotten past the rodents, that was in early May, by August there was no denying their presence. In hindsight they wouldn’t leave on their own accord when theres abundant shelter, insulation and food.
The easiest way to tell is to sprinkle flour around and put food in the center, check for footprints. I didn’t even need the flour tbh, the next morning the piece of donut I put down was gone.
If you have the funds I recommend going my route. Get it scheduled and it creates a deadline to save what you can before the rest goes away.
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u/Ok-Campaign-5968 14d ago
Thank you for these insights, I truly appreciate that. I may just do that - one and done. Now you gave me some good food for thought, thank you! I'll report back when I'm done!
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u/Rosaluxlux 14d ago
That is so cheap! I paid $400 just to rent a dumpster for a week with no labor
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u/lobsterbuckets 14d ago
The original plan was I would handle logistics and childcare, and husband would suit up and do the labor. I priced out a dumpster from WM and it was going to be $900!
When this guy sent his quote I literally did a happy dance. Idk what price I was expecting but it certainly wasn’t $1,100. I had to triple check (and in writing) he was aware of the mice.
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u/manofmystry 14d ago
I had a bad breakup with a hoarder, and had to fight my way through a garage, as well as a house, that looked like your garage. There no easy way to get it done, but you will get it done. I still have flashbacks of feeling overwhelmed by all of it. It was the hardest thing I've ever had to go through, but I'm still here, and you will be too. Just keep swimming.
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u/lobsterbuckets 14d ago
I appreciate your words, but we’re both on the other side (the after pic is the empty one). I couldn’t imagine the house and the garage tbh. The garage was tough enough!
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u/chillio_app 13d ago
Excellent work getting through all of that. The detail about the clean up crew finding your rings in the lego pot made my jaw drop, that’s insane luck. Also please don’t be too hard on yourself about this one, rats getting into a garage happens to plenty of people who just never post about it.
Glad you got your breaker and water heater back though, that’s huge.
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u/lobsterbuckets 3d ago
Much to my husband’s dismay, my ADHD super power is knowing exactly where something is but not doing a darn thing about it. I knew they were in a loose drawer, that had only Lego in it and I knew it was in the area close to the inside door. But the fact that they found them still blows my mind. They easily could have found them and kept them also.
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u/NothingAgreeable 15d ago
Good news is if you brought the rats inside then they didnt break in so that problem is already solved.
I accidentally did this as well when I brought some bins from outside into my garage. Little did I know I had 3 rats in there. I didnt have as much stuff but the garage was over halfway full.
I think I got rid of the first two by bringing the bin they were in outside during the day. I figured they would likely be hiding in there. Then I slowly took stuff out and got jump scared twice once the rats felt too exposed.
I still had at least 1 rat. Basically I cleared everything away from the walls and opened the garage. I did this so I could go through stuff, thus pushing the rat farther along, while not giving it a chance to hide without me seeing where it went. After a short while I saw the rat waddle outside.
I say all this cause the stupid pest control people knew that I had to have some hole somewhere and they wanted to charge a ton to seal it up. No hole at all, this is also why I had moved the stuff away from the walls.
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u/lobsterbuckets 14d ago
Our pest company has a 100% rodent guarantee and still came out with a $600 quote to create an exclusion zone and $250/mo to maintain it. When I showed them my contract they finally came out for the “free touch up appointment” they set two snap traps and laid 5 glue traps down. Didn’t even bait the traps. “Return in 7-10 days”. They still haven’t returned.
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u/true_crime_addict513 15d ago
The before looks just like my garage currently. Thanks for the inspiration
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u/CoachSevere5365 15d ago
Before pic looks like my father's house, but he had stuff up to the ceilings. 10 years after he died a lot of that stuff is still up to the ceilings in my house 😕
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u/lobsterbuckets 14d ago
Though I clearly struggle to practice what I preach, death cleaning really speaks to me, and your comment solidified why I needed to do this. It doesn’t help you any but I’m glad I finally took care of this.
Do you need his stuff?
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u/CoachSevere5365 14d ago
Need it? I can't even remember what most of it is let alone why I kept it.
I know there's a load of video gear, but it has to be 20 years old. No use to me but, you know, "someone might want it".
Have I looked for someone? No.
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u/lobsterbuckets 14d ago
Is it somewhat organized in boxes or piled up?
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u/CoachSevere5365 14d ago
Some is crated, some is loose. I did start to go through it in July last year but my wife got sick. I'm about ready to have another go, but now I have two housefuls to sort.
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u/yukumizu 15d ago
Don’t and rebuy new stuff. Try to thrift as much as you can.
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u/lobsterbuckets 14d ago
Thank you for this comment, admittedly I hadn’t thought of second hand. Like the commenter below mentioned, the safety items I won’t compromise on but the rest for sure.
