How much stuff to keep really?

[reader2580]

I have so much stuff my garage is stuffed to the gills. I have a walkout basement and it is half full of boxes on the floor. My car recently sustained $3200 in hail damage because it doesn't fit in the garage right now. I moved last fall and I probably got rid of 20% of what was in my garage before I moved. I didn't have a lot in the previous basement because it was fully finished although I had an 8x10 storage room with a big set of shelves.

How do you decide what to get rid of? I have bins and bins of stuff in the garage, but when I look in them I decide I can't live without the stuff even though a lot of it hasn't been touched in 10 years or more. I have a lot of parts for my converted bus that take up a lot of space. I have two or three sets of seats for my bus. I have gone seven years without needing a seat part, Maybe I need to go down to one seat. (Seat parts are not available unless I find a very rare scrap model of my bus. Maybe a handful of scrap ones in the USA.)

My new garage has 30% more floor space than my old garage, but it feels like I have less room since the old garage was almost two feet taller. I had a 48" deep shelve hanging from the ceiling along the 24 foot wide back of the garage. All the larger spare parts were up there. Not enough height to do that is my new garage. I now have a riding mower I didn't have before with a snow blower attachment too. I still have my push mower and regular snow blower in addition.

My big garage is still five years out at least. I don't want it to just fill with stuff too. I want to go through my garage before it gets too cold, but I need to finish siding the garage first.

 

[Stuart in MN]

a lot of it hasn't been touched in 10 years or more.

You may have already answered your question...time to get rid of it.

I did a big basement cleanout a few years ago; lots of scrap lumber and other stuff I was saving for 'someday', and I haven't missed any of it.

 

[nine4gmc]

One thing, you can take the seats apart and save a little room there. Put all the springs in a box, scrap or sell the frames and parts that don't go bad. How about some pallet racking along one wall? I have a pallet rack above my desk and filing cabinets in my shop so there is plenty of otherwise useless space for shelving.

 

[BigSteve63]

Subbed...

Cleaned out and threw away a lot of the obvious, but still struggle with "useful" items that haven't been used in a while.

Edit - I did donate a lot of the building materials I had left over to Habitat. Made quite a bit of room open up. Now that my basement is completely done, I have no excuse for not finishing the basement shop cleanup.

 

[Nowater]

I had an old welding helmet that was given tome by a friend. It was missing the clear glass, the foam padding was dry rotted and I have not had access to a welder for thirty years. I hesitated to part with it, and then I realized I had a sentimental attachment because it was a gift.

Think of that as you give away or donate some of the stuff you have not used in ten years. Someone else my treasure your items. Honor your attachment to the items, and then lighten the load on your storage. Just saying!

 

[Bendibal]

One thing, you can take the seats apart and save a little room there. Put all the springs in a box, scrap or sell the frames and parts that don't go bad.

+1 Keep the most rare and most likely to fail.

 

[Strouty]

It is never easy dealing with stuff. Just remember that the stuff is not you and that if it was all gone, you would still go on living. I have had to deal with lots of my own personal stuff demons and it is no fun. Just remember, things didn't get this way over night, so they won't get better overnight either.

 

[sberry]

I do toss stuff but made up dedicated space for stuff too good to toss and not worth walking around. Its one thing to save a few pieces you may need but I too am tossing a lot of seats just taking up reallestate could be better used or not used at all. If I had to keep it in my work areas it would be gone.

 

[efncrx]

Just think that $3200 would probably replace the odds and ends you haven't used in 10 years... now you have all the junk, damage to your vehicle and time vested to fix that, even if its just a few phone calls..

 

[toplessHO]

might be time for a throwaway shed to last until the new garage is done

 

[reader2580]

As far as shelving I have three sets of the pallet rack type shelves in the garage already. I also have a 4 foot by 4 foot set of shelves that is not yet assembled. The front set of shelves isn't very full yet and all my oil and other chemicals like weed killer is supposed to go there.

I don't think there is anything of sentimental value. It is just stuff. When I see the stuff every few years I think I will still need that in the future, but then I never remember that I have it. Some of it is specialized tools I bought for a single use that I will probably never use again, but I can't bear to throw it out. Most of the specialized tools are cheap $10 tools that aren't worth selling.

The bus seats are not like car seats. There is really no good way to separate the backs from the entire seat assembly. If I just keep one seat that would help save space. The seats used to be up on my high shelf out of the way, but no room for a shelf like that in this garage.

I attached some pictures of the garage as it is today. There is a pile of demolition debris in the center that needs to go in my trailer for disposal. I can't haul the debris away until I am done siding the garage. Yes, the riding mower can be driven right out of the garage. I was just using it today.

