How to Clean Out a Garage Step by Step
Cleaning out your garage? Follow this step-by-step garage cleanout guide, plus see which dumpster size works best for junk, boxes, tools, and old clutter.
A garage cleanout is something that can easily turn into a bigger project than expected. Garages over time become dumping grounds for old broken furniture, broken tools, and all the boxes and junk that people forget about.
However, with the right plan, you can clear out unwanted clutter and get back to using that space for valuable storage or parking.
If you’re planning a larger seasonal cleanup, our spring cleaning dumpster rental tips can also help you figure out the best way to handle extra junk and debris.
Step 1: Take Everything Out of Your Garage
To start, you need to take everything out of the garage. This helps you see the entire space and helps identify what items you actually need instead of what is there for you to find. This also makes the sorting decisions a little easier.
Step 2: Sort the Items You Took Out of Your Garage
This is the step where most people break out into a sweat. This is because they have to make the most difficult types of decisions in this step. You are basically going to take everything out and sort it into four categories.
- Keep
- Donate
- Sell
- Throw away
This step can feel difficult because you have to make sure you are not keeping items that have little to no value.
Step 3: Pick the Size of Your Dumpster
Most garage cleanouts create a lot of debris, more than a person can normally anticipate.
Common options include:
- 15 yard dumpster - Small garage cleanouts
- 20 yard dumpster - Big garage cleanouts or heavy debris
If you are not sure what container to choose, review our guide on how to choose the right dumpster size before booking.
Step 4: Take Apart Big Things
Separating larger things uses less space in the dumpster.
This includes:
- Taking apart shelving units
- Taking apart cardboard boxes
- Cutting apart big pieces of furniture
Good loading helps you get the most out of the container.
Step 5: Load the Dumpster Carefully
When loading debris:
- Insert flat items first
- Even out the heavy items
- Don’t exceed the fill line with heavy items
This helps keep your dumpster safe and can help you avoid extra fees.
Garage Cleanouts in Salt Lake City & Utah
We’re based in Salt Lake City, and provide dumpster services in:
- Sandy
- Draper
- Holladay
- Millcreek
- Ogden
- And other Utah areas
If you need disposal solutions for your garage cleanout, we are here to help you determine the right dumpster size for your project.