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Get it done — step by step

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  • Step 1: Get rid of gas

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    If you're packing a few days before the move, mow the lawn for the last time and then burn off the gas from all power equipment and the gas grill. If you're starting weeks before the move (good for you!), delay this step until closer to your moving date.

  • Step 2: Make room

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    Move vehicles, mowers, garbage cans and other obstacles out of the garage and into the driveway to make room to work. Before you start pulling things off shelves and out of corners, give the garage a quick sweeping to clear leaves and dirt off the floor.

  • Step 3: Get rid of stuff

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    Identify the stuff in your garage you don't want to take with you, and the stuff you can't take with you because it's too hazardous to transport. Sort them into these groups and then box or bag them:

    • Hazardous materials including pesticides, flammable liquids such as gasoline and paint thinner (and rags soaked in them), used motor oil, car batteries, corrosive materials, aerosol cans, charcoal, cleaning products, pool chemicals, propane, fireworks and anything else that can explode. Take them to collection center.
    • Items to donate. Either take them to the donation center or arrange for a pickup.
    • Items to discard in the trash, including the junk you hang onto because you might need it someday or think you can make a wind chime from it.   

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  • Step 4: Pack the small

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    One challenge with packing a garage is that so many small things are oddly shaped — balls and trowels and extension cords and all. Before using up your precious cardboard boxes, see how many of these items you can pack in garbage cans, large coolers, buckets with covers, plastic bins and the like — if any items have sharp edges, wrap them in thick paper, a towel, or other padding. Put grill tools into the grill and secure the lid with a bungee cord (tape could mar the finish).

    Pack the remaining items in boxes, tape the boxes shut and label them.

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  • Step 5: Bundle the long-handled

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    Scrape dried mud off long-handled garden tools such as hoes, garden rakes and shovels, and then group them into manageable bundles. You can bind the bundle together by wrapping tape around the handles at a few points, or take the deluxe approach of rolling the bundle in a thick blanket and snuggly taping the blanket shut so no tool can slide out the end.

  • Step 6: Take shelves apart

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    At this point, your garage shelves should be empty. If you're taking shelving units with you and need to economize on space in the truck, wipe the shelves clean and then take the unit apart. Stack the shelves and bind them together with cord or tape, and then bind the supports together. Put all fasteners into a heavy-duty zippable plastic bag and label the bag. Tape the bag securely to the bundle of shelves or supports.
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  • Step 7: Prepare the wheeled ones

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    Grills, bicycles, garden carts, fertilizer spreaders and other wheeled items need little preparation other than cleaning, because you can just roll them onto the truck. Do anything you can to make them more compact; for example, fold handles down on the mower and spreader, or remove side shelves from the grill. Secure anything you remove to its parent.

    If you're moving yourself, check out our step-by-step instructions for how to Load a Moving Truck.

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This information is for research purposes only. Consult with a qualified professional for advice or assistance for home improvement and maintenance projects. Always follow accepted safety precautions.

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