• Sort all items into three piles: keep, donate or sell, and toss. Lay them on dedicated tarps or mark off areas of your driveway with chalk and place them there. What should get the boot: outgrown toys, items that are broken beyond repair, expired household chemicals (which may need special disposal), and anything you haven't used in two years or more. If you have a hard time letting go of things that have sentimental value, snap pictures as keepsakes. • Sort the keepers into broad categories (for example, sports equipment, hand tools), and place them in well-marked cardboard boxes or, better yet, stackable clear-plastic bins you can use later. Put the keepers back in the garage for now. • As soon as possible, donate giveaways and schedule a yard sale to get rid of castoffs. If you've got too much trash for your hauler to take, use a service such as Bagster (thebagster.com); simply buy the bag at a home store, pack it, and contact the company to schedule pickup and disposal (fees vary).
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