Garage Cleanout Checklist: How to Clear Your Garage in a Weekend

Short answer: to clean out a garage, pick a date, empty one zone at a time, sort everything into keep, donate, sell and junk piles, haul away what you do not want and then put the keepers back in an organized way. Most garages can be cleared in a weekend with a plan.

Step 1: Set a date and gather supplies

Choose a dry weekend so you can use the driveway as a sorting area. Have heavy-duty trash bags, boxes, markers, gloves, a broom and a few storage bins ready before you start.

Step 2: Work in zones

Do not try to tackle the whole garage at once. Divide it into sections, such as one wall or one corner at a time, and finish each zone before moving to the next.

Step 3: Sort into four piles

Keep: items you have used in the past year or truly need.
Donate: usable items someone else could enjoy.
Sell: valuable items worth the time to list.
Junk: broken, worn out or unwanted items.

Be honest. If you forgot you owned it, you probably do not need it.

Step 4: Set hazardous materials aside

Garages often hold old paint, chemicals, motor oil and fuel. These cannot go in the regular trash or with a junk removal crew. Set them aside and take them to your local household hazardous waste program.

Step 5: Haul the junk away

This is where most garage cleanouts stall: the junk pile sits in the driveway for weeks. Schedule your pickup in advance so the pile leaves the same weekend. A garage cleanout service will load everything for you, including heavy items such as old appliances, furniture and exercise equipment.

Step 6: Clean and organize

With the floor empty, sweep it out and wipe down the shelves. Then put the keepers back by category: tools together, sports gear together and seasonal items up high. Use shelving and wall hooks to keep the floor clear.