Has Your Basement become a Home for Homelss Things?

Basements can become a place for those items that we intend to deal with later. It’s so easy to forget all the things we have down there because we don’t see them every day.


The National Association of Professional Organizers in Michigan wants to share some ways to get your basement organized so that everything has a home.


1. Safety first. Make sure to clear the steps down to the basement of any items that are resting there. Make sure the path is clear so no one gets hurt.



2. Sort through the items and group like items together. Then, place them into one of three piles-Keep, Donate, or Toss. Don’t include a Sell pile unless your family commits to having a garage sale.


3. Try not to have your basement be a storage area for other people’s stuff.


4. Once you have narrowed down your Keep pile, plan for storage and activity zones in the basement. These could include out-of-season clothing and sports equipment, holiday decorations, and a laundry zone.


5. Go vertical whenever possible. Use shelving units keep containers off the floor in case the floor gets wet. Be kind to your back by using shelves instead of just stacking the containers. This will make it easier to get just the containers you need. And, never underestimate using pegboard for vertical storage of hand tools and holiday wreaths.


6. Since some basements can be damp, avoid using cardboard boxes for storage as they can harbor mold, mildew or bugs. Opt for plastic storage containers with lids. The see-through kind is best to easily view what’s inside.


Just think how easy it will be getting something from your newly-organized basement. For more organizing tips visit http://www.napomichigan.com/.



Article submitted by Chapter member Cindy Greenleaf.