16 Useless Garage Items Taking Up Space You Should Get Rid Of
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Shockingly, one in four Americans report their garage is so messy it doesn’t fit their car inside. They stockpile everything but the kitchen sink in their garage, leaving their vehicles in the rain. The typical dimensions of a home garage range from 12 feet wide and 20-24 feet deep.
One study reported that 50 percent of homeowners said the garage was the most disorganized spot in the house. While we understand the garage is often a dumping ground, a clean, functional garage can add as much as 15 percent to your property value. By clearing the clutter, you create more usable storage space that is easier to use and maintain. These 16 items are taking up valuable space in your garage.
Old Paint Cans
Some just stash them away, planning to use them on touch‑ups or for another project down the road. However, a study by HGTV found that more than 70 percent of household paints sit unused for years. In addition to being space hogs, expired paints can be dangerous.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notes that improperly stored paint can volatilize, leaking VOCs into the air and compromising indoor air quality and health. Many communities offer programs to properly dispose of or even repurpose leftover paint into something useful.
Outdated Cleaning Supplies
Many of these cleaning concoctions have a shelf life; for instance, the U.S. Department of Health noted that liquids like bleach begin to lose potency within just six months. Hanging on to these ineffective items may also render your much-needed scrubbing sessions powerless.
Leaky bottle spills can react hazardously with other chemicals or, at best, make a mess. Do a sniff check and look at the dates. Then, remove outdated items properly.
Outgrown Bikes and Sporting Equipment
They evoke endless summer days and thrilling adventures. Data from the National Recreation and Park Association suggests that the average child’s growth spurt requires a new bike size every 2-3 years. The same goes for sporting equipment.
Remember those soccer cleats that no longer fit or the baseball glove that’s seen better days? Many local charities and recreation centers welcome bicycles and sports equipment donations; some even offer pick-up services. Additionally, programs like Freecycle and Goodwill provide convenient avenues for giving these items a second life.
Firewood
According to a study by the National Pest Management Association, improperly stored firewood can become a highway for pests like termites, carpenter ants, and even mice, potentially leading them straight into your home. Likewise, firewood must be able to breathe, as stacks that are tightly compacted and left in the damp, musty confines of a basement or cellar can trap moisture, cause mildew, and create an overall rank stench.
The U.S. Forest Service instructs, ‘When stacking firewood, lift the wood off the ground and cover only the top. Leave the sides open for air circulation.’ The perfect set-up is an exterior wood rack that secures the wood off the ground while allowing it to be aerated.
Outdated Electronics
The average U.S. household owns 24 electronic devices. Old electronics have the potential to leach lead, mercury, and other pollutants if left idle too long. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, E-waste makes up 2 percent of trash in U.S. landfills, but is responsible for 70 percent of toxic waste.
The EPA recommends finding a certified e-waste recycling center near you or taking advantage of manufacturer take-back programs like those run by Apple, Best Buy, and Staples.
Unwanted Furniture
A thrift may exclude Grandma’s heirloom armoire or that outdated plaid sofa that screams the 1970s. The first move? Sift through the stuff, taking out the trash: what’s salvageable and what isn’t. Organizations such as Furniture Bank or Goodwill will take donations of gently used items, turning trash into treasure for others.
If your furniture is irreversibly damaged, consider recycling schemes for wood and metallic parts or finding ways to repurpose it for other useful functions around the house.
Unused Seasonal Decorations
Those Halloween cobwebs and Christmas lights lurking in the attic are worth another look: if it’s been three years since those jack-o’-lanterns or tinsel last shone, it’s time to donate them to someone else’s holiday glow – or to recycle them.
When possible, the EPA urges consumers to reuse materials—crafting DIYs from old decor or giving used items a second life at a local charity store or thrift store—before recycling them. Items like cardboard shipping boxes and paper decorations can typically be recycled curbside; others, such as broken lights, must go into e-waste.
Food Items
The USDA says garages vary significantly in temperature – enough to spoil foods within a couple of days. In turn, it’s wasteful.’ This means the garage isn’t the place to do it if you’re hoarding food – even canned goods or other non-perishable supplies. The FDA recommends you keep food stored below 70°F – something most garages can’t promise.
