One moment your basement is nice and neat, and the next it’s overstuffed and chaotic. If you have trouble keeping your basement organized, you may need to declutter your space.
By keeping your basement clean and organized, you will reduce the amount of critters, insects, mold, and other undesirables entering your home. Here are four ways to keep your basement clutter-free.
Get Rid of All Just-in-Case Items
The best way to keep your basement clutter-free is by getting rid of items you don’t use anymore. In fact, the secret to decluttering is to get rid of items you don’t need. Triple-check and ask yourself if you really need that old CD player or that nostalgic dress you bought in 2009. A good rule of thumb is if you haven’t used the item in three to six months, put it in a donation or trash pile.
Use Storage Containers
Using storage containers is one of the simplest ways to sort clutter. After you have identified all the stuff you need to keep, sort it by category and assign each category a container. This will keep everything organized and contained, but it will also protect it from the damp, stagnant conditions that basements are famous for.
Ultimately, if you want to keep the items you’re storing in good condition, using airtight containers is your best choice. This will keep critters like silverfish and crickets from entering your containers. You should also add desiccant packets into each container to reduce moisture and inhibit mold growth.
Have Labels for Everything
The key to having an organized basement is to have labels for your containers. After all, it doesn’t matter if you store everything neatly if you don’t know where anything is! Prevent you and your family from scrummaging through all the neatly folded items by adding labels—especially on your multi-purpose cubbies or cabinets.
Think Vertically When Organizing
It’s always best to think up instead of out when organizing your basement. By maximizing your vertical space, your stored items will be easily accessible without overcrowding the room. Wall storage is the perfect way to do this, but if your basement walls are the standard concrete, you will need to know how to properly use concrete anchors.
By keeping only the essentials, using storage containers, labeling everything, and installing vertical storage, you can keep a clean and organized basement. Use these tips to make your basement deep clean more manageable!
