The basement is your challenge this month.
We worked hard on this over Christmas break. Almost done with it. Our stuff is in good order, we are finishing up all the boxes of my mom's -- actually she has her and my dad's stuff, the sister who lived with her, two uncles, her parents, some of my dad's mom's . . . That is what is taking so much time!!!!!! We have to go through everything, every little piece as you never know what you will find that they have hidden!
Goal
Create a safe, dry, manageable storage system We have shelves that my husband has built. I like them as they are free standing and will come with us if we ever move again!
Declutter
- inventory contents of shelves and boxes. Create piles for trash, donation, repair, and keepers. Working on this--with my mom's stuff. Our stuff is done and a lot is gone (trash and donation), garage sale is in april.
- Get as many things as possible up off the floor. Done due to shelving.
- Check for water damage, bug or rodent infestation, and drain backup problems. yeah, ok, now they tell me Done.
Clean
- vacuum and clean shelves, floor, and walls Completed last weekend.
- clean drains, dehumidifier, extra fridge area. Trying for this weekend.
- change filters on furnace. Schedule furnace maintenance appointment for the summer. Done--we have a service plan and change filters on the first day of each month.
- check/replace batteries on smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Do that on January 1.
maintain
- keep items such as wrapping paper, scissors, and tape in one area. . Done. Have the plastic organizer bins for paper, ribbons, bows, bags. Tape and scissors are in a drawer in the "mini kitchen" area.
- organize any items you're storing in the basement by category. Store on pallets or on sturdy off-the-floor shelving units. Done, stored on the shelving in plastic tubs, holiday together, etc.
- Label and keep an inventory list of any boxed items. Keep extra copy of the inventory list in a safe place. Everything of ours is labeled and inventoried. Working on what we keep of mom's stuff. I love my dymo label maker!