The Decision Rule

Before you touch a room, use this four-bucket rule on every single item:
Keep — you use it and have a place for it. Donate — it works but you don't need it. Toss — it's broken, expired, or worthless. Haul — it's too big or too much to handle yourself, and it needs to leave.

Work one room at a time, and don't buy a single storage bin until you're done sorting. Bins before decisions just hide the clutter.

Garage

1. Clear the floor first. Everything on the floor goes to the driveway or lawn. You can't organize what you can't see.
2. Sort tools and hardware. Keep one set of working basics; donate or toss duplicates, rusted-out tools, and dried-up cans.
3. Old paint, chemicals, and tires. These usually can't go in regular junk hauls — check your local disposal rules and schedule a drop-off.
4. Bulky leftovers. Broken lawnmowers, old bikes, unused shelving — anything big you keep walking around is a haul item. Don't move it twice.

Basement & Attic

5. Attack by zone. These spaces become one big "later" pile. Pick one corner or one wall and finish it before starting the next.
6. Boxes you haven't opened in a year. Open them now. If you forgot what was inside, that's your answer — donate or toss.
7. Old furniture and mattresses. The couch that's been "stored" for five years is junk with a better story. Haul it.
8. Water-damaged anything. Swollen boxes, musty fabric, warped wood — toss it. Mold isn't worth saving.

Closets & Bedrooms

9. The one-year clothing test. If you haven't worn it in a year, donate it. If it's stained or ripped, toss it.
10. Under the bed and the closet floor. Forgotten bags, broken hangers, single shoes — the fastest win in any bedroom.
11. Nightstand and dresser tops. Flat surfaces collect clutter. Keep only what you use daily; everything else gets a drawer or a donation bag.

Kitchen

12. Duplicate gadgets. Three spatulas, two blenders, four water bottles — keep the best one of each and donate the rest.
13. Expired pantry and fridge items. Check dates on everything. Expired food and mystery containers go straight in the trash.
14. The junk drawer. Empty it completely, wipe it out, and put back only what you've actually used in the last six months.

Yard & Shed

15. Dead plants and old pots. Cracked planters and dead shrubs make the whole yard look neglected. Clear them first.
16. Broken outdoor furniture and grills. If it's rusted through or missing parts, it's not a project — it's a haul item.
17. Branch and brush piles. Bag what you can, pile what you can't. Bulk brush is one of the most common reasons people call for a pickup.
18. Old fencing and lumber. Stacked scrap wood is a splinter pile and a fire risk. Haul it and be done with it.