We have all had that one cabinet, garage or spare room we have always meant to sort.
However, once you start to clear it out you may find there’s twice as much stuff as you thought.
Old furniture, shelving that is broken, DIY items we don’t want or anything that we should have disposed of.
Soon you will be faced with more of a rubbish issue than actually clearing your space.
Whether you are doing a property renovation, move or finally clearing out your garage here are a few tips to help.
Start by sorting what you’re getting rid of
Sort through what you want to clear out.
Some of your furniture may still be in good condition to give to someone. Clothes, books and household items can often be given to charity shops or local re-use centres.
You can also sell items you don’t want on online market places.
Surprisingly you may find someone will be happy to take some of your items, especially if you are getting rid of furniture, tools or garden items.
Some electrical items and other items will have specific disposal methods.
Before assuming you need a skip there are some options to consider.
You may surprise yourself by finding a large amount of your unwanted items can be re-used.
Work out how much waste you’ll actually have
A garage clear-out might produce a few bulky items and several bags of rubbish.
A larger renovation could generate broken plaster, old flooring, timber and other building materials.
The amount and type of waste will influence which skip is appropriate.
When arranging skip hire in Herts, it’s worth explaining the project to the provider so they can advise on suitable sizes and any restrictions.
Choosing a skip that’s too small can create an unnecessary second booking, while ordering a much larger container than needed might increase your costs.
Heavy materials can also be subject to specific container and weight limits.
Be realistic about what you’re removing rather than relying on a rough guess based on the size of the room.
Make sure there’s somewhere suitable for delivery
Not all properties have a large driveway to place the skip.
If you live on a small residential road, terraced property or have limited parking then you need to think.
Can the skip be delivered to where you want?
If you need to place your skip on a public highway you will generally need permission from the highway authority.
Ask your provider what their permission process is.
Also consider how far you will have to carry your rubbish.
It can get tiring very quickly when carrying heavy items around your home or long garden.
Having it in an easily accessible area will make the whole process easier.
Know what you can and can’t throw away
Not everything can go into a skip.
Some items cannot go into a skip, such as some electrical items, batteries, chemicals and hazardous items.
Plasterboard and some other building materials can also have specific requirements.
Always check with your provider what can go into their skip.
Don’t overload your skip.
Too much rubbish can make it dangerous to transport and your provider may not collect it until you have removed the excess.
If you are clearing out an older property and find items that you suspect may contain asbestos stop moving them and seek professional advice.
Plan the hire around your project
If you are hiring a skip for a renovation project try to have it delivered at a time that fits in with your project.
There is little point having it delivered days in advance. Whereas having it collected well after you have finished can take up valuable space on your drive.
For smaller clear outs it can often be helpful to have your unwanted items sorted before your skip arrives.
This means you can concentrate on filling your skip without wasting half your skip hire time deciding what to throw away.
For longer projects ask if they can be flexible with their collection times.
Make sure your waste is handled responsibly
Make sure the company you choose are properly registered to transport your waste.
As a homeowner you should take reasonable measures to ensure your unwanted items are going to an authorised waste carrier.
This will reduce the chances of your items not being handled correctly.
Ask what happens to the items after collection.
Responsible disposal is important to you.
Enjoy the space you’ve created
A proper clear-out can be incredibly satisfying.
Getting rid of unwanted items creates more room, makes spaces easier to use and often reveals just how much you’ve been storing for no good reason.
With suitable waste arrangements in place, you can spend less time worrying about disposal and more time enjoying the results.
And perhaps, for once, the garage might actually have enough space for the car.
