Organizing the Garage

We haven’t parked in our garage since 2002! Where do I start?

Start by setting aside a full Saturday on your calendar. Actually write in on your calendar and let nothing else encroach on your date with your garage. Whichever family members have stuff in the garage, enlist and insist on their help. They must be present. On the Friday before your big date, make sure you prepare lunch for Saturday so you’re not slowed down by making lunch on your big day. Also get contractor garbage bags, boxes, or a dumpster if necessary, so you’re ready for the major purge. Don’t forget designate a start and finish time. 9am- 3 or 4pm would be an ideal day.

The morning of, make sure everyone is present and dressed ready to work. Don’t start without your family members and don’t wear your Sunday best. Wear good gym shoes and clothes that can get a little dirty. Wear work gloves if you have them.

Now start your sort in your driveway, apron, or yard if there’s no room left in your garage. Here are some pile titles you’ll want to create as you go through the garage.

• Recycle, I’ll recycle it in the right manner.
• Trash, I’ll put it in the dumpster we rented or in my garbage cans
• Keep, I’ll sort it later into like items and put it back into the garage
• Donate , I’ll drive it to a local charity at the end of the day
• Ebay/Sell, I’ll post these on Ebay or take them to a store for them to do it for me.
• Things I don’t know how to recycle, I’ll research it
• Things that belong in my house, I’ll take these in at the end of the day and put them away
• Things that belong in my car, I’ll put these in my car
• Things that need to go to work with me, I’ll put these in my car to take to work
• Things that belongs to a friend or distant family member- I’ll give it back to them

Here’s the trick to not getting overwhelmed. Don’t bounce around the garage picking up random things in random order. Start on one side and work your way around the room. That way if you don’t finish you’ll know where to pick up the job and you’ll visually see the difference you are making through out your day.