Garage and Basement Cleanout in Winnipeg — Handy Hour

A garage cleanout is exactly what it sounds like: I come to your home, we go through the space together or you point me at the piles to remove, and I load everything onto the truck and trailer for disposal. Here is how it works:

Before I arrive: You separate anything you want to keep — I will not guess. If you need help making decisions about what to donate vs. discard, I can assist but I do not make that call on my own.

What I take: Old furniture, broken equipment, boxes of old belongings, scrap lumber, shelving, lawn and garden equipment that no longer runs, paint cans (if they are dried out — wet paint is hazardous waste), cardboard and paper, and general household junk.

What I do not take: Hazardous waste (motor oil, chemicals, full paint cans, propane tanks), asbestos-containing materials, appliances containing refrigerant (see furniture and appliance removal for the note on refrigerant), and anything requiring a specialized disposal route.

Basement cleanouts follow the same process — the main difference is staircase access and the need to carry everything up before loading. I factor that into the quote.

The best way to quote a cleanout is a walk-through video or a series of photos that show the full space — not just the neat corner but the problem pile too. For a garage, show me all four walls and the floor.

Quote factors: volume of material, number of loads the job requires, basement vs. above-grade access, any heavy or awkward items, and whether sorting time is needed.

(888) 906-0022 · Call (888) 906-0022 or email [email protected] to get started.

The most effective approach is to work in zones. Start with a quick pass through the whole space and pull out anything with an obvious destination: things you are keeping, things with clear donation potential, and things that are broken or garbage.

The four-pile method:

1. Keep and organize (goes back in)
2. Donate (Salvation Army, Habitat ReStore, Kijiji free)
3. Recycle (take to the appropriate depot)
4. Haul away (what I take)

Once the piles are sorted, the physical hauling is fast. Most garages load in one to two trips depending on volume.

If the garage also needs shelving or storage organization after the cleanout, see shelving and blinds installation for that follow-up work.

All loads are tarped and secured for transport — the City of Winnipeg requires that loads being transported to disposal facilities are covered and secure.

Reusable items go to donation before the landfill. What cannot be donated goes to Brady Road as commercial waste.

For a full breakdown of City disposal options (what the City picks up for free vs. what requires a haul), see the guide: Bulky Waste vs. Junk Removal in Winnipeg.

Related services: furniture and appliance removal for individual pieces and renovation debris removal if there is construction waste in the mix.

Back to the Junk Removal hub.

Before anything goes to the landfill, I make a pass at donation options. In Winnipeg, the main drop-off destinations for household items are:

• Salvation Army: Accepts furniture in good condition, kitchenware, clothing, small appliances. Call ahead for large furniture pieces.
• Habitat for Humanity ReStore: Takes building materials, tools, appliances, cabinets, doors, and windows in working or usable condition. This is a good outlet for clean renovation leftovers.
• Goodwill / MCC (Mennonite Central Committee): Accepts general household goods and clothing.

Items that do not qualify for donation (damaged, broken, heavily stained) go to Brady Road. I sort on-site and route accordingly. If you have specific preferences about where items go, let me know before we start loading.

Send me photos of the space at (888) 906-0022 — I will quote based on volume. Or use the form: Call (888) 906-0022 or email [email protected] to get started.