After we finished the 29 Day Organizing Challenge I got quite a number of emails asking if I could run a garage challenge next. Seems garages everywhere could use a good clean out, including mine! Then Sharon of the Mom of 6 blog and winner of the 29 Day Organizing Challenge (she organized her basement) sent me an email telling me she wanted to tackle her garage during the month of May and would I mind walking her through the steps. So we decided to work together and invite all of YOU to join us and The Great Garage Clean Out Challenge was born.
During the winter months our garages can take a beating. It’s just too cold to spend any amount of time out there so we tend to just throw things in and make a quick escape. Now that spring is here (well except in my case, I woke up to snow on the ground this morning!) it’s time to take care of this storage space so we can utilize it to it’s maximum potential.
So here’s how this is going to work. Starting next Friday and for every Friday after that during the month of May I will be providing you with some tips on how to organize your garage using my PROCESS steps. I will be using my own garage as well as Sharon’s garage to give you examples of the steps in action.
Next Friday we’ll start with both Sharon and I hosting a linky so anyone else who wants to organize along with us can link up their before pictures for all the world to see…there is nothing like putting it all out there to help motivate you to get er done! 🙂
So want to join us? If so, head out to your own garage this weekend and snap a few before pictures and create your own blog post so that we can all see where you are coming from, and share your pain. Come back on May 4th to link up your before pictures and then we’ll lay out the first assignment to get our garages under control. On the next 3 Fridays (5/11, 5/18, and 5/25) we’ll each have a chance to show off our progress with each week’s link-up and pick up future assignments as to what we need to do to de-clutter, clean-out, clean-up, purge, and organize!
Sharon is being a brave girl and letting me share her before picture with you here today to help encourage you to share yours with us next week. Be sure to visit her post today because she actually has a second level to her garage that she will also be organizing…whew!
And here’s what I’m working with. We actually park our vehicle in there all winter so that’s why the middle is empty but the surrounding perimeter sure has piled up. I can barely get to my freezer now.
I’m thinking it’s nothing a big dump run won’t fix 🙂
It’s time to get those garages organized!
So what do you say, will you be joining us for The Great Garage Clean Out Challenge?
Sharon at Momof6 says
I am so excited to take this garage challenge with you Laura! Cleaning out the basement in February has made a huge impact on my house and on my life…. and I know once I get this garage under control, that most of the clutter we own as a family will be conquered!
Can’t wait to get started and to cheer on everyone else who joins us!
Jennifer Gelert says
Oh I will be joining. My husband is a pack rack. When we got married in 2007 he moved a garage full of stuff into my garage. He had not even looked at it for about 10 years. I told him we had to do something. I hate chaos and things being cluttered. And when I could not find my holiday decorations, I told him enough! He has agreed and we are actually going to start tomorrow. At least to see where we are and what we are looking to do. So we are up to your challenge and can’t wait until next Friiday
diane says
i actually started my garage last weekend. but need to do the other half this weekend. wow what a mess. my husband likes the old drop in the middle of the room and run tactic. i can’t stand it anymore. i informed him that if he continues we will clean the garage totally every month. should help tame the mess. 🙂
Christa F says
Me, me! I’ve been dying to tackle the garage – bring on the purge!
Chris says
I love this idea!! Everyone should take part in your challenge. As a company that does this on a regular basis I can say it’s great to see people tackling their garages on their own before it gets too out of hand. With your permission, I’d like to offer anyone who joins your challenge a 10% discount on a high grade epoxy floor coating. If you think that may be of interest to your readers simply have them email or call me and mention your website.
Junkman says
It’s time for us to Clean Out Your Garage! In Chicago!! We do all the work! All you have to do is call! 773-628-7055!!
Tiffany says
This is perfect timing! My oldest son’s summer job fell through and he’s all mine {rubs hands together and snickers} I’m going to follow this challenge along and use him for the labor. Perfect!
Angela says
Count me in!!! I loved the 29 day challenge! And REALLY need to take the time to organize my garage!!!!! We would LOVE to be able to park both cars in it!!!!
Jane says
If I had a garage, I would!! Can’t wait to see what other people do though 🙂
Teri says
A month, eh? Well, I’m wanting to get it done and Hubby is home to help… so I’ll give it a try! I’m in!!
Tracey says
My Hubby and I will definitely be joining in on this challenge!
Sinea says
We just totally cleaned out our garage AND basement …it feels great! Now on to the next room!
Ferly says
This is great!!! I have been meaning to tackle the garage, and this is the extra push I need to follow through! It’s good to know that I’m not the only one desperate to clean out the garage!
~ Ferly
Gifts We Use {to grow, love and serve}
Becky L. says
I won’t be home this weekend as we are on a short vacation. But the garage will get done THIS summer. Right now we have a love seat that’s being torn apart by my husband, a bit at a time, and put in the garbage and springs are in recycle bin. So it’s still in there. He figured it’s cheaper than going to the dump and paying for that. It’s not free. I have boxes of my daughter’s that need gone through and some are books not used and stuff. Re=organize my mom’s stuff. Down size a bit, thrift store, garbage! I am keeping cardboard boxes from accumulating. I did that a year ago, remember?
Beth says
My garage, and my sanity, are in dire need of this. I’m in!
Needtochange says
Yes Yes Yes. My garage needs lots of work.
Laurie says
I just finished my garage! And of course I didn’t take a before photo. Grrr. However, I do get a thrill everyday now when I go in my garage. Seeing it so organized never gets old! One last problem area though, a stack of paint cans. Anyone know of a safe way to dispose of them?
Sharon at Momof6 says
I believe that you need to remove the lid and allow the paint to dry out completely before disposing of them.
