How to Organize a Basement

A basement can be an easy location to store out of season goods and furniture. However, the last thing you want is a cluttered and disorganized basement. Organizing a basement is the first step to keeping this from happening. Read more to learn how to maintain a neat basement, without clutter and junk.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Super large Ziplock bags
• Various size plastic totes with locking lids
• Storage boxes
• Permanent Marker and light-colored masking tape
• Large trash bags

1. Determine your starting area and begin. Tackle the project with the idea that you are going to keep going until the job is done. Have your storage containers at the ready, along with a broom and dustpan. Have two areas designated as TRASH and GIVE AWAY.

2. Put anything that can be damaged by excess humidity or odor in a large zip-lock bag (pictures, off-season clothes, extra bedding, etc).

3. Place craft-like items in seperate totes, according to the size needed. Label with masking tape before stacking them for storage.

4. Place off-season items in a box or tote. Label and stack. Put the next-needed box on the top (such as fall decorations on top of the Thanksgiving decorations box). When putting current seasonal storage away, restack the boxes from the bottom up. Stack paint neatly in the corner.

5. Bag your trash often to keep the pile from becoming too large. Keep items that can be recycled seperate. Place items that you will give away in an appropriate container.

6. As you finish an area, sweep it clean and move on.

7. Keep working, organizing the entire basement using the totes, bags and boxes. Once you get going, you may be surprised to see that it isn't as overwhelming as you originally thought.

Tips & Warnings

• Now that you have a neat organized basement, don't let old habits creep back in and mess it up! Take the time to put things away in the appropriate place instead of thinking you'll do it later. Keep a few empty boxes and totes in the basement so that when you need them, they will be there, waiting to make the job complete!