 

[Ray916MN]

There appears to be plenty of room in the garage for stuff. Your shelving is really poorly utilized. Look at all the open space on the shelves. You've also laid out the shelving so you have access to both sides of the shelves. This effectively doubles the amount of floor space which you need to keep clear to access the shelves. Put them flat against the walls. This allows the space which is kept open in front of the shelves to not only be used to access stuff on the shelves but also to be used for moving around the garage. Figure out a way to store the large long stuff against the ceiling. Get the demolition debris out of the garage. It is debris not precious stuff to be sheltered from the elements.

 

[reader2580]

The only demo debris in the garage is the Bildrite. The rest of the demo debris is outside. I didn't want the Bildrite getting wet. The Bildrite will hopefully be out of the garage tomorrow as I am going to load it in my trailer for the dump. I still have a few things in the garage that need to go the Restore.

Moving the shelves against the walls is a good suggestion. The two back shelves are pretty much 100% full. The front set of shelves is not full as I was planning to put oil and chemicals on that shelf. I have a metal cabinet and that might be better for the oil and chemicals.

Just about any long stuff has already been put up near the ceiling. The long white stuff on the floor is new soffit and fascia for the garage.

The "stuff" I need to go through and throw half of it out.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

One way to answer the question is to simply kick the bucket for a day.. Come back as a new customer to your own estate sale, and put a slip of paper on the things you want to buy, and the price you would be willing to pay... Take note of the mess.. Aren't you glad your garage doesn't look like that?

 

[Elginz]

They have a TV show about that condition called Hoarders.

 

[reader2580]

My garage is not even remotely close to being on the Hoarders TV show.

 

[bczygan]

You can't put 10 pounds of **** in a five pound sack.

You must strive to reach equilibrium, where the stuff fits the space in a way that you can use it.

Most people on this forum increase the space to meet the needs of the stuff, sometimes over and over.

Bigger sack or less ****, or both.

Bill

 

[justanengineer]

I subscribe to the theory that if I havent touched it in a year and its in my way then its disposable. JMO but the space to complete projects comfortably is dam valuable, if your garage is acting more as a warehouse than a shop you might as well give up, sell your tools, and hire everything out.

 

[gtg082y]

I consider it a blessing that I generally feel a sense of relief (not regret) when selling any item.

I was thinking today about the awesome 'what did you add' and 'garage sale' threads here. I look at those threads and think how awesome everyone's finds are, and how I'd like to have a lot of that stuff. But what I really prefer is having a neat, organized, functional space which isn't always easy when the space is only 25x25.

You didn't come here asking for opinions, so I'm not going to give one, only suggest that you probably have a ton of stuff you're justifying keeping with weak reasons.

Good luck getting your space in order.

 

[Playwme]

There's nothing wrong with the amount of stuff you have, your storage solutions just ****. I don't like to throw away good stuff. Sure there's a lot of stuff that hasn't been used for a few years but every now and again when you need something and you find out that you kept one, it makes it all worthwhile.

Those shelves take up a lot of space with all the walkways between. I put a file compactus in my garage. Gave me a heap of shelving space in a very small floor space area.

 

[DonPowers]

There appears to be plenty of room in the garage for stuff. Your shelving is really poorly utilized. Look at all the open space on the shelves. You've also laid out the shelving so you have access to both sides of the shelves. This effectively doubles the amount of floor space which you need to keep clear to access the shelves. Put them flat against the walls. This allows the space which is kept open in front of the shelves to not only be used to access stuff on the shelves but also to be used for moving around the garage.

I agree with Ray as I also see lots of room and the the need for better utilization of shelving.

Regarding additional temporary storage, if the property permits, pick up a 20 ft shipping container. I bought one before I built my new garage for $1,200, a Craigslist find and put a coat of paint on it. Still use it to store things like staging along with various equipment and toys during the off season.

Here is a picture of the container during construction.
View media item 45818

 

[taumac]

You can't put 10 pounds of **** in a five pound sack.

You must strive to reach equilibrium, where the stuff fits the space in a way that you can use it.

Most people on this forum increase the space to meet the needs of the stuff, sometimes over and over.

Bigger sack or less ****, or both.

Bill

There's a lot of great ideas above but I have a idea for the OP that worked for me. You have to sit down and make a 1, 5, or 10 plan. Be brutally HONEST with yourself making a REALISTIC picture of projects and hobbies you'll be doing in the future. Then you move forward you collect and collect thinking one day I'm going to have a big shop, this or that but it's never going to happen it's just a pipe dream. Trust me i have the "if I won the lottery " garage in my head but my real garage is full of comprises and project I do have are real and obtainable. My main goal in my garage was "I MUST FIT BOTH VEHICLES" in my garage.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Thinking of inventing a Spandex Garage...

