How to Prepare for a Garage Cleanout (Des Moines Edition)

The biggest myth about hiring a junk removal crew is that you have to have everything sorted, bagged, and ready at the curb before we arrive. You don't. That's literally our job.

That said, a few minutes of prep makes the quote more accurate and the job faster. Here's the short version.

1. Walk Through and Mentally Sort Into Three Piles

You don't have to physically move anything. Just walk the garage and mentally tag everything as Keep, Donate, or Haul. When our crew arrives, you point. We do.

Most homeowners realize during this walk that 30-50% of what's stored could go to donation. That's free, it helps your community, and it makes your garage actually usable again.

2. Take 3-5 Photos for Your Quote

Wide shots of each wall and one shot of any major item (lawnmower, old fridge, treadmill). Text them to (515) 414-2280. We send a flat-rate quote the same day, usually within an hour.

3. Pull Hazardous Items Aside

Iowa law prohibits licensed haulers from taking wet paint, motor oil, gasoline, pesticides, and propane. Set those aside in a corner. We can advise on the nearest Polk County drop-off facility (it's 2900 SE 14th St in Des Moines for most metro residents).

4. Identify Anything Special

• Refrigerator or freezer? Mention it. We bring straps and route to an EPA recycler.
• Tires? Count them. Iowa charges per-tire disposal fees.
• Old paint? Latex paint that's fully dried (open the can a few days before) can go on the truck. Wet paint cannot.
• Items in good condition? Tell us. We route to donation first.

5. Clear a Path to the Driveway

If your garage opens to the driveway, you're set. If we need to carry items through a side gate or down a slope, make sure the path is clear of bikes, hoses, and toys. Five minutes here saves 30 minutes on the job.

6. Plan Where the Truck Stages

Most of our Des Moines metro jobs are easy: truck pulls into the driveway, crew carries to the truck, done. In older neighborhoods (Sherman Hill, Valley Junction, Windsor Heights) where street parking is tight, think about where the truck can sit without blocking neighbors. If you're not sure, ask us when we confirm the booking. We've staged trucks on every kind of Des Moines street.

What You DON'T Have to Do

• Move anything to the curb
• Bag or box items
• Disassemble furniture
• Sweep up before we leave (we do that)
• Take time off work (we can do the job with a key/garage code if you're not home)

Ready to Schedule?

Text photos to (515) 414-2280 for a same-day quote. Most Des Moines metro garage cleanouts are scheduled within 2 to 4 days.