Tag: basement clean-up

In Search of a Clutter-Free Summer

Posted on by Jordank

Memorial Day — the unofficial start of summer— has come and gone. If you’re anything like us at The Organizing Blog, you probably used the long weekend to plant some flowers, take a bike ride, visit with friends and/or have a cookout. Fine pursuits!

But do you know what can make one’s enjoyment of those pursuits (and most others) even better? #Organization! A #clutter-free environment knows no season — and it can provide you with the #clarity you need to truly live in the moment.

Think about it: A cluttered space demands attention. Maybe you waste a lot of time looking for things among the stacks of papers, piles of laundry and dusty gewgaws. Or maybe wrangling all that #stuff leaves you with little down time.

Summer is a great time to get those things under control. With good weather and a few hours each week, you can conquer that #clutter — and enjoy all of the seasons to come.

Start with the #garage. Has that #space attracted a lot of stuff that doesn’t have a home elsewhere ? Go through it and ask yourself why you hide #junk there and if you’ll ever really need those things again. Weed out what you don’t have a use for and set it aside.

Along the way, fine-tune your storage of the things that do have a purpose — even if that purpose is occasional, such as holiday decorations. Sort “like” items into labeled bins and boxes that you can find and access easily without a lot of hunting. Shelve or stack them thoughtfully, and you’ll be creating new space!

Next, do the same for the basement. Organizing your below-ground space likely will have the added benefit of helping you keep cool while you work. Set aside the things for which you don’t have a purpose or can’t find a place, and put them in boxes and bags.

See that growing pile of #junk? Slap some price tags on those things and have a quick #garage or #yard #sale. Or click though to ClothingDonations.org to arrange a #free #donation #pickup. You’ll be #helping the nation’s #veterans and be ready to enjoy the rest of the summer #clutter-free!

Time and Effort Make the Best Gifts

Posted on by Jordank

Sometimes the best gifts don’t have to cost a thing. On Mother’s Day, dedicate your time and energy instead, Money Crashers says. Mow the lawn and do the yardwork; vacuum and wash her car; make her breakfast in bed or let her sleep in for once, the site says; Mom will appreciate the effort, and these gifts will only cost a little bit of time to show you care. Another suggestion? Clean that old junk out of the garage, hall closet or basement, and contact ClothingDonations.org for a pickup. If your Mom is anything like ours, she will appreciate the newly decluttered and organized space.

Basement Reboot—Keep Your Basement Organized!

Posted on by Garrett Goeppinger

Many people focus on rooms guests will see when it comes to keeping their home organized and clutter-free. While this is a great place to start, it’s important to remember that this emphasis may be causing you to neglect the upkeep of other places in your home, such as your basement.

Some people have finished basements that serve as entertainment areas, “man caves, ” bedrooms, or  even playrooms for kids. For others, the basement is primarily a place for storage, and a place for things that we simply don’t know what to do with. Either way, since basements are out of sight, it’s incredibly easy to leave them unorganized.

Shawn Gauthier offers basement organization solutions in her Houzz article, “12 Tips for Supremely Organized Basement Storage.”

Gauthier says the first step in organizing any basement is to go through everything and decide what you need to keep and what can go. As we’ve written about before, clutter tends to be a result of too much stuff. Take this as an opportunity to purge your basement of items you no longer need. If you come across these items, donate them to us! Place your donations in a box, and schedule a donation pick-up time on ClothingDonations.org. We’ll even come by and pick them up for you, so you can continue organizing your basement.

Gauthier also recommends that organizers embrace shelving units. Whether it’s floor-to-ceiling cubed shelves that keep like-items together, or an entertainment center that allows you to store a television, DVDs, and books, shelves really make a difference in keeping your basement floor clean and clutter-free.

Another tip we liked of Gauthier’s is to utilize the space underneath your basement staircase. It could be a great place for a coat rack for extra winter coats or fall jackets, or a spot for extra shelving and cabinetry. Even if it’s just a small space, this could be the perfect spot for your child’s toys or play sets.

Take a look at Gauthier’s article, and let us know about your own basement organization secrets!