Advice for Anyone Using Their Basement for Storage

Advice for Anyone Using Their Basement for Storage

Basements are easy to load and miserable to empty. If your basement has become a black hole of stuff you may use if you can figure out where things are, it is time to start clearing things out. You will need the right mindset and the right tools for the best results.

Sort First

Determine your why before anything goes to the basement. If things are going to the basement because you need them seasonally, label them and put them on a shelf. If things are going to the basement because you are tired of tripping over them on the main floor of your home, reconsider.

At the very least, date the bin or box of things going to the basement and put a label on it. If you are not sure what is in the box and you have not opened it for two years, it can probably go in the trash.

Get Good Shelving

Invest in good-quality shelving and assemble it to a height that works for you. Loading your basement shelving with extremely heavy items you will have to catch with your face when looking for holiday decorations or Halloween costumes is simply not a good storage plan.

If you are short, use short shelving. If you are tall, store seldom-used things on the very bottom shelves. Get small bins and boxes so nothing gets ridiculously heavy.

For those who are a bit handier, consider building your own shelving out of 2x4s and plywood. Not only can these shelves handle quite a bit of weight, but you can

  • add feet to create a space under the shelf where air can move
  • customize your construction around HVAC, plumbing, and electrical connections
  • space your shelves to suit your bins

To keep your space well organized, custom shelf heights can make it easy to create a pantry that will suit your family’s needs.

Keep Cardboard Off the Floor

If you must stack, make the bottom rank of storage out of plastic bins. Take care not to overload the stack, as breaking that bottom lid will cause a collapse. Additionally, try to build any stacked wall of storage out of clear bins so you can see what is in each container.

If you have small children, do not build a stacked wall. Curious little ones can get hurt when trying to get into that bottom tub.

Make a Map

If you are storing things in cardboard or have to build a large storage area temporarily, make a map of what is where. For example, if you are storing a household’s worth of stuff while you wait to move, you can use colored dot stickers to track what goes into each room and then list the contents on a reference sheet.

Long term, needing a map could mean you have too much stuff in your basement. However, if you are building a house and face a delay, or if you have already packed up your home and hit a glitch on getting into the new one, this method can serve as a temporary fix.

Keep Things Dry

If you know your basement seeps, do not start stacking anything in the space until you apply the proper basement waterproofing products. A wet basement is fixable, but a wet basement full of musty possessions is a nightmare.

Even if your basement does not seep or leak, consider investing in a dehumidifier to keep the moisture in the air under control.

Use Fans

Basements tend to be quite clammy, especially in the summer. Warm air holds more moisture, so if the second floor of your home is warm and the main floor is comfortable, the basement will be clammy.

Use fans in this level to keep air moving, especially if you use it as a living space. On the most humid days, consider opening up the cupboards and storage cubbies and just using a rotating fan to keep air moving throughout the space.

Only store what you know you will use. Invest in or build shelving that will keep your possessions off the floor. Get any leaks taken care of before you load the space, and keep the humidity in your basement low to avoid health risks.

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