How to Fix a Messy Basement

If one of the things that seems to be holding your home back is the amount of clutter in every room - especially the basement - then it might not seem like an easy remedy at first. This might especially be true of older people who have gained a lot of both "junk" and "treasures" over the years: it gets harder and harder to discern which is which. But if you've decided that it's finally time to organize the clutter in your home and finally clean out that old basement, then you've stumbled to the right article. Here, you're going to learn exactly how to organize your basement in the best way possible.

First, be willing to part with a majority of your things. A majority? A majority?! How can I ask that? I don't even know what you own. What I do know, however, is that most people in this day and age keep much more "stuff" than they actually need. Most of the junk in your basement is junk simply because you don't use it. It falls into one of two categories: junk that you don't use anymore, or something you want to keep for sentimentality's sake. The latter is yours to keep, but when it comes to the junk you never use, it's time to clear the clutter by gutting the clutter.

Be relentless when it comes to this kind of clutter. If it serve no purpose, or you don't think that you'll use it, throw it out. You might find yourself taking a trip down memory lane, but there are more important things in your life than keeping an old pencil that you had in law school. Your memories will last - everything else that you don't use anymore can easily be bought again should you ever have the need to use it. When in doubt, chuck it. You'll be glad you did.

Second, be willing to let things get worse before they get better. Part of the organization process might actually include dirtying things up a little more - this allows you to sort through materials that you no longer use and the materials that you do use. If you find yourself making the basement dirtier, that's a good sign. If you're too trepidacious to try this, it's time to get even dirtier. Remember, to organize your basement effectively, you need to gut it. So gut it, and let the clutter spill all over the place while you re-organize. It will help you focus on your task and you'll be better off in the long run.

Photo Credits: blakespot

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Handyman, How to Fix

Posted by Fix Handyman on August 4, 2009 in Handyman, How to Fix. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.