Basement Organizing Tips

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How To Organize Your Basement

Whether or not you have a finished basement, the possibility for flooding in basements exists. Your basement organizing should always include storage containers that are waterproof and off the floor, even in properly sealed, finished basements. Even if you’ve never experienced a flood, it could still happen, especially if you have a sink, washer, or sump pump in the basement.

If your basement is the catch-all for items that were once on the main floor but no longer have a home there, you’ve probably got a severe clutter problem in the basement. The first thing you should do is tackle a small area at a time, throwing away, selling on eBay, or giving away things you no longer want or need. If you’ve been planning a garage sale for 3 years and still haven’t had one, you need to accept the fact that you’re not going to have one. If the items are worth money and small enough to ship, see what you can get for them on eBay. If the items are bulky but you just can’t seem to throw them away, donate them to your nearest Goodwill store.

It’s simply silly to keep things that you are never going to use. It’s even sillier to keep things that you’re never even going to see because they are in a box in the basement! If you are keeping things for family members, give them the items now. Reclaim your space! Think of how wonderful it would be to have space to set up an area for your special hobby. Think of how nice it would be to go downstairs, do laundry, and not think, “I really should organize all of this mess at some point.” Imagine – no more guilt!

Get Rid Of The Trash

Before you organize anything, you need to get rid of the trash, eBay fodder, and donations. You’re going to have to be ruthless. Ask yourself if you really have missed or will miss the object in question. If you forgot you had it, don’t use it, or don’t burst into tears at the thought of never seeing it again, don’t keep it in your basement!

Use Basement Shelves & Containers for Storage

Basement shelving has come a long way. You can do basic wall shelves, a utility shelf unit, or cool, new modular shelving. Pegboard walls come in handy for tools, cleaning objects, and they have great accessories these days that let you store even heavy or bulky items on pegboard backing. The newest modular shelves have interchangeable shelves, covered compartments, and cubby holes that will hold enormous weights without sagging, and if you change your mind, you can change around the entire wall. Whatever you decide on, remember that it should be off of the floor. Even waterproof containers can break or have tiny holes in them. It’s better not to take the chance.

Never use cardboard boxes for basement storage. In floods, cardboard is useless. Cardboard boxes also let in all the critters. Bugs and moths can get into boxes and ruin your contents. Larger pests like rats and mice can eat the cardboard and set up a nest inside your boxes, probably chewing up everything in the box to make the nest! You need airtight, waterproof containers. Containers that you can see through are best, but even if the container is clear, label all of your containers!

Label Your Containers

When you label your containers, label them so you can see and read it from where you are standing. Don’t label the top of a container if you are stacking them. It’s pointless. Label both sides of a container so you don’t have to remember to put it a certain direction when you put a container back in its place. Be specific when you label. Don’t just say, “Christmas Decorations.” Say, “Christmas tree skirt, lights, and ornaments.” You want to be able to find exactly what you’re looking for by only opening one container!

Have a section for like containers. Seasonal decorations should go together by season. Nostalgia items (wedding gowns, old slides, school papers) should go in one section, usually the least accessible as these items aren’t taken out very often. Make sure that any wall shelving is secure, and never stack things too high for your safety.

Never keep important documents in a regular plastic container in the basement: ( See tips for organizing paper files ). Crucial documents that can’t be replaced or that will be necessary in an emergency should be kept in a fireproof, waterproof safe on the main level of the house.

If you have a finished or partially finished basement, you should have a clear divider between the storage area and the home area. Partitions or screens work well to create rooms within your basement. You don’t want to have a sewing area where you have to look at shelves and containers. You also don’t want the kids watching TV in the basement and be tempted to go through containers. It will be more like additional living area if you make the garage-type basement areas separate from living basement areas.

Once you are happy with your basement organizing project, promise yourself to collect one trash bag you’re willing to part with and one box of items to sell or donate every year. Choose a month to go through containers or just keep a trash can and box on one of the shelves to fill throughout the year. The only way your basement will stay organized is to minimize the amount of items coming into or staying in the basement!