Decluttering ~ Make a Mess to Clear the Mess

NJ Expert Organizer, Marilyn Shain Labendz, has a simple system for getting your garage in order

Very often we can't start an organizing or de-cluttering project because we physically can't "have at it." Big bulky stuff is shoved in the back and little things fall into the "in-between" spaces. We can't even get close to the shelves. The same "off putting" dilemma holds true for any room, any closet or drawer.

MY SYSTEM TO FIX A GARAGE MESS IS THE SAME FOR ANY PROJECT:

Get an overview...set up a long table, or two, to hold the items stockpiled on the floor. The ideal would be to empty the garage, or at least, one whole section at a time.

Think wide to narrow. Set up your overview, the framework, divide into categories and sections and keep modifying.

Separate the items according to purpose.

Winter equipment
Tools
File Boxes
Sports Equipment
I don't know what this is for.

Segregate anything that can be hung up on the walls, (come equipped with hammer, nails, etc...they're in that pile of tools) , anything that will clear floor space. Get these items out of the way.

Garden tools
Sleds
Bikes
Hockey Sticks
Golf bags (There are great units that stand golf clubs and other sports items in one organized space.)
Walkers
Crutches

You're almost done:

Make a Discard, Donate and Sell piles and start tossing
NOW sweep the garage floor and wipe down the shelves.
You are ready to put items back on the shelves and hang up the wall items.
Find containers for miscellaneous items that you will want to deal with later. (See above, "I don't know what this is for").
Put those more frequently used items closest to the garage door to the house.
Label your containers so that you know what's inside each storage box.
If you want, you can make a master list of what's in each box and where it is, and keep the list tacked inside a kitchen cabinet or on the back of the garage door.