Garbage Picking Kit
It’s no secret that Erin and I drive around on garbage day hoping to snatch up some wonderful treasures. With spring cleaning season approaching, it is time to prepare. There have been many times that I have found something curbside that I just can’t resist, but don’t have the tools I need to bring it home. That’s when it hit me, I need a garbage picking kit to keep in my car. This project may not be for your “Average Joe”, but if you are a garbage picker, dumpster diver, Craigslist purchaser, garage sale hunter or storage locker auction goer, then this kit would be right for you.

Since I am out searching the side of the roads for discarded items, I obviously don’t have tons of money to throw away on a garbage picking kit. That’s why I jazzed up an old shoe box and shopped at the dollar store and found everything I needed to assemble the perfect pack.

1. Wrench – Loosen up any of those tight nuts and bolts with a wrench to help even the largest items fit in your vehicle.
2. Shower Curtain – A shower curtain may seem like a silly thing to include in this kit, but I assure you it makes a great back seat protection cover for those items that just don’t fit in your trunk.
3. Box Cutter – This box cutter comes in real handy when someone else tries to make off with your treasure. (Only kidding.)
4. Rope – Rather than have your friend half hang out of the car to hold onto an unwanted desk (true story), secure it in your car with rope. This way you can drive safely back to your home.
5. First Aid Kit – Fix up any of those cuts and scratches that come with the job.
6. Flashlight – Use a flashlight to shine a little light on the subject. Erin and I probably should have had one of these bad boys along that time we found that old couch with mouse dropping under the cushions. Eww!
7. Gloves – Let’s face it, you are picking up someone else’s trash. Gloves just make sense.
8. Screwdriver – For all of your screwdriver needs, this 10 piece multi-tool will do the trick.
9. Pliers – Use pliers to pull out those sharp staples or nails before you resuce that “well-loved” furniture. This will save the interior of your car from needing that first aid kit.
10. Hardware Storage Box – After removing the screws, nuts and bolts from your find, store them in a hardware box (not pictured above) so you don’t have to search your entire car for them later.
After writing this post, I started to think maybe this sounds like a joke. Well my friends, it is not. I will be keeping my kit in my car all year-round so I am always prepared.
*Before going garbage picking, be sure to check you town’s ordinances. You don’t want to do anything illegal and have the cherries and berries after you.
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2 Comments
RCG
LOL! Too bad I didn’t read this post before this past weekend. I saw an alert on OfferUp about great stuff curbside. I (of course!) jumped in my car and raced over – not exactly as I got lost twice – but raced just the same. My car has plastic and a flattened out shipping box to protect the rear and seats but I had no garbage picking kit!
Thank goodness for friendly (and strong) neighbors who came out with the hammer I needed to knock wide pine boards out of a huge wardrobe. The wood is a great find!
So, your list is great but I would add a hammer or mallet to the list.
Good job!
CAROL STEWART
RCG , IS RIGHT A SMALL HAMMER AND SOME SANDWICH BAGS FOR SCREWS AND SUCH INSTEAD OF Storage Box WORKS WELL. ALSO A ROLL OF DUCK TAPE, AMD SOME ZIP TIES. I HAVE AL OF THESE THINGS IN A SMALL PLASTIC TOOL BOX ALSO FROM DOLLAR TREE. MY WHOLE KIT COST ME $10.00 AND HAS SAVED ME HUNDREDS. MY PICKING KIT IS ALWAYS WITH ME IN THE CAR AND HAS COME IN HANDY AT OTHER TIMES ALSO.
CSTEWART