8 Things You Can Get Rid Of To Declutter Your Garage Today
Most of us don’t mean for our garages to become storage units. It just happens. A box here, a leftover project there, and suddenly the car’s parked in the driveway and we’re stepping over mystery bins every time we need to grab a rake. The good news is you can start small with your decluttering. Getting rid of a few common space-wasters might be all it takes to feel like you’re starting to get your garage back.
That One Awkward Roll of Carpet
You probably thought, “This might come in handy,” when you saved the leftover carpet from your last home reno years ago. But if it’s been curled in the corner for years collecting dust and spider webs, it’s time to let it go. Unless you’re actively patching holes in your carpet with it, it’s just taking up space. Most donation centers won’t take used carpet, so check your local dump or recycling center for the rules for getting rid of it.
Old Coolers That Don’t Close Right
You know the ones. Cracked lids, warped seals, handles that fall off when you lift them. Maybe the cooler was free with a promo, or it’s just been dragged through one too many beach trips. Either way, a cooler that doesn’t stay cold isn’t helping anyone. If it’s past its prime, you’re not going to reach for it and it’s just taking up valuable shelf space. Keep one cooler that works, and ditch the rest before they become mouse condos.
Mystery Cables and Power Bricks
We all have a box (or a bin, or a drawer) of tangled cords that don’t connect to anything we own anymore. The mystery of what they once powered and the hope they might come in handy again one day is the reason why most of us hold onto them. But chances are, if you haven’t used the cord in years, you never will. Recycle them at an electronics drop-off and enjoy that glorious feeling of removing a 2006 tech graveyard from your garage.
That Freezer You Don’t Use Anymore
Once upon a time, that garage freezer was probably used for bulk meat, frozen pizza backups, or holiday leftovers. But if it’s sitting unplugged or half-stocked with expired soup, it’s probably wasting energy and space. Appliances, like freezers, that are heavy and bulky are often overlooked when decluttering. If you’re not using it anymore, consider donating it or responsibly recycling it. You’ll be shocked by how much room it frees up.
Camping Gear You Don’t Actually Use
It might be a tent with a broken pole, a camp stove that leaks, or even a sleeping bag that smells like mildew. Whatever it is, it can be hard to let go of the camping dreams you had when you bought it. But if you haven’t gone camping in five years and don’t plan to anytime soon, it’s time to reassess. Gear doesn’t store well in damp garages, so it’ll only get more and more useless. Give the gear away while it still has life in it, or throw it away guilt-free if it doesn’t.
Drywall Buckets Filled With Random Stuff
At some point, those big plastic buckets seemed like the perfect way to store random odds and ends. But over time, they become black holes or random junk. One’s got rusty screws. Another has a half-set of tiles you’ll never match. They’re awkward to stack, hard to dig through, and not exactly ergonomic either. Go through them one at a time and see if there’s actually anything you need to keep. Most of what’s inside is probably expired, broken, or entirely unnecessary.
Plastic Flower Pots You Never Reuse
These plastic pots multiply like rabbits. You buy a plant, you get a pot with it. Then you keep the pot because you tell yourself that “maybe you’ll start seedlings next spring.” Except next spring comes, and you end up using new ones again. After a while, those stackable little containers create an entire leaning tower of plastic. Keep a few of the good ones that you think you’ll use and donate or recycle the rest. Your garden, and your garage, will thank you.
Exercise Equipment That Became a Clothes Rack
That elliptical or rowing machine might have been bought with good intentions, but if all it’s doing is holding up winter coats, it’s time to reconsider. Bulky, hard to move, and often unused, old workout gear is a top offender when it comes to wasting garage space. Be tough and honest with yourself. If it hasn’t been used in over a year, it’s probably not going to be. Someone else might actually use it, and you’ll get your floor space back.
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Garages are meant to be spaces that work for you, not stress you out. Letting go of things, especially the sneaky, uncommon stuff that builds up, can feel surprisingly freeing. You’re not just clearing clutter, you’re making space for projects that matter, getting easier access to what you actually use, and feeling a little more calm every time you open that garage door. Your garage doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to feel a little better than it did yesterday.
Bliss Donahue-Power
