Spring Clean Your Garage and Help Your Community!

As spring cleaning rolls around, it’s a good time to think about tidying up any commonly overlooked parts of your home, like the garage!

All too often, our garages become a dumping ground for anything we can’t fit inside our homes, from holiday decorations to old clothes to sporting equipment. Over time, the clutter can pile up, making it difficult to even know what’s stored in your garage.

In fact, according to a study, 25% of people with 2-car garages don’t park in them at all, and a third can only park one car due to clutter! If this sounds familiar, it could be time to tidy up your garage and ensure you’re making the most of your space.

At Ohio Valley Goodwill, we understand how challenging it can be to clean out a cluttered garage, and we want to make it easier. That’s why we put together this handy checklist to help you spring clean your garage like a pro!

Here’s how to get started:

Take inventory

Just like cleaning out a closet, the first step of cleaning your garage is to take inventory of what you have. Remove everything you can from your garage and bring it out onto the driveway. (It’s best to choose a sunny day to work.) When you see everything out in the open might be surprised at the amount of stuff you had hidden in your space!

Group items into categories

Next, sort the items into four categories:

• Keep
• Donate
• Toss
• Recycle

If you’re having trouble making decisions about what to keep or donate, try this simple tip: if you haven’t used something in over a year, it’s probably time to let go.

At Ohio Valley Goodwill, we gladly accept many of the household items you might be storing in your garage, such as Halloween costumes, home décor, out-of-season clothing, sporting equipment, dishware, books, small electronics, and more. (Read our donation guidelines to see what we can and cannot accept!)

Donated Car at Ohio Valley Goodwill

Ohio Valley Goodwill even accepts car donations for our weekly Auto Auction in Cincinnati. If you’re still holding onto a vehicle that’s taking up valuable space in your garage, donate it to Goodwill! We take donated cars in any condition, running or not, and you can even schedule a free tow.

Clean the floor and walls

While your garage is empty, take some time to clean everything from top to bottom. Use a broom or leaf blower to sweep away debris. Then, wipe down any shelves and windows. Finally, use a hose or power washer to wash the floors.

Give everything a ” home”

Now, it’s time to get organized! Storing items off the floor will make it easier to keep things clean and tidy going forward. Consider investing in shelving units or a pegboard to hang tools and supplies. Make sure to label all boxes and bins so you remember what’s inside them!  

Keeping your garage clean

Once you’ve successfully cleaned your garage, how can you ensure it stays organized? The key is to continue evaluating everything you’re storing in your garage and deciding what stays and what goes. If you’re still holding onto items you don’t use or need, you’re taking up space for the things that you actually want!

Whether you’re spring cleaning your home or your garage, Ohio Valley Goodwill is the place to go when it’s time to donate! You can donate household goods at our convenient donation locations or donate a car to Goodwill at one of our designated vehicle donation sites in and around Cincinnati.

Ohio Valley Goodwill store

When you donate to Goodwill, you’re not only decluttering your home or garage; you’re also making a meaningful difference in your community! The revenue generated from your generous donations supports job skills training and employment services for individuals with disabilities and veterans. If you want to make the maximum impact with your donations, Ohio Valley Goodwill is the non-profit partner you can trust!

Find your nearest donation center and learn more about our car donation program here. Thank you for donating to help the planet and your community!