Dump the junk!
We’ve all done it: We go on a cleaning binge because people are coming over, and at some point, we run out of time and just start tossing stuff into the garage (or attic, shed, spare room, basement or wherever our designated ‘storage space’ is). Or we’re tired of seeing clutter around the house but don’t know what to do with it, so we shove it in the garage, swearing we’ll deal with it properly soon. The problem is that it’s all too easy to forget about that stuff once it’s there, and then your garage starts resembling a giant storage closet. Believe it or not, your garage is not meant to be a long-term storage spot for dried-up paint cans, mildewed cardboard boxes, and ancient electronics. As a professional organiser, I have a few ideas about which items you can throw out right now – without regret. It’s not as difficult as you think.
Once your garage is in tip-top shape, here are another 17 things in your house that you should throw out asap.
Appliance boxes
Most of us are in the habit of hanging onto the packaging from expensive appliances or electronics, just in case they need to go back. But if a cardboard box has been hanging out in your garage for months, it’s time to let it go. Especially if the product is past its warranty period, you can feel confident about recycling it. Breaking down a big stack of boxes will give you an instant sense of accomplishment. And it frees up space, so you’ll have room to move around while you find more things to throw out.
Old or broken electronics
Is it even a garage if you don’t have a console television or a broken VCR sitting down there? Yes – and no, they’re not worth keeping because they’re “vintage.” Stop rationalisng and start getting rid of your unusable things. Not knowing how to properly dispose of old and broken electronics might account for the fact that you’ve accumulated such a big pile of them. Check with your council about junk days, or find out how to recycle or donate your outdated tech devices.