Dumpsters, Demo, and Dumping the Mental Trash

If you’ve ever remodeled anything, anything, you already know this truth:

Before the new can go in, a whole lotta old has to come out.

And friends… that means trash.
Piles of it.

Right now, we’re remodeling our shop and office, and let me tell you, this demo laughed at our little 10-yard bumper-pull dumpster. So we did what any reasonable remodeler does when the trash gets real:

We called in the BIG 30-yard dumpster.

Why You Need a Dumpster for a Remodel

Any remodel that involves demo, and most do, is going to create way more debris than you expect.

In our office and shop demo, we removed:

• Flooring

• Subfloor

• Interior paneling

• Walls

And we took it all the way down to the studs and rafters.

That’s not just trash, that’s commitment.

Because we weren’t sure how much debris we’d end up with, we ordered a 30-yard dumpster. Turns out… great call. We filled it completely and had to schedule it to be emptied.

Dumpster Logistics (aka: The Two-Dumpster Shuffle)

When the dumpster company showed up, I walked outside and saw two 30-yard dumpsters sitting in my driveway.

My first thought?

Oh no… how am I getting my SUV out of here?

The driver, bless him, calmly explained how it works:

• They drop off an empty dumpster

• Then they pick up the full dumpster and move it to the street

• Then they slide the empty one into the exact spot the full one just left

Whoa. That is a LOT of switching in and out.

My husband (the general contractor) casually says,
“It saves them a trip.”

Cool. Meanwhile, I’m just impressed I didn’t have to climb over drywall to leave the house.

Planning for Trash Removal (Yes, This Actually Matters)

Trash removal is one of those not exciting but critical parts of a remodel that has to be planned ahead.

Things to think through:

• How much demo trash will there be?

• Is there room for a dumpster on your property?

• Can you still get vehicles in and out?

• How many times will the dumpster need to be emptied?

And yes, all of this affects your budget.

Typical dumpster costs include:

• Delivery fee

• Pickup fee

• Tonnage (weight) fee

• Final removal fee

In our case, we had room for a 30-yard dumpster and could still get in and out of our carport. Your general contractor should factor all of this into your project, but don’t be afraid to ask the questions yourself.

Meet “Dumpie”

Now let me introduce you to someone special.

Our 10-yard bumper-pull dumpster.
We lovingly call it Dumpie.

Dumpie has been with us for years. When we moved out to our fixer-upper, Dumpie came along for the ride, and we made many trips to the landfill together.

And somewhere during that first year, something clicked.

Cleaning Out More Than Just Demo Trash

When we moved to this fixer-upper, we weren’t just changing houses.

We were leaving a situation that was:

• Hard

• Not working

• And needed to be cut off

Starting over can be exciting… and terrifying.

One day, while loading Dumpie for yet another landfill run, it hit me:

Why am I only throwing away physical trash?

So I started throwing away mental trash too.

As Dumpie filled up, I would mentally pull out:

• Old hurts

• Bad experiences

• Heavy thoughts we had physically left behind, but mentally carried

I’d toss them right over the side of Dumpie.

And when Dumpie was pulled out of our driveway, I said a very intentional, very permanent:

“GOODBYE.”

It became a ritual.

Fast Forward Nine Years…

We built our office space nine years ago. It served us well and fit the budget we had at the time.

But over the years:

• Our business changed

• Our needs grew

• The pier-and-beam floor settled

This time, we had the budget for:

• A concrete floor

• A better layout

• A space that fits who we are now

And yes…

We had the budget for the BIG 30-yard dumpster.

Turns Out, It Was Time Again

As we tore out the subfloor, walls, and ceiling, something surprised me.

Even after all these years…
There was still clutter in my mind that needed to go.

I hadn’t done my “Dumpie ritual” in a while.

So while we cleaned out the physical space, I cleaned out my mental space, too.

And this time?

I didn’t just do it once.

I did it twice.

Two 30-yard dumpster loads.

That’s a lot of trash, physical and mental.

Remodeling Your Home (and Your Mind)

Every remodel goes through the same phases:

• The dream

• The planning

• The messy middle

• The transformation

Here’s my encouragement:

While you’re cleaning out walls, floors, and ceilings,
👉 Clean out the dark corners of your mind too.

Because if you don’t adjust your mindset during a remodel, you can end up:

• Overwhelmed

• Frustrated

• Miserable during the process

And that’s a lot of mental trash to carry.

So… How Big Are Your Trash Piles?

Are they:

• Small, like our 10-yard Dumpie?

Or:

• Big, like our recent office demo that needed a 30-yard dumpster?

Those big dumpsters take up more space…
But wow, can they haul a lot away in one trip.

Sometimes it takes one landfill run.
Sometimes it takes two.

Either way, make room for what’s next.

Get Ready for What’s Coming Next

Whether you’re remodeling your home, your office, or your life:

Make space.
Remove what no longer serves you.
Don’t be afraid to bring in the big dumpster.

Because what’s coming next?

It deserves a clean foundation.

And trust me, you’ll feel a whole lot lighter when the trash is gone.

Here’s a question I’ll leave you with:

How do you get rid of the trash in your mind?

Is it writing things down and letting them go?
Talking it through with someone you trust?
Prayer, reflection, or simply giving yourself permission to move forward?

Just like a remodel, clearing mental clutter doesn’t always happen in one load.
Sometimes it takes a few passes.
Sometimes it takes a bigger dumpster than you expected.

But every time you make space, you’re making room for something better.

I’d love to know, what are you ready to let go of right now?