Originally Posted By LuLu I need to get real tough about getting rid of stuff. The only reasons are that I "need" to get organized, and I know this "shedding" will make me feel much better. I don't have a tremendous amount of stuff in there, but since I've downsized my living space by about 1/2, and my closet space by even more, there is some stuff that I need to keep, in an organized fashion, in the garage. The rest has to go! So - first issue - BOXES. What a collection I have! First step is getting rid of all the small ones that I've saved for shipping gifts - I rarely need them any more. And, forget it, I'm never gonna do the eBay thing. So those go. Next, moving boxes - I think a friend will need them in a few months so I'm flattening any that aren't already, but am committed to getting rid of them in 6 months if they just sit there (as they have for 5 1/2 years now!). So - why do I want to hang on to my small appliance boxes? From the mini fridge and microwaves in my rentals to blender and crockpot boxes. Sure they would make it easier to move (eventually), but are they really needed? Someone talk me out of saving them...
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains Flatten them and put them in the recycle bin... I wouldn't save the moving boxes either - If your friend wants them pass them on... Another option for the boxes would be look for a sale pending sign on a house and offer the boxes. We did that 10 years ago and the people were very grateful.
Originally Posted By avro_imagineer If they're out of warranty you won't need them unless you move. But if you move you can get various sized boxes from the grocery store and pack them in with peanuts or towels. If you're sentimental about them take a picture... Do you have above the car storage or some of those plastic/metal utility shelving? One thing is when you empty your garage more you can paint the floor with non skid concrete paint, it'll brighten up your garage and make it easier to clean the floor. (For those of us who are very anti dust...) Can your car currently fit in your garage?
Originally Posted By Kira My family has the ability to COLLECT so many cardboard boxes. It's unbelievable really when I look at the pile and see how much we use as consumers. Is it possible for you to recycle the boxes at a local recycling center? We have a fire ring in our backyard and use our cardboard to burn alongside our fire logs. As you're cleaning out the garage you might want to check out this website. <a href="http://www.freecycle.org/" target="_blank">http://www.freecycle.org/</a> A friend was telling me about it and it sounds like far less hassle than sites where you sell things (ebay). Ths is what the main page says about the website: The Freecycle Network™ is made up of 4,697 groups with 6,483,000 members across the globe. It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer (them's good people). Membership is free. It sounds like a good idea. Especially since it involves giving things away LOCALLY. Eliminating the need to ship something across the united states. Best of luck in your cleaning endeavors!
Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM I'm a box junkie. I have boxes here at work under my desk, and stacked neatly in the corner. I have boxes in the shop at the house and under my bed. I am partial to little small boxes and boxes that are an odd shape. Since I work in an automotive parts department, we get boxes all day long. Our shipper/receiver has been schooled as to which boxes I love, and he brings them to me as he gets them. So do most of the other guys that work here, actually. If the boxes contain ghost poop (styrofoam peanuts) all the better. I can't help you at all with your box clearance. You can send the cute little ones and the odd shaped ones to me, though.
Originally Posted By beamerdog Letter to Lulu Ms. Lulu Laughing Place.com Re: Boxes Dear Ms. Lulu, Do not save boxes. Other can use them, or recycle them. A better reason would be that they make lovely homes for the most vile looking bugs and mice. I have found other disgusting things in the boxes in my garage and basement. Get rid of your boxes! Think about the fact that you are possibly sleeping next to cockroaches and mice. Love and kisses, beamerdog Okay, that should do it.
Originally Posted By LuLu hahaha! You guys are great. Well, I did fill my recycling bin with flattened boxes (ok, some newspapers too) and my trash bin is filled too. But pickup day is tomorrow, so I can get back at it :/ The mailing store was thrilled to get 2 huge boxes of packing peanuts... I threw away some neat paper sculptures I did in college. It's getting to the tough stuff now. I have lots of canvases that I *hope* to paint on some day, art supplies (tho I did give most of my craft stuff to a daycare), a couple thousand dollars worth of fancy hats, shoes and bags from my MIL (mentioned on the boards previously ) and tons of other stuff too... It's ridiculous what we accumulate! I know I've given away thousands (in original cost) of "stuff" for each of the past few years (you actually have to document the "new" value if you give away more than $500 worth at "used" value now, at least according to my CPA).
Originally Posted By LuLu avro, yes my car fits in the garage with room to spare, and I do have overhead and shelf storage. I *should* be able to get another car in there (tenant's, as I only have one myself) but I would have to get a storage shed for even basic yard care equipment, tax paperwork and Christmas decorations. It's a pretty tight 2-car garage. Since I'm now limited to 3 small closets inside for my daughter and I, including my business and art stuff, I need to store some things in the garage. I got a pretty decent wardrobe cabinet at Home Depot to store out-of-season clothes (and evening wear, DD has a number of fancy dresses!) and other things that just won't fit in the house. Gotta make space for that, and then I can get all organized!
Originally Posted By LuLu Kira, yes I've heard of freecycle and maybe I can make use of it. As far as recycling, we're lucky to have curbside recycling here. So very little effort is required! I hope you only burn cardboard as kindling, as it's bad for the air quality (and I believe that burning trash is illegal due to that).
Originally Posted By beamerdog I'm right with you about the art supplies, Lulu. I can't seem to get rid of them - it's almost like losing part of my identity. Sort of like, if I get rid of them does that mean that I'm no longer an artist? Hard to explain the feeling.
Originally Posted By LuLu I know, that's the hard stuff. Then there's other stuff like - I have some chicken wire fencing, I used it to keep the dog off the lawn when both dog and lawn were new Sure it's cheap, I can toss it and buy more if I need it - but I just hate to be wasteful! I've been wondering if I set stuff like that out by the curb with a FREE sign... or maybe I should post on freecycle! I also have garden edging and other various home and garden stuff I don't really want, probably will never need, but hate to throw away...
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains LuLu - put it on the curb with a free sign... The trash looters will be out tomorrow for the best pickins and most will be gone before dawn.... Not kidding - We put a recliner out once - the trash guy came buy and called his wife at 6:30am to come get it...
Originally Posted By avro_imagineer Lulu -> here people who are designated country (Have a R.R. address) are allowed to burn certain waste (for some reason not paint for example). If you're not comfortable with leaving it out for the trash looters (I've done it to donate to a church for recent immigrants, it's amazing what some people throw out) you can always call shelters (they usually have contacts such as this church they gave me) or a used store.
Originally Posted By mater4 I wish I could hire someone to clean my garage. I have stuff that needs to go to the dump. The rest is DH's work related papers that are in several boxes for shredding and a recliner with a broken kickstand. Alas I will wait until warmer weather comes along to even think about my garage. I will avoid talking about my junk drawers inside of my house.
Originally Posted By Kira << I hope you only burn cardboard as kindling, as it's bad for the air quality>> Yep, that's all we use it for when starting up our fires =) place a few torn up pieces and place them under the logs. That's why we STILL have a HUGE pile of cardboard boxes waiting in our backyard lol. We only use so much per fire, so it's a long process. You mentioned Bags! My eyes light up You aren't throwing those bags/purses out into the trash are you?! haha I know of a set of hands who LOVE free purses Especially cute ones! Hope freecycle works out for ya!
Originally Posted By LuLu I finally looked up what my ex suggested for some of these old clothes/hats/etc from his mom - The Colleagues, a group of rich old ladies that resell used designer clothes, and donate the proceeds to charity. This is perfect for this old, classy but NOT cool (sorry Kira stuff from my MIL. Now I just gotta get him to haul all this stuff there! MIL would approve, she had some sort of affiliation with this group. Seems like a win-win.
