Step-by-Step Guide to Your Garage Cleanout
Updated July 2023
So, the time has come for you to clean out your garage. The task may seem overwhelming but it's well worth it! While cleaning out your garage may seem like a daunting project, with some guidance and assistance, it can be smooth sailing.
Not sure where to start? You're in luck!
Your friends at Hello Garage have put together a list of a few strategic tips to help make the project more manageable. Get the details below — oh, and don't forget to download and print our free garage cleanout checklist!
How to Clean Your Garage in 5 Steps
After years of experience emptying out, re-configuring and organizing garages, our team is giving you our cheat sheet for a stress-free, efficient garage cleanout.
Follow the steps below, take breaks where needed and have some fun — and soon you'll be saying hello to a sparkling clean garage!
1. Completely Empty Your Garage
Cleaning out your garage is a big project, but it's worth it!
The most daunting task is getting everything out of your garage. You may have seasons' or years' worth of tools, equipment and storage items.
Clear your driveway to make room for discarded items and start removing things. One shelf or one space at a time, pull everything out and sort each item into four categories: donate, sell, keep and trash.
2. Donate, Keep, Sell or Trash?
Which items add value to your life? If there's anything you haven't used in the past 12 months, odds are that it may be time to donate or sell some of your stuff! This is where those four categories we mentioned earlier come into play.
Here's what to keep in mind when deciding what to do with the items cluttering up your garage.
- Donate: Donate things like books, clothes, shoes or other gently used items that may not be worth a lot but can help those in need.
- Keep: The things you want to keep should be items you use regularly or, for seasonal items, things you have used at least within the past 12 months. This pile should be the smallest of the four because the idea is to get rid of unnecessary items to make room for new items.
- Sell: The next category is "sell" — after all, making a little extra cash never hurts! Social media is a great way to get rid of functional items. If you have a lot of items to sell, consider hosting a good old-fashioned yard sale.
- Trash: The final pile will be for items you can't keep, donate or sell. Try to dispose of discarded items in an eco-friendly way. Call your local "green" junk removal company or research which items can be recycled or upcycled.
3. Clean It Up
Once your garage is empty, you'll probably need to sweep, mop or wipe everything down. Now is your chance to get into those hard-to-reach places and clean them before starting your garage organization. This part is important because you want a clean slate to work with!
Hello Garage offers polyaspartic garage floor coatings that are easy to clean. Simply hose it down, mop it or spot clean your floors with an all-purpose cleaner.
Pro Tip: A mask might be a good idea for this step. Garages often house chemicals, animal droppings or messes, mold and dust. Protect yourself with a face covering and gloves when needed.
4. Organize Your Garage
Mix and match garage storage solutions to create a tidy, organized space!
After you've donated items and listed stuff to sell on social media, it's time to get organized.
If you don't already have garage storage, stake out where you may be able to add shelves, racks, hooks and bins. Shelves are great for holding boxes or bins and they require minimal setup. Slatwall offers a super customizable option to hang just about anything you may need.
The important thing is that you're getting things off the ground and organized, so you can find them when you need them.
Garage Organization Options
- Shelves
- Cabinets
- Slatwall
- Bins, bags and storage containers
- Storage cabinets
- Hooks
- Drop zones
- Workbench with shelving
Pro Tip: Hello Garage offers free estimates and full installation for any of our garage storage or organization solutions!
5. Give Everything a Place
Hello Garage can help you re-organize your garage space with products such as our cabinets, shelving and more.
Once you have all your shelves set up, the fun really begins!
It's time to move the items you want to keep back into your garage. Everything should have a designated place to live so that you'll know exactly where to find your stuff inside your newly organized garage.
This is where things like bins or cabinets come in handy. They can be labeled for easy spotting and hold loose items that need to stay together, like tennis balls, nails or small tools. Your garage may now have space for other items inside your home that needed a place to be stored.
At the end of the day, the important thing is that your home and garage will be more organized!
Pro Tip: Hose everything down before you put it back in your garage. That way, your space will be kept neat, clean and free of dirt.
Say hello to your organized garage!
When it comes to creating a good-looking, clean and clutter-free space, Hello Garage has the perfect garage organization solutions for any home and budget!
We offer heavy-duty garage cabinets with shelves and recessed handles, durable shelving and other customizable storage options. Hello Garage storage solutions are installed quickly and efficiently by our Dream Team and our Garage Gurus will provide a free design consultation and estimate before they get to work.
Ready to get started? Get in touch with your local Garage Guru today!