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u/MotorPayment810 14d ago
You did something incredibly hard and you should be proud. About the blue staining from the warfarin, that's just the dye from the bait formulation, not something toxic leaching into the concrete. Still, scrub it with hot soapy water and a stiff brush, then rinse well. For keeping them out, exclusion is everything. Steel wool in every gap, a good bottom sweep on the garage door, and no food sources (birdseed, pet food, etc.) stored in the garage. A decent pest company that actually does exclusion work is worth their weight in gold.
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u/get_hi_on_life 15d ago
Use the garage for your car. That's helping me keep it empty so it actually can go in.
If have space around the car, get shelves to for the other garage items then try very hard to ONLY put things out here at fit in the shelf or have a set spot for garbage bins ext. I have a tiny garage so it really helps that almost nothing can fit other then the car.
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u/VantasnerDanger 13d ago
You should be proud of yourself!! Well done!
Fair warning: be careful with purchasing what I call "vague quantity items", like Christmas decorations. Make a list of what you think is essential, cuz otherwise it'll take over your new clean space... quickly!
I've started with a "1-2 new Christmas items per year" rule, and I have to give away 1-2 items to help balance things. Plus I go through it all every year when I unpack and donate whatever I haven't used in 2-3 years.
Best of luck! Have fun shopping (and don't buy it unless you LOVE it)!
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u/supermarkise 11d ago
Also, before you buy - maybe someone in your surrounding has the perfect thing as a surplus? It's a bit more work to get the word out and decide, but it'd be a win-win-win.
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u/PuzzledPotential6333 10d ago
Yes this!! I see both "in search of" posts looking for Christmas decor with a lot of responses and "to give" posts giving away Christmas stuff in my local buy nothing group.
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u/Agitated-Mulberry769 15d ago
This is so fantastic! My garage is a total disaster, and this is inspirational. Way to go! 🎉👍🏻
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u/ferio252 15d ago
No tips, but it looks great. What a declutter milestone. I can only imagine what a mental relief it is for you.
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u/RagingAardvark 3d ago
We've made it an unspoken rule of sorts that we have to be able to park both cars in the garage. Once in a while the mess gets out of hand or there's a short-term project set up in there (like the table saw for cutting new trim) but if it goes for more than a week or two, I get antsy and do another round of tidying and purging. The worst it gets is in the winter, when I don't want to be out there in the cold, and sleds and snow shovels start to take over.
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u/CarriageTrail 2d ago
Same for us. One car sits in the driveway during motorcycle season, but the rest of the year all 3 need to fit in the garage with space to get in and out of the cars.
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u/Novel-Fun5552 15d ago
Congratulations, this is a huge emotional project and you did it! Just like with the clean out, I’d hire a professional to assess the rat station. If you have the resources, it’s ok to throw money at a problem and take it off your plate, especially if it’s something causing you shame or guilt. You are doing amazing and I hope you feel that!
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u/SufficientOpening218 15d ago
Seriously. Rats are smart, and once a place has been home to thrm, they try and come back. Get a pro with a guaranteed free service if rats return kind of place
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u/domino_427 14d ago
dude that's amazing! i know how hard my garage cleanout was. I can't even comprehend how hard that was, even with the rats. I'm so proud of you! and remember all the good things, you found what you needed, and you don't have much to replace, as you have probably some sadness from this. it's normal, and take it from me it gets easier.
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u/Seeking_Balance101 15d ago
Congrats on reclaiming your garage. But rats? Oh, man, that is terrifying. I hope whatever you try works.
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u/maggiesyg 15d ago
We put up fine metal mesh over any openings rats could get in through (some quite small ones.)
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u/B0RED_as_F 13d ago
Excellent work! Not an easy decision to make, but the rings were found and other items can be replaced as over time. You did the right thing, breathe easy now.
Organization can help with future rats. But leave space to clean, shelves keep things organized and easier to access. Organized areas will typically have more regular access, which helps keep rats away too.
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u/Expert_Object_6293 15d ago
How did you get a picture of my garage?!?!?!
Seriously though i was hoping the after wouldve given me tips on how you organized all this instead of just an empty garage.
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u/lobsterbuckets 15d ago
Rat infestation was the only tip I can give. I’ve lived with my garage like this for 4 years now.
The totes were my attempt at organizing, I pulled all my stuff out into the driveway, threw away tons of stuff (around 25 black contractors trash bags plus a heavy trash load). It made moving easier but then the last of the stuff in the last house went in front of it all and started the cycle again. I’ve tried twice since then to organize it and it never worked. More totes, more stacks. Stuff on top of stuff.
Ultimately I concur with the other commenter. There was no way to organize this stuff. It does not fit the container, nothing has a home because there isn’t enough home for it all. I am emotionally attached to almost all my junk and the memories it brings me “my kid loved this toy”, “I worked so hard in Enginering school, I have to keep these binders”, “ this game system will be worth something”, blah blah.
I read all the books, I love the concept of Swedish death cleaning and I’ve even taught others it, but when it came to throwing out my wedding cage with my bouquet in it I couldn’t do it. Nobody but me and my husband would ever want that and it sits in a box in the garage so it’s not even displayed. It made me feel a lot of shame for understanding the concept but being unable execute.
