It can feel overwhelming to begin the estate cleanout process when a loved one passes away. Many people use their garages for storage rather than for parking vehicles, and over time, these spaces can become cluttered with boxes and other belongings. Whether you’re cleaning out a loved one’s garage or your own, these tips can help you get it organized without too much hardship.

How to Clean Your Garage

1. Divide & Conquer

Start your cleanup by dividing the garage into sections, and focus on only one section at a time. For example, start behind the garage door by moving everything within a 6-foot radius outside.

Sort through those items by moving them into one of three piles: donate, trash, or keep. Continue this until everything inside the garage has been sorted into one of the three categories outside.

If you can only work on one section per day, cover your possessions with a tarp or move them to a secure place for safekeeping until you can get back to cleaning. 

2. Invest in Storage Aids

With everything out of your garage, invest in storage solutions to help you keep it organized moving forward. This includes mounting shelves, storage dresses, and tool cabinets.

Secure loose items such as decorations or clothing by purchasing storage bins or tubs with lids. If the bins aren’t see-through, attach labels identifying the contents. This will make it easier to retrieve those items later. Stack or store your belongings vertically to free up as much floor space as possible. 

3. Don’t Be Afraid to Let Go

Sometimes it can be difficult to get rid of a deceased loved one’s possessions during an estate cleanout. If you won’t use the item and you don’t have a strong sentimental attachment to it, consider putting it in the donate or trash pile. Ask a friend for help so the decision doesn’t weigh on you.

Donating items can be a thoughtful way to honor your loved one’s memory, but if the belongings don’t work, are outdated, or are damaged, they might be best suited to the trash pile. Getting these items out of your garage can help you feel closure with the loss of your family member.

 

Whether you have donations or trash to haul as part of an estate cleanout in the Hudson Valley, NY, area, the compassionate specialists at Bill's Junk Be Gone can help. They sort through everything they remove and credit customers for any valuables found in the process. Any usable items are donated to charities or recycled. Call (845) 389-2969 or visit their website to learn more about the company's waste removal services.