According to experts, transfer these items to your kitchen pantry or a basement pantry if you’re fortunate enough to have one. If you have some that are outdated or not going to be consumed, dispose of them safely to prevent waste. Composting is a great option for organic material.
Broken or Unused Gardening Tools
They’ve done their job, and it’s time for them to exit gracefully. The average U.S. home spends more than $500 per year on garden maintenance, but many garages contain rusty rakes and splintered shovels that are years overdue for use. Keeping broken tools can lead to higher repair costs and unnecessary waste of precious storage space.
Second, sharp and broken tools can cut you at the very moment when you are least expecting it. In any case, moving them from one corner to another will accomplish nothing. Before throwing your tools out, see if your local government or village has a recycling program. Many tools are made of metal and plastic, which can be recycled. Donate tools in good condition but not used in community gardens and schools.
Clothing
The average home disposes of 81.5 pounds of clothes a year, and much of that is left to linger in garage wardrobes before it finally gets the boot. Temperature and humidity fluctuations that wreak havoc on garage fabric lead to mould, discolouration, and degradation.
Donate wearable items to local charities or thrift shops so they can strut their stuff again. If your clothes are really worn and tattered, look to see if your city has a textile recycling program. The garments you seldom wear but love (for whatever silly reason) should be stored in a proper garment bag (breathable)—preferably in a dry, cool closet.
Flammable Items
A scary 40 percent of all home fires get their start in the garage from miscellaneous combustible products. That old can of paint, the leftover fuel, may seem innocuous, but if there is a single spark, you could be in for a whole world of trouble.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, flammable liquids should be stored in approved containers and kept away from heat sources—definitely not in your cluttered garage! Most local waste management facilities offer safe disposal options for items like gasoline to ensure they’re handled properly.
Old Boxes
The unsung heroes of every past move and delivery. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, cardboard accounts for 15 %–17 % of municipal waste. Around 90% of the time, these boxes sit there, accumulating dust, moisture, and pests. Trust me, a damp cardboard box is not the ecosystem you want in your garage.
Try durable, transparent containers that let you see your treasures at a glance. When it comes to disposal, flatten those boxes and send them to the nearest recycling center. The America Paper and Forest Association notes that cardboard can be recycled five to seven times, contributing to a healthier planet. You can also use them as mulch in your garden.
Overflowing Papers and Magazines
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American receives 41 pounds of junk mail per year, and if these things are not kept under control, they are likely to take over your personal space. Most of this paper clutter is unnecessary and can easily be recycled.
The answer is to recycle. Most communities offer curbside collection or recycling centers that would be happy to take your paper pile. Keep what you need in your life by going digital or keeping paper documents in labeled waterproof containers.
Pet Food
The FDA recommends keeping pet food in a ‘cool, dry place.’ However, few garages offer temperature stability, so when the mercury plummets or spikes, spoilage or contamination can ensue, as can pest issues if your garage is ill-sealed and your pet food is improperly packaged.
A North Carolina State University study found that pests can contaminate an entire stash of pet food from just one roach. If you have a pet food stash, move it into an in-home pantry, where climate control is a breeze. Put pet food in airtight containers, which help keep it fresh, safe, secure, and pest-free.
Excess Building Materials
What’s more, up to 30 percent of the materials used in construction are waste—easily damaged by improper storage and unusable by the time the next DIY project comes along. Boards warp, tiles crack, and that bag of cement? Good luck getting it to clump again once it’s exposed to moisture.
So, does anything make sense for future projects? If not, donate some of them to Habitat for Humanity ReStores, which takes discarded construction supplies and repurposes them. You’ll likely get a tax deduction in the process.
Rugs and Carpets
The longer those fabric items remain in storage, the greater their vulnerability to mould and mildew. These problems are often problems in a garage because of its damp and fluctuating environment. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, prolonged exposure to mold can trigger allergies and asthma, so you want to make sure your storage spaces are dry and clean.
If lightly used, consider donating to shelters or recycling facilities accepting textiles (textile-recycling centers are plentiful; look up Earth911 to find one near you). Heavily soiled or damaged pieces should be discarded at a disposal site at your municipal waste management center.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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