Cleanouts are often completed when someone moves out of a home and doesn't remove all of their belongings, after someone passes away, and when items have been hoarded. If you have been tasked with helping clean out a space, you may be unsure where to start. Sorting your cleanouts into trash, donations, and recycling piles is a great way to get started. Here are some tips to help you implement one of these systems.

Learn What Items Can Be Donated or Recycled

Before you even set foot in a home and set up a trash, donation, and recycling system, you should first take the time to educate yourself on what items can be donated and what items can be recycled. People have a lot of misconceptions about what can and can't be recycled and donated. According to Junk Collectors, 35% of the total amount of items that households dispose of is recycled. More items can be recycled than people even realize. Educating yourself on this ensures you place items in the right piles.

Set Up a Sorting Area

The second tip for setting up a trash, donation, and recycling system for your cleanout is actually to set up a sorting or staging area. Most people use the driveway and the lawn for their sorting area. The stations should be clearly defined. For example, you may want to get a dumpster to place trash in, and you may want to use a tarp for your donations. Setting up a sorting or staging area and ensuring everyone is on the same page gives you space to put trash, donations, and recyclables.

Make a Quick Decision and Stick To It

The final tip to help you as you sort out your cleanouts is to make a quick decision and stick to it. One of the most common mistakes people make is spending too much time deciding what to do with an item. Trust your gut instinct and follow through with that instinct. You can waste a lot of time going back and forth between which pile an item belongs in, and you don't want to waste valuable time.

Cleanouts can be time-consuming and challenging. But, utilizing a trash, donation, and recycling system can help you to make your way through a home quickly. If you have been tasked with cleaning out a large space or a home with many items, you may need help to remove the items. Reach out to our team at Junk Collectors today to find out how we can help you with your cleanouts.