July 5, 2025·Cleanout Guides
How to Clean Out a Garage in Orlando, FL
The average Orlando garage accumulates years of stuff — broken tools, old paint cans, holiday decorations from 2005, exercise equipment nobody uses, boxes from every move, and that thing you'll definitely fix someday. Here's a step-by-step guide to finally cleaning out your garage and keeping it organized.
Step 1: Pull Everything Out
Yes, everything. Clear the entire garage and lay it all out in the driveway. This gives you a complete picture of what you're dealing with and forces decisions on every item. On a sunny Orlando day, this takes 1-2 hours for a 2-car garage. Do this early to take advantage of morning shade.
Step 2: Sort Into Four Piles
Keep: Items you actively use at least once a year. Donate: Working items in good condition — Goodwill and Salvation Army both accept garage items. Sell: Tools, equipment, and items worth $20+. Toss: Everything else — broken, rusted, outdated, or forgotten items. Be ruthless. If you haven't used it in 2 years, it goes.
Step 3: Handle Hazardous Items
Orlando garages accumulate hazardous materials: old paint, pesticides, motor oil, antifreeze, pool chemicals, and solvents. These CANNOT go in a dumpster or regular trash. Take them to the Orange County Household Hazardous Waste facility at 5901 Young Pine Road (free, open Mon-Sat). Handle this separately before your main cleanout.
Step 4: Rent a Dumpster
For the toss pile — which is usually 50-70% of a neglected garage — a dumpster is the most efficient option. A 10-yard dumpster handles light garage cleanouts. A 20-yard handles the average full garage purge with room for other household items. Load heavy items first (tools, equipment) and fill around them with lighter stuff (boxes, plastics, holiday decorations). If you have large amounts to dispose of, renting a dumpster is the easiest and most cost-effective option. Dumpster Strong delivers roll-off containers across Orlando and Central Florida — book online in under 3 minutes and save $25 with code STRONG25.
Step 5: Organize What's Left
Install wall-mounted storage systems, ceiling-mounted racks for seasonal items, and clear storage bins (not cardboard boxes — they attract bugs and mold in Florida). Label everything. Create zones: tools, seasonal items, sports equipment, automotive. Keep frequently used items at eye level and seasonal items up high.
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