 

[Jawn]

Thinking of inventing a Spandex Garage...

Yeah, but how far can spandex stretch before it breaks?

 

[58Yeoman]

Thanks for the post. My shop if overfull also, so I'm going to get in gear and start getting rid of stuff...one way or another. I DID sell my rotisserie last weekend. Although it disassembled, it still took up a lot of space.

 

[Strouty]

I would take those three shelving units and make it into two, put them on the side or back wall. It will only take three uprights, then you get more horizontals to make more shelves. Buy some totes that fit the shelves so you can bundle smaller like items together and not waste a lot of space. If you don't have access to the "attic" area, make some. Lay a sheet of plywood down and get the bus seats up there. Either put the sonotube up there, use it, or sell it. You are definitely going to need to shuffle some things to keep everything you want plus put a car in there, but it can be done.

 

[taumac]

There's a lot of great ideas above but I have a idea for the OP that worked for me. You have to sit down and make a 1, 5, or 10 year plan. Be brutally HONEST with yourself making a REALISTIC picture of projects and hobbies you'll be doing in the future. If you start collecting and collecting thinking one day I'm going to have a big shop, or this or that. Trust me i have the "if I won the lottery " garage in my head but my real garage is full of comprises and projects I do have are real and obtainable. My main goal in my garage was "I MUST FIT BOTH VEHICLES" in my garage.

Sent from my KFTT using Tapatalk

 

[reader2580]

I have so many totes now they are coming out of my ears. Over 2/3s of the stuff on the back two sets of shelves are totes. I even have empty totes from moving. (I got some Rubbermaid totes cheap.) The problem with totes is they are hard to find anything in. The stuff disappears down to the bottom. I think part of my problem is having so many totes that I can't see the stuff in them so I never see the stuff to get rid of it. I would like clear totes, but they break so easily.

I don't need more storage. I just need to start getting rid of stuff. Getting rid of stuff is hard to do because you always think you'll need it some day.

I don't think I could get the bus seats up in the attic due to the trusses getting in the way. I'll have to take another look. The Sonotube has stuff in it. I'm 95% sure it would never fit up in the attic.

 

[Strouty]

I don't need more storage. I just need to start getting rid of stuff. Getting rid of stuff is hard to do because you always think you'll need it some day.

I don't think I could get the bus seats up in the attic due to the trusses getting in the way. I'll have to take another look. The Sonotube has stuff in it. I'm 95% sure it would never fit up in the attic.

Go through each tote and be vicious.

As for the trusses, you can very easily modify a couple to add an entry way. They do it every day to add stairs. With the bus seats, is it the frames or the cushions you are saving? The reason I ask is most bus seat frames could be cut and then later welded back together and all of this could easily be hidden under the upholstery.

 

[MoparTrucks]

I agree with Ray as I also see lots of room and the the need for better utilization of shelving.

Regarding additional temporary storage, if the property permits, pick up a 20 ft shipping container. I bought one before I built my new garage for $1,200, a Craigslist find and put a coat of paint on it. Still use it to store things like staging along with various equipment and toys during the off season.

Here is a picture of the container during construction.
View media item 45818

Its not showing up Don but I'm going to be buying one myself so please try again.

I think we all go through this but to me your shop doesn't look too bad. I don't know if you have the option but getting your construction debris and wood scraps out of the way will allow you to visualize things better. I also see a mower deck thats not attached to a mower and if its from an old mower just sell it or scrap it.

I also agree with you about the totes, I got rid of mine for the same reasons you mention, I would end up buying a new part because I couldnt find it or remember what I had in the totes. Now I keep spare parts on the shelf or hanging in plain view so I know its there.

One thing is for sure though, whatever you get rid of you will need it within the month.

 

[Strouty]

Right on right there. ^^^^

That does not work for everyone. I have things that only get used once every ten years but you would not want to try and replace them and they are not easily rented. Some things get used every few years, but when they get used, they are used a lot.

 

[PCO6]

I've posted this idea here before. Buy the biggest and most inexpensive tent you can find and set it up in your back yard. Take EVERYTHING out of your garage and put it in the tent. When you need a tool (or something) go to the tent and bring it back into your garage.

After a year or so you should have most of what you will ever need in your garage. For good measure leave the tent standing for another year or so. After that... set the tent on fire!

