The Best Way To Clean up Your Garage and Basement
The number of children moving back home to their parents is at its all-time high according to the media, and that means that spaces like the basement and garage will become useful spaces in the house, for the sake of comfort. Keeping your garage or basement clean and organized can be a daunting task, but it is essential for creating an efficient space. Here are some cleaning and organizing tips to help you transform your cluttered garage or basement into a functional and tidy space, where a loved one or ones can move in, to restrategize and redirect their life.
DECLUTTER
Firstly, start by decluttering the area. Go through everything you have stored in your garage or basement and sort items into three piles: keep, donate, or throw away. This will help you determine what you actually need to keep and what you can let go of. Once you’ve decluttered, you can begin organizing the space, realising some items you have been searching for, are simply lounging here in your garage or basement.
INSTALL SHELVES
Install shelves and storage cabinets to help organize your belongings. This will help you maximize your space and prevent items from being scattered all over the floor. You can also hang tools on pegboards, which can be easily accessed and keep the floor clutter-free, giving room for other functionalities.
VACUUMING
When cleaning the garage or basement, start from the top down. Begin by sweeping or vacuuming the ceiling to remove cobwebs and dust and moulds. Then, work your way down to the walls, windows, and finally, the floor. This ensures that any debris and dust will be removed from the area. This doesn’t completely account for the particles that will float in the air until they settle on an already-cleaned surface though, which you can also clean up following this method – The Best Way To Clean Up Frequently Touched Surfaces
MOP THE FLOOR
For the floors, use a high-quality vacuum cleaner to remove any loose debris, followed by mopping with a floor cleaner suitable for your floor type. For concrete floors, you can also use a pressure washer to remove stubborn stains, and remember to keep it eco-friendly.
PURIFY THE AIR
To keep the garage or basement smelling fresh, use an air purifier or dehumidifier to prevent moisture buildup, which can cause mould and mildew. You can also use a natural odour absorber like baking soda to absorb any unpleasant smells, especially if you are allergic to strong smells or unnatural chemicals in products.
GROUP THE ITEMS
When organizing your garage or basement, it’s important to group similar items together. For example, you can group gardening tools in one area and power tools in another. This will help you easily find what you need and prevent the space from becoming cluttered again, especially if you are like me, and we have unending trouble finding what has been placed somewhere for safekeeping but ends up not being found, or worse getting found by the person you are trying to hide it from. This shelf will help your memory and your space.
Finally, cleaning and organizing your garage or basement requires a bit of effort, but it is well worth it in the end. By decluttering and installing storage solutions, cleaning from top to bottom, and organizing similar items together, you can transform your space into a functional and tidy area, where more valuables can be achieved.
