Pick the goal before you start
A garage cleanout gets easier when you decide what success looks like. Maybe you want to park a car again, clear a walking path, make room for storage shelves, or remove everything left by a move. A clear goal keeps the job from turning into a long memory-lane project where every box gets opened and nothing leaves.
Sort into simple groups
Use four groups: keep, donate, recycle, and haul away. Do not overthink the first pass. If an item has not been used in years, is broken, or is blocking the way, it probably belongs in the donation or haul-away pile. Put obvious junk together so the crew can estimate the volume and load quickly.
Take helpful photos
Stand at the garage door and take one wide photo, then take close-ups of bulky or heavy items. If there are items behind boxes, mention that in the request. Photos help Junk Haul understand truck space, labor, and whether the job is a quick pickup or a larger cleanout.
Clear access for pickup day
Move cars out of the driveway, open the garage, and point out anything that stays. If you have donation items, keep them separate from broken junk. The crew can work faster when there is a clear path and a clear answer to one question: what goes and what stays?