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A Clutter Free Basement or Attic
by Maria Gracia
A friend called me the other day and said: I really
have to organize my basement and attic, one of
these days.
There's that old, one of these days, phrase once
again, rearing its ugly head. I'll be honest with you.
The only way that one of these days ever comes, is
if you schedule it on your calendar, and keep that
appointment with yourself when the day rolls around.
Here's some of the advice I gave to my friend. Perhaps it will help you
tackle the basement or attic organizing project.
1. ESTABLISH MINI-GOALS. If the basement/attic is just too big of a
job for one day, break it up into a few days. Perhaps:
DAY 1: Toss out anything outdated, old, broken, things you never use,
etc.
DAY 2: Pick up some storage containers and put up some shelving
and/or hooks.
DAY 3: Organize everything you are keeping in closets, on hooks, on
shelves, etc.
2. HANDLING SENTIMENTALS. If you haven't organized the
basement or attic in awhile, be prepared to take a trip down Memory
Lane--old photographs, games that haven't been touched in years, ice
skates, granny's silverware, and so on. Try to put these items to one
side until you've reached your organizing goal for the day. Then,
reminisce with your family later on that night after dinner, rather than
right now. This way, you'll finish what you set out to accomplish.
3. ALLOW FOR FAMILY FUN. Get the family to chip in. Make it a
game, with responsibilities assigned to everyone. You can even time
the tasks with an alarm clock, and give small prizes for getting the task
done ahead of time. Play music--fast music--to get everyone in the
organizing mood. You can plan a fun, family pizza-party afterwards as
your reward for a job well done!
4. USE YOUR SPACE WISELY. Don't forget all that wall space. Hang
hooks and pegboards. Add shelving. Have a big, empty closet? Put a
utility shelf unit inside. Turn an old, unused bar stool upside down and
put all of your tall items (baseball bats, curtain rods, etc.) inside. Pick
up some translucent, plastic Rubbermaid containers and store out-of-
season clothing, holiday decorations and other things you're not using
right now inside.
5. AVOID KEEPING WIDGETS. Resist the urge to save every little
thing-a-ma-jig and what-cha-ma-call-it you come across. If you (and
your family) don't know what it is, or what it belongs to, it should
probably be trashed.
6. SET UP A DONATION BOX. Set up a large donation box. As you're
organizing, when you find things you no longer have a use for, simply
put it in this box. Then, bring the box to the Salvation army the next
day. Some GoodWill and Salvation Army headquarters will pick up your
donation at your doorstep if you call them. And there will be a lot of
people happy and grateful for your gifts.
7. DON'T FORGET WINTER STORAGE. Squirrels store goods for
the winter. You might want to do the same. Basements are great for
storing canned goods. If you live in a cold climate, you'll be happy it's
there--especially on those icy, cold days when you'd rather stay home
than venture out to a supermarket. Keep it all organized with can
organizers (available at most home stores). Some hold up to 50 cans
that simply roll forward each time you remove one.
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By Maria Gracia - Get Organized Now!™
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Maria Gracia
Get Organized Now!™
611 Arlington Way
Watertown WI 53094
