When the temperatures start dropping, the garage tends to become a dumping ground for everything we don’t want to deal with until spring. The lawn mower gets pushed into a corner, the broken leaf blower stays on the shelf, and that old snow blower you meant to fix last winter is still sitting exactly where you left it.
Before you know it, there’s barely enough room to park your car.
Fall is one of the best times to clean out your garage. You’re already putting away summer equipment, pulling out winter gear, and getting your home ready for colder weather. It’s also the perfect opportunity to finally get rid of the equipment you haven’t used in years.
If you’re planning a fall garage cleanout, here are seven things worth removing before winter arrives.
1. That Old Lawn Mower You Keep Meaning to Fix
Almost every garage has one. Maybe it’s a push mower that stopped starting two summers ago, a riding mower with a bad transmission, or an old zero-turn that was replaced but never hauled away.
If you’ve gone an entire mowing season without using it, ask yourself whether you’re realistically going to repair it next spring.
Lawn mowers take up a surprising amount of garage space, especially riding mowers and zero-turns. And while it’s tempting to hang onto them for parts or a future project, they often end up sitting unused for years.
What to do with it:
If the mower still runs, consider selling it or giving it to someone who needs one. If it’s broken, recycling may be the better option.
Lawn Mower Recycle offers nationwide pickup for unwanted push mowers, riding mowers, and zero-turn lawn mowers, including equipment that no longer runs.
You don’t need to get it running again before requesting removal.
2. Broken Leaf Blowers, Trimmers, and Chainsaws
Fall yard cleanup usually means dragging out the leaf blower, string trimmer, and chainsaw one last time before putting them away for the season.
It’s also when you discover which tools have stopped working.
Maybe the leaf blower won’t start, the trimmer has a cracked fuel line, or the chainsaw hasn’t been used since you bought a newer one.
These smaller gas-powered tools are easy to overlook because they don’t take up as much room individually. But a few broken trimmers, two old leaf blowers, and a chainsaw can quickly turn an entire garage wall into a storage area for equipment you don’t use.
What to do with them:
Working tools can often be sold or donated. For equipment that’s beyond repair, look into small-engine recycling options.
Many outdoor power tools contain metal components and reusable parts that may be recovered rather than discarded.
Before disposing of gas-powered equipment, check the receiving facility’s requirements for gasoline and oil.
3. The Snow Blower That Didn’t Work Last Winter
There’s nothing quite like pulling out your snow blower during the first major snowfall, only to discover it won’t start.
If your snow blower gave you problems last winter, now is the time to decide whether it’s worth repairing.
Check the condition of the engine, belts, auger, tires, and other components. If the machine needs several expensive repairs, replacing it may make more sense.
And if you’ve already purchased a new snow blower, there’s no reason to keep the broken one taking up valuable garage space.
What to do with it:
A repair shop may be interested in the equipment for parts, or you can look into snow blower recycling.
Lawn Mower Recycle accepts unwanted snow blowers, including non-running equipment.
Getting the old machine out of the way now means you’ll have more room for the equipment you actually plan to use this winter.
4. Old Pressure Washers That Haven’t Worked in Years
Pressure washers are another piece of equipment that often gets forgotten once summer ends.
If yours has a damaged pump, leaking hoses, or an engine that won’t start, don’t automatically assume it’s worth keeping.
Pressure washers also need proper winter storage. Water left inside the pump or hoses can freeze and cause damage when temperatures drop below freezing.
If you have a working pressure washer, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for draining and winterizing it.
But if the machine has been broken for several seasons, consider whether it’s time to let it go.
What to do with it:
Some pressure washers can be repaired or sold for parts. Others may be candidates for recycling.
Lawn Mower Recycle accepts many types of gas-powered pressure washers, including broken and unwanted units.
5. Old Generators You No Longer Trust
A generator can be incredibly useful during a winter power outage, but only if it works when you need it.
If your generator has been sitting unused for several years, fall is a good time to inspect it.
