Clear the Chaos: A No-Stress Guide to Decluttering Your Garage

Opening the garage with a remote control from the comfort of a gray car on an overcast day.

The garage is a dumping ground for everything. Outgrown gear, half-used paint cans, 14 screwdrivers, holiday inflatables, and unopened moving boxes from two moves ago. Sound familiar? Before you can organize anything, it’s time to declutter. Here’s how to tackle your garage by category, so you can make space without losing your sanity.

1. Interior & Exterior Maintenance

This includes yard tools, paint, pest supplies, snow melt, and extra home fix-it items.

Declutter Tips:

• Toss anything expired or rusty

• Keep one of each essential (one rake, one snow shovel, etc.)

• Let go of duplicates or broken tools you meant to fix three years ago

Quick Win: Consolidate leftover paint into one main container—or let it go if it’s for a color you no longer use.

2. Sports & Activities

This is where the chaos multiplies: helmets, scooters, camping gear, outgrown cleats, and forgotten hobbies.

Declutter Tips:

• Remove anything not used in the past 12 months

• Create a donation pile of gear your kids outgrew

• Check for broken items and toss them

Quick Win: If the sport is no longer played, the gear no longer belongs.

3. Tools & Hardware

Screws, nails, hammers, drills, extension cords, caulk guns—you name it.

Declutter Tips:

• Match every power tool with its charger or accessories—if you can't, reconsider keeping it

• Toss dried-up adhesives, rusted bits, and mystery parts

• Reduce multiples: 2 hammers > 5 hammers

Quick Win: Use a small tackle box to sort out random screws and nails before they pile up again.

4. Car & Auto Section

Car cleaning products, fluids, accessories, chargers, wiper blades, and emergency tools.

Declutter Tips:

• Remove expired fluids and almost-empty containers

• Combine duplicates (three half-used windshield washes = one full one)

• Get rid of cords and gear that don’t work with your current vehicle

Quick Win: Keep one clear bin labeled “car care” and make sure everything fits inside it.

5. Seasonal Decor, DIY & Holiday Overflow

From Christmas trees to paint stirrers to half-finished projects—this is often the biggest beast.

Declutter Tips:

• Toss broken, worn, or no-longer-your-style decor

• Say goodbye to unfinished DIYs you’ve ignored for over a year

• Store “maybe someday” supplies in ONE small bin, not scattered

Quick Win: If it doesn’t light up, isn’t your style, or hasn’t been used in the past two years—release it.

Small Steps Make Space for Big Wins

You don’t have to do it all today. Choose one zone at a time. One shelf, one pile, one bin. You’re not failing—you’re freeing space for what matters most. When you’re ready for step two (organizing), the Hopeful Simplicity Library has everything you need. You’ll get access to 7 rooms, 30 small spaces, and over 90 guided prompts—for just $9/month or $99/year.