Fall Garage and Basement Cleanout Guide for Chicago Homes

Why Fall Is the Right Time to Clean Out

Late October and November give you a short window. It’s cool enough to haul boxes without sweating, but the alley isn’t buried in snow yet. Once winter hits, your garage has to hold the car, the snow shovels, the salt and the bikes, and your basement turns into the place everyone hangs out for the next five months. Clearing space now means you’re not climbing over clutter in January.

There’s a practical side too. Stuff left in a cold, damp garage or a basement corner all winter (cardboard boxes, old upholstered furniture, stacks of paper) is the stuff most likely to pick up moisture and musty smells. Getting it out before the freeze is just easier.

Step 1: Set a Goal for Each Space

Before you pull anything off a shelf, decide what each room needs to do this winter.

• Garage: Fit the car (or cars), plus easy access to shovels, salt and winter gear.
• Basement: Clear walkways, keep things off the floor, and free up any space you want to actually use, like a laundry area, workout corner or guest room.

Having a clear goal makes the “keep or toss” calls a lot faster.

Step 2: Sort Into Four Piles

Work one wall or one shelf at a time and sort everything into four groups:

• Keep: Things you used in the past year or will truly need this winter.
• Donate or sell: Usable furniture, tools, sports gear and household items in decent shape.
• Recycle or special disposal: Electronics, old paint and household chemicals (more on these below).
• Junk: Broken, moldy or worn-out items nobody will want.

A tip from the field: label your piles with tape or sticky notes so family members don’t “rescue” things back into the keep pile.

Step 3: Know What Goes Where in Chicago

This is the part that trips people up. Not everything can go in your black cart or out to the alley.

Regular Trash and Large Items

The City of Chicago’s Department of Streets and Sanitation collects garbage from single-family homes and buildings with four units or less. If you live in a larger building, your building has to arrange private collection, so check with your landlord or property manager before you put anything big out back. For questions about city garbage service, call 311. Don’t leave piles that block the alley, and keep in mind that dumping items somewhere they don’t belong can be reported to 311.

Old Electronics (TVs, Computers, Printers)

Illinois banned electronics from household trash starting in 2012. Old TVs, monitors, computers, printers and similar devices have to go to a registered recycler, not the garbage. The City’s Household Chemicals & Computer Recycling Facility at 1150 N. North Branch St. takes residential electronics, and the Chicago Recycles e-waste page lists the accepted items and current drop-off hours. Check those before you go, since hours can change. If you’d rather not load a heavy old tube TV into your car, our electronics recycling service can pick it up.

Paint, Chemicals and Garage Fluids

Garages tend to collect half-empty cans of oil-based paint, solvents, cleaners and car fluids. The same City facility accepts many household chemicals from Chicago residents. It does not take latex paint, explosives, fireworks or commercial waste, so review its full accepted and not-accepted lists before your trip.

Furniture, Appliances and Bulky Stuff

Old couches, mattresses, dressers, freezers and broken treadmills are usually the hardest part of a basement cleanout. They’re heavy, they don’t fit up narrow basement stairs easily, and they’re a pain to transport. That’s where a crew helps most. See our furniture removal and appliance removal pages for details.

Step 4: Clean and Check Before Winter

Once the floor is clear:

• Sweep and look for signs of water, cracks or pests along the walls.
• Get stored items off the basement floor with shelving or bins with lids.
• Hang tools, bikes and ladders on wall hooks in the garage.
• Put winter gear (shovels, salt, ice scrapers) closest to the door.

Step 5: Decide Whether to DIY or Call a Crew

A small garage tidy-up is a fine weekend project. But it may be worth calling for help if:

• You have heavy items stuck in the basement.
• You don’t have a truck or a way to haul a full load.
• You’re short on time before the first snow.
• You’re clearing a whole house, a parent’s home or a rental between tenants.

Junk Robbers Inc. handles garage cleanouts, basement cleanouts and full home cleanouts across Chicago. We’re licensed and insured, we give you an upfront quote before we start, and we do the lifting, loading and hauling. We donate and recycle what we can, too. Curious what we take? Check our What We Take page.

Frequently Asked Questions