The Big Garage Clear-Out: Making Your Garage Work For You
The typical British garage is usually a wasteland of tools, garden items and bulk buys from Costco. People rarely use them to store cars these days! More often than not, garages are disorganised chaos, full of things you probably forgot you had. So why not turn things around and transform your garage into somewhere you can actually use?
Get ready to make the most out of your garage with this guide to the big garage clear-out – you’ll wish you’d done it sooner!
Be prepared
A garage clear-out is no easy task, especially if you’re dealing with a lot of stuff. It’s good to get organised in advance so you can arrange for a skip or some waste bags to help you get rid of unwanted items. You might also want to enlist the help of some friends or family members if there’s going to be a lot of heavy lifting involved.
Choose a dry day
Timing is everything when it comes to a garage clear-out. You’re going to need to get everything out, so a dry day makes sense to help you make the most of your drive or garden. You might also want to get some plastic sheeting or old painting sheets to lay everything out on, protecting your surfaces and your items. Check the forecast and get ready for an early start – it’s going to be a long day!
Say goodbye to the unused and unwanted
Now comes the clear-out! It’s time to get ruthless and say goodbye to everything in your garage that’s unused and unwanted. Where possible, try to avoid throwing anything away – you’ll be surprised at who might have use for some of your old tools or paint cans!
Separate everything into the following categories:
Recycle
Where possible, recycle as much of your unwanted garage items as possible. From old cardboard boxes to (empty) cleaning products and containers, there is a lot you can recycle in your garage. Check out the guidance on your local authority’s website to see what you can and can’t recycle – they should have guidance for all of your household waste, making it easy to decide what should go where.
Reuse
Clearing out your garage can help you rediscover so many forgotten items, giving you some opportunities to resume them. Could you repurpose some broken shelves or upcycle an old table? You could uncover some great DIY projects during your clear-out!
And if there are things you no longer want, maybe someone else will. Reuse sites are a great place to help you find new homes for some of your unwanted things.
Donate
Donating your unwanted things can make all the difference to people in your community. From old gym equipment to furniture items, try donating some of your unwanted garage items and see if it can benefit others.
Sell
Your garage clear-out could be a great way to make some extra cash! If you’ve been storing old DVDs, books and other items, there are plenty of places you can sell your old things online and treat yourself to something new.
Unsure of what you should get rid of from your garage? Check out some suggestions from professional organisers.
Create a floorplan
With the contents of your garage greatly diminished, you can start making your garage work for you. Draw a floorplan using software like Canva (or good old pen and paper!) to help you decide what your garage layout should be. Whether you plan to create a home gym, a workshop or simply enjoy having your things organised, this will help you plan what goes where, for a more suitable garage space going forward.
Change your flooring
Traditionally, garage floors are just concrete – they were designed to park cars after all. But if you don’t intend to use yours to store your vehicle, you might want to install different flooring in your garage. Gym flooring is ideal if you plan to use your garage to work out, or you could add some tiles or laminate/wooden flooring if you want to transform your garage into a living space or office.
Take a look at some amazing garage transformations to give you some inspiration.
Add some storage
Finding the right storage for your garage can help you keep things organised. Garage shelving comes in various styles, so depending on your preference, you can find something to match your new look. Your garage storage can work as a divider between spaces to help you create zones for different areas, as well as store your belongings. Choose shelving that is sturdy and makes full use of your space. Tall units with a step ladder are ideal for helping you store as much as possible in your garage.
Get labelling
Once you’ve organised your things, you need to look at labelling everything to keep it neat and ensure everything’s easy to find. There are some fun DIY projects you can do to help organise your hobbies and belongings, making sure your garage never falls into disarray again!
Stay on top of it
After clearing out your garage, you’ll want to make sure it never ends up in a mess again. And one of the best ways to do this is by keeping on top of things. Regular cleaning can help keep your garage space dust-free, as well as alert you to any problems like dampness or mould. Sort things out throughout the year, instead of letting it all pile up. Once in the summer and once in the winter should be enough to keep your garage in good shape!
A big garage clear-out can be a very satisfying home task. Not only will it help you get rid of things you no longer want or need, but it can help you get more use out of your space, helping your garage become another usable part of your home. While it involves a lot of hard work, the end results will be worth it. Get ready to clear out, sort out and start making your garage work for you.
