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How to Declutter Your Garage

The primary job of a garage is, of course, to keep cars out of the elements. But it also provides space for lots of other items and activities. Storage for tools, seasonal décor and extra household supplies probably come to mind first. Depending on the size and layout, however, some garages also contain a workshop, workout studio or home office.

Unfortunately, garages are also prone to clutter. According to a 2019 survey by the National Association of Productivity and Organizing, 43.7 percent of respondents consider their garage the most disorganized storage area in their home. Not only that, in another survey, 25 percent of homeowners reported their garage is so overstuffed with, well, stuff that it couldn’t accommodate a single car.

Is this inevitable? Not at all! The key is to change your mindset about the garage. If you think of it as a clutter catch-all, it’s bound to become a mess, if it isn’t already.

Instead, try the following:

• Commit to storing only things that belong in the garage in the garage. Think of it like this: You wouldn’t store books in the refrigerator, so why keep a heap of old magazines in the garage?
• Designate a corner or specific bin as an “exit zone.” If you need to get rid of something but can’t do it at that moment, put it in the exit zone. Plan to remove everything from the exit zone at least once a month.
• Keep things neat and tidy by grouping like items together. Sports equipment here, tools over there, and the remnants of your 2020 toilet paper hoard on an easily accessible shelf.
• Finally, spend a day (or a whole weekend, if needed) tossing those random items you don’t need that are taking up valuable space. Here’s a list of things you should not store in a garage.

Not sure what you should eliminate? There are a few sources of clutter common to many garages. Here are some of the items to get out of your garage, ASAP!

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Garbage

If you’ve ever seen an episode of Hoarders, you know what happens when garbage piles up in and around your home. Not only does garbage stink, it attracts mice, rats, insects and other pests. That’s a bona fide health hazard to you and your family.

If you have trash of any kind in your garage, bring it to the curb on your next garbage day. Or if the load is too large, take a trip to the dump or another legal disposal site.