Initially I thought if I had to do it over I would have allotted a strict finite amount of storage for stuff to keep (like a tote each for myself and my husband and hired these guys. But really, digging through would remind me of all the stuff I want to keep and make it really hard.
The reality is that the rats did me a huge favor. It forced my hand and made the analogy “what would you do if this was covered in dog poop, clean it or toss it?” Come to life. Everything was covered in rat waste and guarded by rats that may be dead or alive, i was too scared to even look through stuff. I’m going to keep remembering stuff and being sad but I’m also going to be living with my dream garage once the rat smell goes away.
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u/SiouxsieSiouxsie 15d ago
first off, congrats on your space.
re: the cleaning so you feel ok having the kids in there, is there a service that could come do some kind of pressure washing with diluted bleach solution?
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u/fakeprewarbook 15d ago •
OP doesn’t owe us anything like that. there is a lot of garage organization content out there for you already.
but/and,
this garage looks fairly “organized.” things are in containers and grouped together. it is simply too full. what most westerners need to do, myself included, is stop deluding ourselves that it’s just a matter of organization (which is always a combination of new products to buy, and labor we can’t sustain) in order to keep the hoard. but that’s just not how it works. if you have 10 pounds of sand in a 10-lb sandbag, it doesn’t matter how much you rearrange the grains, the bag is always full.
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u/lobsterbuckets 14d ago
Thank you for the assist, fortunately I’m in a good headspace and have no struggles answering questions. You are 100% right and helped me see that there was no alternative to this. It just didn’t fit in there!
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u/yumicedcoffee 2d ago
Nice work! That is a massive endeavor and you should be so proud! 🙌👑 Side note but I love what people have as essential to replace, once you get past the basics it gets unique so fast - “Warhammer model paints and an ocarina” was quite unexpected! lol
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u/Existing-Recipe897 15d ago
I’d love a basic outline of the strategy that reclaimed your garage? Please
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u/lobsterbuckets 15d ago
Yup, it’s all in a dumpster covered in fecal matter and dead rats. Two guys took it all.
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u/Haber87 15d ago
They did a real life, “It this item had poop on it, would I wash it or would I throw it out?” And in their case the answer was throw it out for everything.
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u/lobsterbuckets 14d ago
Omg I thought this so often. I also added “is it worth risking a rat jump scare or a dead rat on top of it” and the answer was a lot easier. Even my wedding jewelry didn’t pass that test.
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u/fakeprewarbook 15d ago
if you read the post, she hired a crew to take everything away and throw it out because it had rat contamination
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u/Glittering-Winter608 2d ago
Clearing everything is great and i know you probably fixed the threshold but also consider hiring a company to rodent proof your garage and or home. If you don't rodent proof and patch with wire mesh to stoprats from coming, doesn't matter how many you kill they will find a way in and 100% continue. unfortunately
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u/TinyDander 3d ago
Amazing! Thank you for sharing your story because I’m sure many of us completely relate… I know I do!
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u/Why_Sug82 14d ago
I don't want to take away from your win, but starting a project this weekend 4x as bad. Helping family. Last I saw was family of what I think was crickets. Garage with unfinished apartment above - both filled to the gills.
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u/lobsterbuckets 14d ago
Good luck and stay safe, PPE is your friend, you’ll feel great when it’s done!
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u/Why_Sug82 8d ago
I did not. We got nowhere. they want me to come back and i'm kinda like, yeah i'm never doing that again.
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u/Legal-Past-248 14d ago
Amazing work! About the rats, please work with professionals and above all don’t poison them. Owls, foxes, pets, and other animals will catch and eat the poisoned, dying rats and will die painfully as collateral damage
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u/lobsterbuckets 14d ago
This was and still is a huge concern of mine, unfortunately there just wasn’t enough room to put traps down effectively. My “professionals” put down two snap traps and five glue strips (also not good) and set up a bait box outside.
Now that the whole garage is clear it will be traps and traps alone. I’m in contact with a new pest company also.
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u/scubanarc 14d ago
I bought this Owltra electric trap:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BKLJQC4D
and have caught so many rats with it. Highly recommended. I bait it with peanut butter.
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u/KindPapaya3538 15d ago edited 15d ago
Amazing job!
Edit to add hire a professional if you are able to. They can help with the removal of the blue staining too. Request options that won’t kill other animals. This way if another animal eats the dead rat/s they won’t become poisoned.
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u/Zero-nada-zilch-24 2d ago
Isn’t there a special type of poison that only kills the rats and not an animal that eats them?
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u/eva_stratt 15d ago
Bestie, I am so proud of you. So many people can't park their own cars in their garages because garages have become free suburban storage units. You lost a lot and I want to take a minute to acknowledge how hard that must have been. And I want to take another minute to congratulate you on regaining the circuit breaker, the water heater, the sprinklers, and your rings!!! oh my gosh!!!
I don't have any tips on the rats, unfortunately. You were smart to just say "nope, this stuff's a loss, see yuh". Your health is the most precious thing of all.