Our garage clean-up started as a modest Saturday morning project and ended up being surprisingly satisfying. While we didn’t uncover anything apocalyptic, we did spot a few new spider species, and Sherry had a close encounter with a mouse that scurried across her feet — prompting a dramatic shriek and a memorable clean-up story. Even so, an hour of sorting, sweeping, and reorganizing transformed the space into a clear, functional area we’re proud of.
We filmed a simple time-lapse of the whole process using our refurbished MacBook’s iSight camera and the Gawker app. Propped on a box at the right angle on our sloped driveway, the laptop captured the entire clean-up without fuss. It’s a great reminder that you don’t need fancy gear to document a quick home project — a basic setup and a pocket of spare time are often enough.
For this session we focused on basic decluttering rather than installing any major storage systems. We love the idea of built-in cabinets and a pegboard full of tools as much as anyone, but after last year’s deeper overhaul we realized we simply don’t have enough items to justify a big investment yet. Someday, when we have kids and accumulate sports gear, camping supplies, and other bulky items, we’ll probably rethink the storage layout. For now, clearing out cobwebs, moving bike seats out of the way, and eliminating the cardboard box takeover that kept our car out of the garage felt like a win.
Our method was straightforward and effective: move everything out, then sort into three piles — trash, recycle/donate, and keep. Once the space was empty, we swept out leaves, knocked down spider webs, and wiped down surfaces. Bringing the “keep” items back in with intention made a big difference: group like with like, and create distinct zones. Paints and stains went on a tall, tiered shelf; garden tools were hung together on wall hooks; cleaning supplies were consolidated. Storing similar items together makes them easier to find and keeps small tasks from turning into future clutter.
Organizing in zones also helps maintain order. For our garage we defined areas such as “paints & stains,” “garden tools,” and a shelf for seasonal or infrequently used items. Hooks, open shelving, and clear sightlines are inexpensive, high-impact ways to keep essentials accessible without investing in custom cabinetry. Simple labels or a consistent home for seasonal items can prevent that slow drift back into chaos.
One unexpected benefit of cleaning was rediscovering leftover project pieces and sentimental artifacts. As we sorted, we found things that reminded us of past projects and phases of our home’s life:
- Two catering buckets left over from a shoot with The Nest’s photo crew, now repurposed for car washing
- An old cast iron kitchen sink we finally Freecycled
- Painted flower pots from a R Home photoshoot, one of which I accidentally knocked over
- Boxes from our recent mattress delivery
- Smaller boxes that originally held our new patio lounge chairs
- An old metal firepit that rusted out and was later replaced by our DIY stone firepit
- Sticky scraps of balloon from a failed string lantern project for the front porch
Rediscovering these items made the work feel more like a walk down memory lane than a chore. It’s common to find little artifacts from past projects while decluttering — a good reminder to let go of things you don’t use and to repurpose or donate pieces that still have life left in them.
We’re hopeful the garage will stay neat for a while, though history suggests we’ll likely need another refresh at some point. Our main weakness is leaving the remnants of recent projects out in the open instead of returning them to their proper places. Making a habit of a quick weekly tidy — returning tools to hooks, collapsing empty boxes, sweeping up debris — can go a long way toward preventing future overhauls.
How did your weekend projects go? We’ve already received a few before-and-after photos from readers, and we’d love to see more. Share your images and stories in the comments so everyone can celebrate their weekend wins and pick up practical tips. Thanks for tackling this project alongside us — it felt great to clear the space and to rediscover a handful of forgotten items in the process.
Time lapse video music courtesy of MoOt.