It’s natural for anyone to keep the most visible areas of the house clean and clutter-free. Very few people care about cleaning rooms or corners hidden from one’s view. Although you can name many, the garage and attic warrant some mention here. These parts of the house are often overlooked because no one comes there. It allows you to stack away anything in these spaces for later use. You continue doing so until you do spring cleaning.
Sometimes, homeowners only touch these places once they leave their houses for good. Please avoid this. The garage and attic deserve better treatment for being helpful. Plus, piling up things invites pests and other troubles. If you maintain your garage and attic well, they will store your items safely and help you optimize their floor and wall areas for different purposes, such as workshops, entertainment, etc. You can also start your small business from there. All this can be implemented if you clean them occasionally. Do you worry about putting in the time and physical labor? Or is the stress around the amount of waste you will recover from these corners sending you into a tizzy?
You have an easy solution to all these situations. Seek help from someone like Kana’i’s Junk Removal, a native Oahu Kanaka owned business. They will come, clean the spots, and pick up all the waste materials. If the service provider follows green waste disposal methods, you can expect them to drop suitable items at charities and recycling facilities. However, you must be clear about what you want to retain or remove from these places. Take a logical and practical approach with every item before keeping them. So, let’s quickly figure out items that can be done away from a garage or attic.
Garage cleanout
Before the cleaning begins, you must be sure about things that need to be discarded. Rusted garden tools, dirty old couches, damaged VCRs, and many such items are junk. Some choices can be challenging to make, especially if they feel usable. In those moments of dilemma, ask yourself whether the particular item you used last or the previous year. Decluttering efforts follow one year rule, but you can be lenient and stretch it to two years. After the junk removal professionals remove all the discarded materials and clean the area, you will be surprised by the sudden transformation of the same garage space. Here is a quick look at the items you can easily say goodbye to and others that can be stored appropriately.
- Sports gear
Like others, you may have put all the old, broken sports equipment in the garage. If you stored a few things for your kids, it’s time to eliminate them, too, if they have grown up. The professionals can donate usable items to charities or take them to a recycling center to lessen the landfill’s burden. Bikes, pool toys, skateboards, and other outdoor equipment can be organized into slatwall panels.
- Paper items, including books and magazines
In the garage, you can keep board games, photos, magazines, newspapers, tax return files, old invoices, and many other paper items. All these can create pest problems without proper handling. Please keep them in an airtight plastic bin to avoid attracting insects and rodents. It will also prevent them from getting moist. Still, holding paper items in the garage is not recommended. These can be potential fire hazards. How do you sort them out? Most old documents, like tax returns, will become irrelevant after a few years. Information from magazines and newspapers can be accessed online nowadays. Also, those unread books will hang around like that, especially if they have collected dust and moisture. So, what do you do with them? Books can be donated, and other paper materials can go to the recycling center.
Did you keep your photographs in the garage? The garage is not the place for these articles. So, move them to a safe and secure place.
- Building or construction materials
While keeping some wood scrap and paver stones for emergency use is a good idea, putting all the leftover construction materials in the garage can be harmful. These clutter the area when stored haphazardly. Ceramic tiles will likely get damaged due to the load of the other items on them. The garage’s temperature and damp environment will threaten the hardwood flooring’s health. For the same reason, cardboard packaging will be unsafe if left there too long. Whether these items are related to your hobby project or home improvement, let the junk haulers take them away when they clean the area.
- Old furniture
What can be the best place than a garage to shove away all the old and unwanted furniture items like tables, chairs, sofas, bookcases, and others? Typically, homeowners keep these items to upcycle or reupholster them. But busy schedules prevent them from doing anything in this area. Unfortunately, the uncovered furnishings will collect dirt, dust, and grime. They will also suffer due to car fumes. With wooden furniture, you must also consider pest and damp risks. That’s why the simplest solution is letting them go. It also applies to that old piano, which may have sentimental value.
- Electronics and appliances
There can be many outdated devices and media in the garage, which you may have kept to play them later. Please ditch them because modern electronic items are far better and more advanced. As such, items like CDs, cassettes, vinyl records, and VHS tapes will not survive too long in damp environments. If you discard them, the junk removal professionals will carry them to a charity or recycling facility. Likewise, you can get rid of window ACs and fridges. You will never use them. That means they are just clutter and nothing else. Something like a slow cooker or juicer received as a gift can be donated if they are clean and adequately packaged.
- Hazardous items
Studies show that garages contain about 100 pounds of harmful waste, including paint, varnishes, lawn fertilizers, caulking tubes, and household cleaners. Most items have expiry dates. Keeping them in a place with fluctuating temperature will only shorten their lifespan. They will also lose their strength to be used for an intended purpose. Plus, these can be inflammable. So, please remove them too. The junk removal company may not pick up these items, but you can find someone who handles hazardous waste.
Attic cleanout
While attic cleaning may not be exciting, you will thank yourself once the area is clutter-free. You will suddenly have extra space in the house. At the same time, it can create a sense of safety and security. After all, clutter only attracts troubles in the form of fire hazards, pests, mold, etc. Due to a busy schedule, undertaking this project alone can be challenging. You can call junk removal experts for this job. They will clean it and collect the waste for safe disposal. But what should you be ready to dispose of? Let’s quickly gather some details.
- Damaged appliances
You may have kept your electric kettle in the attic after it stopped working, hoping to get it back into order soon. But the kettle still lies there after many years. Think of other items as well. These don’t belong in the attic. Let the waste disposal experts carry them to the recycling center or landfill.
- A cardboard box filled with random items
The cardboard boxes look unsightly, and humidity can make them vulnerable to roaches. Check what you stored in them for donation, recycling, or disposal. It will take your time, but this effort will pay off.
- Furniture
Your grandma’s rattan chair or a wobbly but charming table can occupy unnecessary space in the attic. Please don’t keep them just because you feel emotional about them. If you plan to refurnish them, it’s a different matter. Otherwise, let the junk removal professionals discard them. They will drop them at a charity, a recycling center, or a landfill, whichever is suitable.
- Items susceptible to decay
Clothing, papers, and magazines are prone to decay, making it essential to remove them from your attic before it’s too late. Most of these are recyclable items. So, your junk removal contractor will take them to the recycling center. Articles like clothes can be given to a charity, though.
Tasks like cleanouts can be arduous, emotionally taxing, and time-consuming. First, you deal with all the mess, including the stored items, dirt, dust, and grime. Then, you must consider disposing of unwanted or old items. Because of the strict waste disposal rules in the country, you cannot treat them casually. Plus, keeping them back is like ruining your entire cleaning effort. That’s why one should call junk removal professionals specializing in cleanouts. They can clean your garage and attic. A clutter-free property can be safe from pest infestation and accident risks. At the same time, this simple habit saves you home improvement costs as you can use your garage and attic area more smartly. Nevertheless, ensure that the cleanout process always follows safe waste disposal practices.
