Okay, you may be thinking that cleaning out the garage is not that easy or quick. Hang in there. If you followed Part 1, I bet some of the unwanted things are already gone. Continue with the previous task of looking up ways to get rid of the unwanted things from Part 1. Yes – you can do it, just keep at it. And keep your goal in mind– why you want to declutter the garage. In this second part we tackle bins and boxes of assorted stuff.
Bins and Boxes - Digging In
Most people have bins and boxes of assorted items stashed in the garage. If you don’t have any, consider yourself fortunate and skip this step! Otherwise, examine your bins and boxes to recall why they got here. Making space for a remodel? Clearing spare bedroom for holiday
guests? Decluttering the house? Deposited from last move? Replaced with a new version? Here’s a reminder: clutter is unmade decisions. Therefore, much of this garage clutter likely represents delayed decisions. The time has come to make the decisions about where this stuff belongs. Follow the basic decluttering process (below) for each container. If you have many containers this step may take a while. Do not give up! Each decision made is positive progress. Think about how long it took to accumulate all these things.
1) Open the box. Try to recall where it came from to get an idea of what’s in it. If you can make a determination for the box in its entirety – great. Move it along to: keep, trash, donate, or give away.
2) Go through each box item by item to figure out where the pieces belong: recycle, trash, donate, keep, or give away. (Set up appropriate containers for this sorting process.)
3) Take the time to label every container. For the keepers, record contents and date.
4) If you completed some or all of Part 1, there should be enough free garage space to physically separate similar items into categories, for example, sporting goods, car supplies, household tools, garden tools and supplies, children’s outdoor toys, and snow removal equipment. If not, consider stacking things outdoors temporarily to provide working space for the session.
4) Repeat until all the boxes are addressed.
Note: This sorting step can be postponed until a later date but realize that the more you declutter now the more working space will be available. Part of your goals is likely to finally make some of these delayed decisions!
After each session (you may not get through all boxes in one shot) figure in time to wrap things up. Put trash out, prepare recycling, put donations in the car and call family/friends to schedule giving stuff away. Observe your progress and congratulate yourself for sticking with it. Give yourself a reward! Then, plan a date on the calendar for the next session.
Next up: Part 3, Sort and Organize
1) Open the box. Try to recall where it came from to get an idea of what’s in it. If you can make a determination for the box in its entirety – great. Move it along to: keep, trash, donate, or give away.
2) Go through each box item by item to figure out where the pieces belong: recycle, trash, donate, keep, or give away. (Set up appropriate containers for this sorting process.)
3) Take the time to label every container. For the keepers, record contents and date.
4) If you completed some or all of Part 1, there should be enough free garage space to physically separate similar items into categories, for example, sporting goods, car supplies, household tools, garden tools and supplies, children’s outdoor toys, and snow removal equipment. If not, consider stacking things outdoors temporarily to provide working space for the session.
4) Repeat until all the boxes are addressed.
Note: This sorting step can be postponed until a later date but realize that the more you declutter now the more working space will be available. Part of your goals is likely to finally make some of these delayed decisions!
After each session (you may not get through all boxes in one shot) figure in time to wrap things up. Put trash out, prepare recycling, put donations in the car and call family/friends to schedule giving stuff away. Observe your progress and congratulate yourself for sticking with it. Give yourself a reward! Then, plan a date on the calendar for the next session.
Next up: Part 3, Sort and Organize
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