Smart Ways to Optimize Basement Storage

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By getting some order into your basement storage area, you will avoid clutter, store your belongings more safely, and optimize your available space. Basement areas are ideal for storing a wide range of items, from seasonal clothing and large pieces of luggage to canned food, tools, and supplies related to your home-run business. Here are some useful tips.

Organize the stored items

With temperatures lower than outside, basements are ideal for storing non-perishable food, vegetables like onions and potatoes, winter fruit cultivars, as well as emergency food rations. On the other hand, the basements provide handy storage for household supplies such as paper towels, detergents, cleaning products, and all other items that are cheaper if purchased in bulk. By organizing all these items by their area of use, you’ll have less trouble finding what you’re looking for.

Use labels for containers

When it comes to basement storage, accessibility is always an issue, as everyone can remember those angry situations when they were looking for something in a pile of stored articles. The key is to make searching more efficient by labeling each container. Make sure your labels are clear and easy to decipher in case you need to send somebody else to fetch something from the basement. In case you want to go an extra mile, you can use a QR code maker app, and print the labels with codes which you can read with a phone QR scanner.

Exploit wall storage

Wall storage systems with labeled baskets that slide in and out are a great option for a basement that doubles as a workshop. Apart from shelving units, there are many other wall-mounted solutions, such as wire racks, magnetic systems for tools, pegboards for hand tools and cables, and vertical wall rack for long gardening tools like hoes, shovels, and rakes. Single-Level plank shelves along the walls provide a clear and organized space for paint and spray cans, as well as other bottled products.

Consider industrial shelving

If you need to store heavier items such as toolboxes, gardening implements, clay pots, or power tools, your wooden shelves may not be safe enough. In that case, you need to consider industrial shelving, which is both strong and easy to install. The standard options come with 4 levels of shelving, with additional levels available at request. These heavy-duty, free-standing shelving units can be assembled without screws or bolts. When considering shelving for heavy loads, make sure you’re purchasing from established and certified vendors, as counterfeits are often advertised with overrated load capacities, making them highly unsafe.

Build cubbies

These square honeycomb-like storage shelves are among the most popular storage solutions, as they offer a ton of flexibility. What’s more, they are easy to build and allow for an easy storage rearrangement. They work perfectly with tight-lidded plastic bins, with lids of different colors, for example, red for Christmas, blue for fishing, green, for gardening, etc. If you use plastic bins for storing clothes, make sure that the bin is not airtight, as clothing needs ventilation. However, make sure you throw in a couple of moth repellent bags. If you store clothes in cardboard boxes use silica gel granules to absorb moisture.

Don’t forget the ceiling

Often overlooked, the basement ceiling provides a premium storage space, especially if your basement is prone to flooding due to groundwater. A flange system with simple framing material can take several runs of parallel tracks on the ceiling, which can take airtight Tupperware containers. This way, your items are safe from groundwater. Alternatively, if your basement ceiling has exposed rafters, they can take even heavier items, like large pieces of luggage, portable coolers, bicycles, garden furniture, etc.

Protect wooden furniture

While basements are far from ideal for storing wooden furniture, if there are no other options, it’s important to protect it. Raise every piece off the floor by placing cinder blocks or planking under furniture legs, so you have time to remove it in case of a flood. Use covers to protect furniture from getting scratched, but don’t use plastic sheets, as they can trap moisture, causing the wood to discolor, swell, or warp.

The purpose of basement storage is to provide you easy access to your items and keep them in the good condition for a long time. However, sometimes even the smartest basement optimization fails if your basement is cluttered to the rafters. By setting aside what you don’t need and donating some of it to the charity you both improve the air circulation and make your basement easier to navigate.

About the author

Learn More About Being a Survivalist. My name is Jack and my blog is a great way to get new and useful tips on how to get your house ready for anything, whether its a terrible storm or a really long power outage.

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