GON Reader Question
Maria,
I've read your newsletter for years and I love it. Regarding organizing a garage: my husband insists there is no way he can just do a little at a
time.
He says he needs to move a bunch of stuff from here to there, then organize a few things there, then move a bunch of stuff from there to here, etc. I can see a number of things he could do a bit at a time, but he can't wrap his head around them. It drives me
crazy.
He's asking for a professional organizer and a whole day to work on it. Before we dive into it that way, do you have any suggestions?
-- Joy Burklund, Norman, OK
Maria Responds
Hi Joy,
Thank you so much for your sweet note—and for such a great question. I hear this kind of thing a lot when it comes to garages. They're often the most overloaded space in the home and the hardest to tackle without butting heads.
Your husband’s approach makes sense to him, and that’s important to recognize. Some people feel like they need to move half the garage around before they can even begin to make progress.
But here's the truth: the most important step
isn’t the rearranging. It’s the decluttering.
If the two of you can focus on one goal—getting rid of what’s no longer needed—you’re already well on your way. You don’t need to pay a professional organizer to go through broken tools, half-empty paint cans, sports gear no one uses, or dusty cardboard boxes that haven’t been opened in
years.
That’s a task you can do together, and in stages.
Here are a few suggestions to get started—without the overwhelm or expense:
1. Forget the Fancy Sorting. Just Remove What’s Obvious: Start by walking through the garage and removing anything that is clearly trash, broken beyond repair, or totally unused. You don’t have to make perfect decisions right away—just eliminate the easy stuff. Old cardboard, rusted metal, flat basketballs—those don’t need a second
thought.
2. Focus on One Type of Item: If sorting by area doesn’t appeal to your husband, try sorting by category. For example, gather all the lawn care items or all the car supplies. It’s easier to make decisions when you're looking at everything in one category at once.
3. Consider the Cost—Before Hiring Help: If you still feel stuck, there's nothing wrong with bringing in a professional organizer. But here’s what I often see: once the clutter is cleared out, the rest of the garage becomes much easier to manage.
In fact, by the time you get rid of what you know you don’t need, you may find that the two of you are perfectly capable of finishing the job together—no added expense required.
4. Find Common Ground: Let
your husband take the lead on how to move things around if that's what helps him think. But gently guide the process back to “let’s keep only what we use, need, or love.” That phrase is your secret weapon when you’re feeling stuck.
5. Tidy Up in Stages—Even If He Thinks Big Picture: He may not like the idea of “a
little at a time,” but many garage jobs can be broken into chunks. Just clearing one corner or emptying one shelf can open up space, help both of you feel accomplished, and make the rest of the work go more smoothly.
Remember, the goal is progress, not perfection. The garage doesn’t have to look like a showroom—it just needs to
function better for your family. And if decluttering is where you start, you’re already taking the most important step.
Wishing you both success!
On another note...
Whether you're commuting, road tripping, or just running errands, a clean and organized car makes everything feel smoother. I've curated a list of Essentials for a Clean, Organized Car to help you keep clutter in check, trash off the floor, and everything easy to grab!
