American homeowners and renters alike have a problem with clutter. But that problem explodes into an epidemic when you look down into the basement at what else is there. Forgotten trash, debris, and junk can be found stuffed into every corner of those basements. So what’s the solution? Junk360 has some tips, tricks, and recommendations for how to declutter and clean out your basement.

Prioritize

  Before you begin, decide what you want your basement to function as. A basement can be used for:

• Storage
• A game room
• Office space
• Extra living space
• Utility space
• A laundry room

  Deciding on what you want your basement to be used for should help guide your next steps. A finished basement used as a living space will have different decluttering priorities than a basement used for storage basement. It will also help you figure out:

• If you need to winterize
• Flooring
• What to junk verses what to keep or store

  However, the main reason to prioritize is that having a specific goal will help inspire you to keep cleaning and decluttering that basement!

Work in Small Chunks

Burn out when it comes to home maintenance is definitely an issue. To avoid leaving your basement cleanout half finished we recommend:  

• Dividing the basement into sections: The trick to not making a giant mess while you declutter the basement is to work systematically. We recommend dividing your basement into multiple sections, ideally working from the entrance to the rear. Your first step should be to clear out a staging area. This will give you the space to sort your items one section at a time before moving on to the next one.
• Working in small increments everyday: Depending on the state of your basement, it might take up to several days for you to complete your cleaning and decluttering. Working in 1-2 hour bursts keeps you more motivated than spending entire long days in clean up mode. Work in small increments every day and don’t be afraid to walk away. Especially if your feeling sluggish or lingering over your emotional attachment to an object. This allows you to take breaks and return to your basement clean out with a fresh perspective.

  Taking small steps can help the process go more smoothly and seem less intimidating. This will keep you from giving up on the basement all together.

Deal With Large Items First

Basements have a lot of little things. They have boxes, piles, and bags. Before you deal with these in your staging areas, start with the larger items. These could include:

• Old appliances
• Furniture
• Lawn equipment
• Broken gadgets

  Decluttering these types of items will take some extra effort. But, if possible, get rid of or sort these first. The sooner you can, the more free space you’ll have. You’ll also see some immediate progress, which can help you stay motivated.

Create a Sorting System

In your staging area, set up the three following sorting sections:

• Keep
• Donate
• Junk

  Everything that comes into your staging area must be sorted into one of these sections before moving on to the next area in your basement. Don’t leave anything for later. Decide as you come to it, whether the item should be kept, donated, or if it’s junk.

If you’re feeling sentimental, ask yourself the following questions:

• Does it work?
• Have you used it recently?
• Do you love it?
• Do you have room to keep or store it?

  If the answers to any of these questions is “no,” the item should either be donated or thrown out. This will be the most difficult part of cleaning and decluttering your basement. Many items will have sentimental value and stir up memories. If you find yourself struggling, take a break or sleep on it. However, whatever you do, don’t start a “maybe” section. It’s only downhill from there.

Junk360 Can Help

If all or certain aspects of cleaning and decluttering your basement seem overwhelming, give Junk360 a call! We are a reliable and affordable company that is locally owned and veteran employed. During any part of this process, Junk360 can take care of all your basement decluttering needs! Not only will be remove everything out of your basement, we’ll haul it away afterwards. Junk360 is also dedicated to environmental conservation. Anything that can be recycled will be recycled (at no extra cost to you). It’s our promise that nothing ends up in a landfill that doesn’t belong there. Call Junk360 at (651) 395-8659 or visit our website to receive a free quote. We’ll free up two of your most valuable resources: your time and your space.