Conquering Clutter

Tip 5: Create a vision.

Peter's method for attacking a messy garage is what he calls a "kick-start"—a high-speed, easy purge. Although it took years for the Gavitts to fill their garage with junk, it should only take them minutes to decide what they need to keep.

Peter says they need to create a vision and asks the Gavitts what they want from their garage. Charlton names four things: somewhere to work, park the car, refuge and storage.

Now, they must rely on split-second decision making to identify the items that stay and the items that go. "You have to be tough as nails," Peter says.