| Most people would cringe if guests wanted to look in | | | | important to be generous when considering which |
| their garage. It is the one room in the house where | | | | items go to charity or trash and which items stay in |
| unfinished projects, holiday decorations, sporting | | | | the garage. It is generally a good rule of thumb to |
| equipment and hundreds of other little unwanted | | | | put anything in the junk removal pile that has not |
| items are stashed and forever forgotten. That is | | | | been used in a year. Of course, there are always |
| why it is important to set aside a junk removal day | | | | exceptions to the rule like particular tools that are |
| to tackle this problem before it becomes | | | | only used when working on specialized projects. |
| unmanageable. | | | | Those inline skates that have a layer of dust on |
| Prepare Ahead Of Time | | | | them, however, should head straight to the junk |
| When taking on a large junk removal project like the | | | | removal pile! |
| garage, a little planning ahead can make a big | | | | Set Priorities |
| difference. First, be sure to set aside double the | | | | When addressing the items that are going to remain |
| amount of time this project is estimated to take. | | | | in the garage space, it helps to have an idea of their |
| These types of open-ended activities can become | | | | level of priority. For instance, tools and sporting |
| frustrating when they are perceived to be going | | | | equipment used on a daily or weekly basis should be |
| longer than originally scheduled. Second, consider a | | | | easily accessible. Holiday decorations used only |
| mini-bin rental or dumpster rental depending on the | | | | annually can be stored in less convenient locations. |
| amount of stuff to be thrown away. Compared to | | | | Don't forget the larger items that may need room in |
| stuffing garbage bags, having a bin on site for trash | | | | the garage like vehicles, lawnmowers and bicycles. |
| disposal makes the junk removal process run | | | | With everything out on the driveway for junk |
| smoothly. | | | | removal, it can be easy to forget that these big |
| Assess The Situation | | | | items need to squeeze back in too! It may be easier |
| The first step in completing a successful junk | | | | to put them back into their spaces first and then find |
| removal project is to open the garage door and pull | | | | room for the smaller items all around. |
| everything out. Use the driveway as a staging ground | | | | Keep Organized |
| to completely empty the room. It is important to | | | | Once the garage is back in place and the junk |
| remove even items that rightfully belong in the | | | | removal project is completed, it is easy to return to |
| garage. This is the best way to see the space as a | | | | old habits and begin storing junk back in there again. |
| clean slate and begin reorganizing. | | | | Resist the temptation to mindlessly throw items into |
| Touch Everything Once | | | | the garage without finding them a proper place. |
| Now that everything is in plain sight out on the | | | | Return tools to their designated areas and keep |
| driveway, it is time to begin determining what items | | | | bikes and sporting equipment from creating one large |
| stay and which should be donated to charity or | | | | pile. Following these rules won't keep a garage |
| trashed. Create piles for each category and begin | | | | perfect, but they may just keep junk removal down |
| sifting through the contents. | | | | to an annual event! |
| For the largest impact in regards to junk removal, it is | | | | |