Here’s an article: http://www.wikihow.com/Safely-Dispose-of-Paint
Laurie says
Thanks so much, that is super helpful!
Tammi says
I can’t wait for this to start! We definitely need to clean out a bunch of clutter from our garage and this is the perfect opportunity. No turning back now!
Ann says
So it looks like I’m not the only one with a mixing board that is taking up space!! LOL
I’m so on this because we got a new car thanks to an accident totaling our old car and I NEED to get it in the garage!!!
Laura says
Isn’t that ridiculous Ann…my hubby offered to fix it for a friend and now is waiting for a part to come in….it’s only been at least six months!!! Going to try very sweetly and nicely to ask him to return it, wish me luck!
Ann says
LOL – Ours is not in the garage but in my husband’s office/studio/mess room. It’s huge on a stand and takes up 1/2 the room. I tried to suggest my husband donate it to the youth at church (their sound board just blew up) but he said that it doesn’t work and he has to fix it. NOT going to happen anytime soon that I can see! It’s not a priority. If it’s fixed, it could be worth a little money but I’m ready to suggest just Freecycling it to get it out of here! 😀 OH – and good luck getting rid of yours! 🙂
Margaret says
The garage is off limits to me but Hubby has been decluttering this week.
Laura says
Yep it normally is to me also…but hubby agreed we could do a “few” things. We’ll see how that goes 🙂
Patti Colwell says
Hey Margaret – I’ve been “hinting” about the garage for months and hubby always says “off limits”. BUT………. I park my car in there every single day. So I have to see all that STUFF every single day. I just want to disguise it. NOT purge it. (Well, not purge too much stuff)
So, we’ll see how it goes.
Don says
Hi, I will join in the garage clean out challenge. Actually, about one hour ago I finished with a LONG garage sale that ran from 8AM to 1PM and felt more like a 24 hour event. The day before, the sale had to be organized inside the garage and made ready to move out quickly the next morning.
Because I live alone am retired, and moving across the country, I decided early on to hire a team of organizers. From that team I hired one lady who takes care of garage sales from start to finish. Right now, after the sale I still have half the garage full of things. Some are packed up and others are ready to be packed. A third bunch are those that still have to looked at again to see if I want to keep anything
So, the garage needs more organizing with the objective that soon the only thing in the garage will be things packed and ready to be moved to my new location. If possible the car will be there in the
garage, as well.
I will try, as much as possible, to keep items to moved on one side of the garage and other things on the other side of the garage. I really need to start figuring out how to do this without any further cost as the organizers bills are already high. At the most, I have three weeks from today to finish this project and today and maybe tomorrow I must rest after the past very stressful week.
Ideas will be welcome and I will be turning to the Website for ideas that a tried and true.
hsmominmo says
I think I’ll be joining you and Sharon. The 29 Day Challenge was such a success around here, I know this will just what we need to ‘light a fire’ under us and get the job jump-started.
Marishannon says
Boo! I don’t have a garage 🙁 But I still look forward to seeing what everyone else does.
Shari Cook says
Our garage needs a good cleaning! I have 2 empty shelves, and maybe even 3, with our 3rd car area being full of bikes, balls, items to donate, boxes (some are empty!), and debri that blows in on windy days. I can’t wait!
Rachael says
I want to play too! We do not have a garage but we do have quite a large size shed. So I will be takling that. Kids toys Christmas decoration garden supplies and lots of stuff set aside for my yard sale in May. I will finally be able to let the kids take there bikes out by them selves. 🙂
Martienne says
I wish i could participate in this challenge, but this will be my final month of pregnancy, and since we inherited the house there is 50+ years of familial clutter in it. The progress we have made so far took us almost two years!
ter@waaoms says
I wish I had a garage…. but maybe I’ll clean out my shed instead…
Sabrina says
The garage is an important place for organizing and to keep family members safe. The items in the garage not only need to be organized but also need to be put in a safe(locked) place if they are poisonous.
Thanks for the challenge, I will let my clients know and they may join the challenge as well. Have fun!
Stephanie says
We just moved one roommate out and another wants to switch rooms and we got rid of the property I had when I got divorced that I was using as a storage unit. I’m excited that my classes are over so I can totally throw myself into this. Our garage is filled with stuff that needs to be gone through. I’m with you. I’ll be taking pictures of the mess tonight! So I can make a plan and get started on friday! Thank you for doing this one. Next I’m going to tackle my sewing room. Since I’m painting it, I’m going to have to organize everything from moving all the stuff. THANK YOU!!
More Than A Mom says
I can’t wait! I had started to organize the garage by labelling things and sorting like with like but now my piles of “what do I do with them” are still there and I’m needing the extra kick in the pants to get it done. Thanks for setting up this challenge, ladies!
More Than A Mom says
I can’t wait! I had started to organize the garage by labeling things and sorting like with like but now my piles of “what do I do with them” are still there and I’m needing the extra kick in the pants to get it done. Thanks for setting up this challenge, ladies!
Melinda says
This is just what I need to inspire me to FINALLY organize our garage. This morning, I was looking at the cabinets in our garage and all of the stuff underneath them. I realized that the cabinets were full of junk that had not been touched in years and all of the stuff below them is just collecting dust as well. The extra stuff just zaps my energy. I WILL organize and purge this month. Thanks for the inspiration!
janewillys says
Garage is not mean for your vehicles and accessories, it can be used even as a room too. Most people are using as the main entrance as garage. So it is necessary to make it clean and organized. Shoe organizer is needed to avoid the pile up of shoes outside the main door. Challenge starts from there itself. If your floor space is less, make the ceiling high and make sure you can organize things in overhead storage space. I am so happy with the results from garage Living in Toronto.