If you’re like many Americans, you have an attic and/or basement that are full of stuff. And like most Americans, you’ve probably lost track of everything in those spaces. Holidays decorations, old exercise equipment, a broken treadmill in the basement you haven’t gotten around to fixing. Boxes of old clothing that (let’s face it) you should donate because you’ll never wear again. Perhaps you head down to your basement in search of an item that you’re not able to find – because there is too much clutter or congestion in the space.
If you find the above describing you – don’t worry; you’re not alone. America is a consumer society, and we’ve grown used to purchasing, replacing, and buying more. Unfortunately, our ability to discard or part with old or underused items doesn’t keep pace with our ability to acquire new stuff. For many, this means houses full of stuff. And where do we put that stuff? The attic and the basement; and perhaps a storage unit – which is an entirely different story.
The situation described here produces several issues – almost all of which can be remedied through clean up, purging, and the use of a junk removal service like ours.
The following are great reasons to clean out your attic and basement:
Create space. Space entirely occupied by clutter generally can’t be used for anything else. That means it becomes difficult to store new things, or rearrange your house rapidly. Clear your attic and basement spaces out to create additional space. You’ll be glad you did.
Introduce order. If you’re not able to discard all of your junk, fine. But minimally, getting rid of a few things (boxes full of old blankets, old clothes or bedding with moth holes, etc) allows you to create room for organization. This could be as simple as room to walk through your attic or basement. Or perhaps it finally means the ability to arrange things neatly on racks or shelves in your attic or basement.
Decrease Injury Hazards. Picture this. You realize you need a baseball bat and glove, because your nephew is coming over and he wants to play catch with you. You rack your brain trying to remember where your old baseball equipment is. You think its in the basement. You head down, fumble for the light on the wall, and look around at a sea of stuff. “How did I accumulate all of this” you think to yourself, as you start to walk through what appears to be the path of least resistance. You think to yourself about how you really need to organize down here, and will later. Maybe in the Spring. You come across a pile of pressboard from a broken shelf you’d intended to fix three years ago. As you step over it, the slippery pressboard lurches out from under you, and you break your fall – but knock an old lamp from your former house, breaking the shade. Have you been here? Can you tell we’ve been?! As silly and basic as it might seem, clutter in small spaces like basements and attics can cause safety issues. And if not for you – for your kids or loved ones sorting through your stuff. Especially in attics, which come with low angled ceilings and minimal clearance and to top it off, false floors. Don’t let these spaces become more dangerous because they’re obstructed. Clean them out – you’ll appreciate the ability to find your stuff and navigate. And safety is always a good thing.
Better for your Home. When is the last time you thoroughly inspected your attic? Do you know if anything is living up there? Are there birds or insects that have made their way inside? Do you have an issue in your basement that you can’t see because there’s too much stuff? Need to conduct repairs, but end up putting them off because you can’t reach the area that needs attention? Don’t let this be you. Do you live in an area prone to flooding? If so, we recommend emptying your basement to the extent possible using a junk removal service. We also like the idea of shelves, which allow you to get the remainder of your property up off the ground. The double benefit is an organized basement as well.
Reduce Fire Hazards. Attics and basements each contain a potentially dangerous combination of combustible stuff, HVAC components, and other flammables. Cut down on the amount of fuel for potential fires by purging your things. Get rid of as much as you can. Organize the rest, and ensure nothing is directly adjacent to or covering:
Outlets
Live cords or extension cords
Heaters and furnaces
HVAC lines
Natural gas components
Washers and dryers
Other appliances
Anything electrical (that is plugged in and operating)
There are abundant reasons to organize and purge your attic and basement spaces. The same is very much true of your garage. Take the time to pile up what you don’t need, and give us a call. You’ll be glad you did, and will enjoy the time and reduction in stress associated with decluttering your life.