Organize + Energize: 4 Things to Remember When Organizing Your Basement
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
If you live in Rhode Island, your basement has probably flooded at some point and if not, you know somebody who has been affected by a basement flooding. If you’ve lost precious items in a flood, you’ll learn very quickly what not to do going forward.
Aside from keeping everything categorized and organized, here are 4 things to remember:
Keep everything off the floor. Purchase shelving racks or closed shelving systems to contain all of your bins, seasonal items and anything else you’re storing in the basement. It’s a preference if you want open or closed shelving. Think about how you function. Take inventory of what you have, measure the space and purchase the right product that will fit what you need to hold. Don’t forget to measure the height of your bins to make sure they fit on the shelves.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTGet rid of cardboard boxes. If you’re storing anything in cardboard, it’s time to transfer these items to plastic, seal-tight bins. The cardboard promotes mold and mildew growth. The boxes will also be susceptible to bugs and mice. Take inventory of what’s in these boxes. Think about how much of it you’re using. How much of it can get tossed or donated?
Label all of your bins. The worst time zap is when it takes you half an hour to find what you’re searching for. Label memorabilia, seasonal, holiday, tax information, etc. When you need something, you’ll find it immediately and go about your day.
Control the humidity. If your basement is prone to dampness, it’s imperative that you have a dehumidifier in this space. If you notice a smell as soon as you enter the basement, it’s time to crank up the dehumidifier. The last thing you want is mold and mildew growing on your belongings, plus it will wreak havoc on your allergies.
While you’re taking care of the above, take inventory of what you’re holding onto in this space. When was the last time you grabbed half of this stuff? The basement usually becomes a drop spot for items we don’t know what to do with in our living space, so things we don’t use will usually get tossed in this space. Basements are great for storing holiday and seasonal decorations, memorabilia, archived important papers, seasonal outdoor products, and seasonal serving pieces. Make a plan to tackle this space. Create a purpose for your basement. If your basement has a purpose, you’ll think twice next time you randomly throw items in this space.
Kristin Carcieri-MacRae, is an organizing & efficiency expert and owner of Organizing in RI. Kristin teaches her clients that living an organized lifestyle will save them time and money, decrease their stress levels and help them become more efficient and productive. Her articles have been published in local and national magazines. She has also given over 70 presentations throughout the state. Watch Kristin LIVE every Thursday at 3pm here on GoLocal LIVE with Molly O’Brien.
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