 

[Dan_inthewind]

I wonder what the difference is between an item you cannot use because it is broken and an item you cannot use because you cannot get to it?

Not to be rude but the biggest problem with the garage in the pictures is someone's inability to properly put things away.

Get out, get organized and keep it that way. I have more gear in my small storage shed and can get to all of it.

Get at it!

 

[edcantu9]

I cleaned out my garage this spring due to insulating it needed to more everything. If I had not used messed with things in two years in was out to the trash with it.

 

[galute]

Take a saws all and carefully cut the bus seat frames apart in a way they could be easily welded back together if needed. With a little planning you could do it in a way that the welds would not be noticeable after welding while being easily stored.

 

[jimgood]

I have so many totes now they are coming out of my ears. Over 2/3s of the stuff on the back two sets of shelves are totes. I even have empty totes from moving. (I got some Rubbermaid totes cheap.) The problem with totes is they are hard to find anything in. The stuff disappears down to the bottom. I think part of my problem is having so many totes that I can't see the stuff in them so I never see the stuff to get rid of it. I would like clear totes, but they break so easily.

I don't need more storage. I just need to start getting rid of stuff. Getting rid of stuff is hard to do because you always think you'll need it some day.

I don't think I could get the bus seats up in the attic due to the trusses getting in the way. I'll have to take another look. The Sonotube has stuff in it. I'm 95% sure it would never fit up in the attic.

I took my laptop into the shop, opened a label template in Word and itemized the things in each tote on a label. Then printed them and stuck them on. That way I don't have to dig through them. I know what's there by looking at the label.

I had to make the same decisions you're making. It's hard. But I threw away 3 pick up loads of stuff that I really did not need and hadn't touched or thought about in years.

 

[taumac]

That does not work for everyone. I have things that only get used once every ten years but you would not want to try and replace them and they are not easily rented. Some things get used every few years, but when they get used, they are used a lot.

I agree.... Not every approach is going to work for everyone but all the end result is what everyone wants. A nice space to do whatever your garage hobby is. Like I said before what is your goal for your garage? What hobbies / projects will you do for the next 1 yr - 5yrs? Be honest and truthful with those answers. Some projects you might still do but unsure. I usually reevaluate what direction I'm going in every so often and see how will I achieve it.

 

[56FordGuy]

To all the folks saying cut up the bus seat frames...why are we saving bus seat frames? If the ones currently in use break, couldn't they just be welded back together as well?

To the OP, I just went through this process. I moved out of a 1,200 square foot shop that I didn't store vehicles in into a two car garage that I have a full size truck and a car in. Like others have mentioned, I had to take a really hard look at what I used, and what I was actively interested in at this point in my life. I got rid of stuff that would've made folks here cry- Snap On toolboxes, big Miller welders, and lots of other metal and mechanic's tools. I hauled off over 8,000 lbs of 'scrap' steel that included old tractor implements, lots of good hydraulic parts, etc and that was after selling or giving away everything I could manage to interest someone else in.

Even now I go out in the garage and wonder why on earth I moved some of this ****. Sure, there are times I wish I had the big welder or something I got rid. It wasn't worth keeping for what would be a once or twice a year use at this point in my life though.

I'd suggest if you have tubs that you haven't opened in a year, maybe two years if you really want to push it- don't open them. You'll just start making up excuses to keep the stuff once you see it, so go ahead and pitch them in a dumpster. If there was anything in there you needed or cared about, you'd have done something with it by now. You'll be amazed at how much more smoothly things seem to go once you feel like you're making progress.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

I took my laptop into the shop, opened a label template in Word and itemized the things in each tote on a label. Then printed them and stuck them on. That way I don't have to dig through them. I know what's there by looking at the label.

I had to make the same decisions you're making. It's hard. But I threw away 3 pick up loads of stuff that I really did not need and hadn't touched or thought about in years.

Living room is filled with totes and boxes holding my toy trains.. I know what is in every tote; as the totes and boxes are numbered, and there is a complete inventory stored on my laptop. Out in the tractor shed, I mounted 28 old gym lockers on one wall.. There is a clipboard hanging above the bench listing what is in each locker. In the long run, the effort to inventory this stuff has paid off.. A bit different from labeling each container, but either method works..

 

[steel 35]

There appears to be plenty of room in the garage for stuff. Put them flat against the walls.

I would take those three shelving units and make it into two, put them on the side or back wall. It will only take three uprights, then you get more horizontals to make more shelves. Buy some totes that fit the shelves so you can bundle smaller like items together and not waste a lot of space.

Word!