The Basement
First is climate control. Assess what you can really have down there based on how dry or moist it is. If you want to change that, dehumidifiers (if a vapor barrier is in place) or humidifiers can be added. Ideal conditions are 60-75 degrees and 50–60 percent humidity.
Clean it up; wash walls with detergent and water and sweep up. If mold is present, a bleach solution should be used as well to kill it. Fill in any cracks with resin sealer. Paint floors and walls with waterproof sealant–one that seals from soil gases such as radon.
If you often have flooding, storing items in waterproof plastic bins is best. Do not place directly on the floor–raise up on pallets or shelving (if it is a soil floor, never place anything directly on floor).
Also for flooding, check gutters and down spouts so that they are clear and directing water away from foundation.
Keep the space in front of electrical boxes, the furnace and water heater free to allow for easy access in case of problems or maintenance, and have a smoke detector. Flammable items should never be stored in the same room as a gas water heater.
Items that are not good for basements: books, papers, photos, artwork or important documents.
So how do you keep it organized? Utilize lots of shelving units of metal or wood; they can hold bins or extra household supplies. Labeling is a must! You should have all bins or boxes labeled with contents and store all related bins next to each other. And, clear bins are best for visually spotting items. Go vertical: hang hoses, bicycles and chairs from the ceiling joists–not pipes.
Typical zones (areas of like things) are seasonal items, extra food and household supplies, out of season clothing, items to sell/get rid of, tools/tool bench and a laundry area. You can even make a hanging sign over each section to really make the areas visual.
The Garage
Does your car(s) fit in the garage? If not, it is time to tackle this space. Although the weather is nice now, we all know that in the Northeast we can have six months of undesirable weather. An actual car in the garage means no clearing off snow, a warmed up car faster and less of a chance you are late.
Typical zones in here (besides your car spots) are seasonal items, sporting goods, auto repair/supplies, yard tools, gardening supplies and tools/tool bench.
To get this space organized, take everything out of the garage and put the items in your driveway or on your front lawn. Sort like with like items and discard all that is broken or needs replacing due to excessive wear. Decide what should have a home in the garage and create a zone for each. Relocate items that should not be in there.
There are tons of garage storage solutions available. Simple shelving units of metal or plastic are so helpful. Use the vertical space with pulley or fixed upper shelving. Hanging cabinets 51” from the floor will allow you to pull in a car underneath and 12” deep cabinets are ideal to minimize protruding into your vehicles. Hang hoses, bicycles, other from the ceiling joists. Utilize wall space with peg boards or garage-specific panel/hook systems
Seasonal items should be stored so they don’t get ruined but don’t need the best spots in the space you don’t need all the time.
Lock up all valuables and hazardous chemicals out of reach of pets and children. Dispose of all hazardous chemicals safely.
Label all bins and shelves so everyone knows where things belong. And allow some room to grow—keep 25–30 percent available for new items that will surely come in.
One additional idea if you have young children and lots of that type of stuff is to consider using tape to zone out areas. This creates a “parking lot” for kids’ toys and bikes.
Remember in both rooms, clutter is a delayed decision. It is fine to place something temporarily in these spaces if it’s going out soon, but if it isn’t, identify a home for it or move out!
Jordana Turcotte is a professional organizer and owner of Simply You. Simply You has been operating for over five years in the Capital Region. I help people tackle all types of clutter from kitchens to closets to paper to toys. I love helping people overcome their struggle with clutter, one item at a time. Contact Jordana at www.simplyyouorganizing.com or (518) 877-8162.
