Bring order and structure to your cellar and garage
The big spring cleaning isn't just about washing windows and replacing winter clothes with the latest spring fashions. Many of us now have time to take care of the real problems. In garages, basements and attics we accumulate everything we no longer need, that doesn't fit in any other room or that we simply forgot about. Use our guide of 5 steps to prevent yourself from completely disintegrating into chaos.
Cleaning like a pro - cleaning up the mess in the basement and garage
Step 1: Preparation
Spontaneous cleanup in the garage or basement? This project is likely to fail due to lack of preparation. Stored items are often heavy and bulky. Perhaps you can get other family members involved or ask friends to help with physical support? And to be honest, the cleaning process will most likely not only be exhausting, but also dirty. So be sure to choose appropriate clothing and protect your hands with gloves.
The right equipment
To make sure that after a week your basement doesn't descend into chaos again and you won't be able to find anything in it, you should establish a certain system before you start cleaning. Boxes are usually the best choice to organize items by category and provide easy access to them. But not all boxes are the same! They should have certain features to fit perfectly into your plan.
1 If you use transparent boxes, it will be easier to see what you store in them later. Of course, you can also label the boxes to make sure everything is organized.
2) Choose boxes that can be sealed tightly. This protects papers or clothes from odors, moisture, insects and dust.
3.The most practical are boxes available in different sizes that can be safely stacked on top of each other.
4.To keep your boxes tidy, you can organize them with accessories. Fortunately, there are some accessories that fit perfectly into the boxes.
5. When storing food, make sure the boxes are made of safe, odorless and BPA-free materials.
Step 2: Sorting
First, designate boxes or storage areas in which to segregate items according to the following categories:
- Storage
- Make a donation
- Sales
- Garbage or recycling
But how do you decide which items to keep and which to throw away? Think about whether you have used the item in the past few months. If not, there's a good chance you won't need it in the future. Still unsure? Then collect the items in a separate box and label them with today's date or the last day of use. If the date of last use is a year ago during spring cleaning, you can be sure you won't need it anymore.
If possible, gather all items in another room first. This will make the next step much easier.
Step 3: Cleaning
Cobwebs, dust and dirty windows: now that the room has been cleaned, you can finally clean every hidden corner. This is also one of the few times when you can repaint the walls or oil the hinges on the doors.
Step 4: Organization
Once you've organized your belongings and created a clean space, it's time to put everything away in an orderly fashion.
Then create categories again and re-sort the items you have. For example
- Sports equipment
- Gardening tools
- Car
- Tools
- Pantry
To keep everything organized, it's best to use a box system. But shelves, baskets and hooks can also help organize the chaos. The important thing is that each item has its own place, and all categories are properly labeled so that you can find your things quickly.
When storing on shelves, it's best to keep track of the weight of items (heaviest items low) and frequency of use (items you use most often - closest to the entrance).
Step 5: Get rid of unnecessary stuff
Now you can finally breathe a sigh of relief and be proud of yourself! The final step is to take care of the things you've already cleaned up. Recycle your trash as soon as possible and sell or donate things you no longer need. Find a place for things that are waiting for a new owner. However, be careful not to fall into an old rut and lose control of your basement or garage. Otherwise, next spring you'll have to clean up the mess with Rotho's Evo boxes.
