We all tend to store a lot of stuff in the basement. Even more than we store in our garage sometimes.
We put it down there and forget about it. It is only when our sump pump fails or our sewer backs up that we phone our insurance company and come to realize what we had actually accumulated down there. You would be surprised at what you have accumulated over the years!
Let’s talk about the 4 best ways we can properly organize our basement.
DECLUTTER
We tend to store things we rarely use in the basement, like holiday decorations or seasonal toys. While this is all well and good, we should make sure that we’re not storing anything we never use.
Haven’t used something in 2 years that has no sentimental value? Donate it, sell it or throw it away.
Cluttered basements notoriously become pest breeding grounds or fuel for a fire.
BE SELECTIVE
Some items are not appropriate for basement storage. Since basements are often below ground level they can become damp which can lead to mold and mildew growth. You can help your basement stay dry by using a dehumidifier but the best way to save certain items is to store them somewhere else.
– Paper items like sports cards and photo albums
– Fabrics like mattresses and bedding
– Wood items like instruments
GET IT UP
After you’ve purged your clutter and moved the more delicate items to a better place, anything remaining should not be stored directly on the ground.
Even items that are not as susceptible to moisture like those listed above can still become damaged when exposed to water. Even an inch or two can destroy many items (in our experience a sump pump failure leads to 6-8 inches of water) so it’s best to get them off the ground.
How?
The best way to store items in the basement is using shelving that gets items at least 12 inches off the ground. When space or cost is a concern, we also recommend waterproof containers such as plastic totes.
BE ORGANIZED
Since this is the room where you’re storing seldom used items it will be very easy to forget what is even down there or where it might be.
It’s best to keep all related items together (sporting goods, summer / beach items, holiday decorations) and add accurate labels onto the outside of their boxes.
Basements are too often where we throw random stuff and forget about them, letting future us deal with the mess and consequences.
If we follow more of these tips, we will thank ourselves later.
See also: The Best Ways To Organize Your Garage.
Erie Mutual Insurance proudly serves the commercial insurance, farm insurance, home insurance and auto insurance needs of members throughout Southern Ontario including Haldimand, Niagara and Hamilton.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have about this or any other topic related to your insurance.