Check for fuel leaks, damaged cords, corrosion, and other visible problems. Follow the manufacturer’s maintenance instructions and have a qualified technician inspect it if you’re unsure about its condition.
If you have an old generator that no longer works, or you’ve upgraded to a newer model, it may be time to get rid of the old one.
What to do with it:
Generators contain engines, metal components, and electrical parts that may be suitable for reuse or recycling.
Never operate a generator inside a garage, even with the garage door open. Generators produce carbon monoxide and must be operated outdoors at a safe distance from doors, windows, and vents.
If you’re replacing an old generator, consider recycling the unwanted unit rather than leaving it in storage.
6. Unused Tillers, Wood Chippers, and Other Yard Equipment
Some of the biggest space wasters in a garage are tools that only get used once or twice a year.
Garden tillers, wood chippers, lawn aerators, and other outdoor equipment can sit untouched for years.
Maybe you stopped maintaining a vegetable garden. Maybe you hired a landscaping company. Or maybe that old wood chipper needs repairs that aren’t worth the expense.
Whatever the reason, large equipment can take up valuable floor space that could be used for winter storage.
What to do with it:
If the equipment is still functional, selling it locally may be your best option.
If it’s broken or unwanted, contact a recycling or equipment removal service.
Lawn Mower Recycle handles many types of residential and commercial outdoor power equipment, making it easier to remove bulky items without arranging your own transportation.
7. Equipment You’ve Been Keeping “Just in Case”
This might be the biggest garage-clutter problem of all.
The extra mower you kept for parts. The old engine from a project you never finished. The second snow blower you picked up because someone was giving it away.
Individually, these items might seem worth keeping. But when they start taking over your garage, it’s worth asking whether they’re actually useful.
A good rule of thumb is to look at equipment you haven’t touched in the past two years.
If you don’t have a specific plan to use or repair it, consider selling, donating, or recycling it.
That doesn’t mean getting rid of every spare tool or piece of equipment you own. It means making room for the things you actually use.
And heading into winter, that extra space can make a big difference.
What Should You Do With Old Lawn Equipment During a Fall Garage Cleanout?
Once you’ve decided what needs to go, the next question is how to get rid of it.
For smaller working equipment, selling or donating locally may be fairly straightforward.
Broken lawn mowers, riding mowers, snow blowers, and other heavy equipment can be more difficult.
You may need a truck, trailer, loading ramps, or help moving the equipment. Some recycling facilities also have specific requirements for gasoline, oil, and batteries.
That’s where a professional equipment pickup service can help.
At Lawn Mower Recycle, we provide nationwide pickup services for unwanted lawn mowers and outdoor power equipment.
We accept both running and non-running equipment, and our no-contact pickup process means customers typically don’t need to be home when their equipment is collected.
Here’s how it works:
1. Submit a pickup request. Tell us what equipment you need removed and where it’s located.
2. Receive pickup details. Our team reviews your request, confirms pricing, and coordinates the pickup.
3. Leave your equipment in the agreed-upon location. Our pickup network handles the removal.
Pickup fees vary depending on the equipment and location, and our team will confirm the details before scheduling.
Our goal is to make getting rid of unwanted outdoor equipment easier while supporting responsible reuse and recycling.
Make Room for Winter Before the First Snowfall
A garage cleanout doesn’t have to turn into an entire weekend project.
Start with the biggest items. Decide what still works, what needs repairs, and what you’re realistically never going to use again.
Once the old equipment is gone, you’ll have more room for snow blowers, winter tools, holiday decorations, and maybe even your car.
And when that first freezing morning arrives, you’ll be glad you took care of it in the fall.
Have Old Lawn Equipment Taking Up Space?
If you have an old lawn mower, riding mower, snow blower, generator, or other outdoor power equipment you no longer need, Lawn Mower Recycle can help.
We offer convenient nationwide equipment pickup services for homeowners and businesses.
Running or broken, your equipment may qualify for pickup.
Visit LawnMowerRecycle.com to request a pickup and get that unwanted equipment out of your garage before winter.