9 Things In Your Garage You Should Throw Out For Extra Space
Trying to organize a garage can feel like an insurmountable challenge. It's a place where odds and ends get left, infrequently-used tools get packed away, and garbage piles up, so deciding to clear that all away can feel daunting. It doesn't have to go from packed full to spotless, though. You can take it one step at a time. If you're just looking for some extra space to start, here are 9 things you should throw out today.
Expired Chemicals and Old Paint
Paint cans with rusted lids and half-empty bottles of mystery cleaners take up prime shelf real estate. Most latex paint only lasts a few years before it clumps or smells like sour milk. These chemicals can also leak, creating stains or hazardous fumes. Check your local disposal guidelines and get rid of anything that's separated or dried up. You'll gain space and peace of mind knowing your storage area is safer for your family.
The Half-Finished Project Graveyard
We all have that chair we intended to sand or the bicycle we planned to fix three years ago. If you haven't touched a project in twelve months, it's likely not going to happen, and that's okay! It's better to clear that stuff away for new projects than it is to hang onto them because you feel bad. Donate the parts or sell the scrap. Freeing yourself from these mental obligations makes room for the hobbies you actually enjoy.
Cardboard Boxes and Packaging
It's tempting to keep the box for every appliance just in case you move or need to return it, but cardboard is a magnet for moisture and pests like silverfish or spiders. Unless you’re moving in the next month, break those boxes down and recycle them. If you really need to move something later, you can always buy a fresh box. Your shelves will look much neater without the towers of empty packaging.
Rusty Hand Tools
A wrench that's frozen shut or a saw with a pitted blade isn't a tool anymore, it’s just heavy trash. While some high-quality tools can be restored, most cheap or severely rusted items aren't worth the effort. They’re frustrating to use and can even be dangerous if they slip or snap. Sort through your toolbox and keep only the items that are functional and reliable.
Deflated Sports Gear and Broken Toys
Check any toys or sports gear for flattened basketballs, plastic scooters with missing wheels, or the like. Kids grow up fast, and their interests change even faster. Keeping outgrown or broken equipment doesn't benefit anyone. If it's still usable, pass it on to a neighbor or a local charity. If it’s snapped or won't hold air, it belongs in the bin.
Leftover Building Materials
Extra floor tiles, scraps of lumber, and rolls of old insulation often end up tucked into the rafters 'just in case'. While it's smart to keep a few matching tiles for repairs, you don't need a whole crate of them. Most of these scraps just gather dust and harbor insects. If you haven't used the leftovers within six months of finishing the renovation, it's time to let them go.
Mystery Electronic Cables
We've all got a bin filled with tangled black cords for devices we no longer own. Whether it's a charger for a flip phone or an extension cord that's long since stopped working, these cables are useless. They create a heavy, tangled mess that’s impossible to organize. Take the whole bin to an e-waste recycling center. Keeping only the cords you currently use will make your electronics storage much more manageable and less stressful.
Old Holiday Decorations
It's easy to shove festive bins into the garage and forget them until December, if you remember them at all. If you haven't put up those specific lights or that plastic lawn deer in several years, you probably won't start now. Decorations can become brittle or chewed by rodents when stored in unheated spaces for long enough. Go through your bins and keep only the pieces you know you'll use. Thinning the herd makes the holiday setup and teardown much faster.
Duplicate Kitchen Gadgets
Sometimes the garage becomes the overflow for the kitchen. Huge stockpots, bread makers, or extra sets of dishes often end up on garage shelves because they don't fit in the pantry. If you aren't hosting giant dinner parties every month, you don't need three slow cookers. Pick your favorites and let the rest go. Your garage is for cars and tools, not for a secondary kitchen that you never actually use.
Cleaning out a garage is a big job, but it's one that pays off every time you see how much space you've made. By focusing on getting rid of these things first, you’ve already cleared the most common culprits of clutter. Don't feel guilty about the things you’re tossing. Instead, feel proud of the space you’ve reclaimed for your current life. Enjoy the extra room and the organized atmosphere you've worked hard to create.