Peter Margonelli
2. Sort and Purge
Pick a corner for sorting and then line up three boxes (first
reinforce the bottoms with packing tape). Label one GIVEAWAY, one
REPAIR, and one NOT SURE. Set up a trash bag for the things you're
going to throw away.
Start pulling out items one at a time. Look at each item and ask
yourself if it's something you need, want, or use. If the answer
is no, put it in the trash bag or the giveaway box. If the answer
is yes but it's broken and you're going to fix it yourself, put it
in the repair box. If you're going to take it to someone else to
be repaired, put it in your car. (Six weeks later, don't let it
find its way out of the car and back into the garage unrepaired.)
Put items that are in working order on the floor in the center
of the garage. As these items start to accumulate, sort them into
piles. For instance, all the tools in one pile, garden equipment
in another, sports equipment in another. Eventually, you'll create
a separate storage area for each of these piles.
Fill the "not sure" box as you go. But remember that you'll have
to decide what to do with everything sooner rather than later.
As boxes and trash bags fill up, seal them and take them out of
the garage so you have more room to work. (Cover with tarps if you
have to.)
If you have things stored in the rafters, sort them last.
Though there's no telling how long sorting and purging will
take, it will be easier and go faster if you concentrate on one
small area at a time and sort it completely before moving on.
