Last Updated: February 27, 2024
Having an additional underground area is a blessing. When properly utilized, the basement adds much-needed storage space for your home and can be converted into a guest bedroom or additional square footage for short- and long-term storage. A basement is generally more accessible than an attic and can be used to house a mix of items ranging from out-of-season holiday decorations, rarely used possessions to seasonal sports equipment, furniture, paper products, and family stacks memorabilia.
Why Basement Storage Needs Thought
Basements and storage generally don’t make for happy partners. Since they are typically located at a lower level of the house basements can be damp and dark and experience a high humidity level. High humidity can lead to condensation, while dampness opens the door for unpleasant issues such as mold, mildew, rust, bacteria growth, pest infestation, and nasty smells. These factors can negatively impact or damage your stored items like upholstered furniture, books, documents, and furnishings and cause musty odors to permeate clothing and upholstered furniture.
Most basements are generally not waterproof; even if they have been treated, moisture can easily creep up through the highly porous concrete. If your basement has flooded previously, there are chances of it getting re-flooded. Even if it has not yet flooded, there are no guarantees that a mishap will not occur as with the change in climatic condition, one big storm is enough to turn your basement into a swimming pool.
We have identified a few pointers to store things safely in your basement, keeping them free from the harmful effects of pests and other allergens and make it a dry, comfortable, usable space.
Basement Storage Ideas
Review Everything: Inspect your basement thoroughly before you start storing things.
Watch out for cracks, holes, possible leakage, and draughty areas and get them fixed immediately. You should also carefully examine things before putting them into your basement.
Avoid storing anything of great value in the basement if it’s affected by water and humidity. Never keep anything wet or damp, and also check the item is suitable for long periods of storage and does it have a chance of leakage.
Take advantage of vertical space: Verticality is crucial to storing things downstairs, especially in smaller basements. Utilize wall shelves to keep items away from damp corners which are away from sunlight, or keep near windows to have some air circulation and light to seep in. Wall-mounted cabinets can hold everything from tools to surplus paper goods, while wall shelving systems can keep harmful things out of reach of children.
Do not leave things unprotected: Try to avoid leaving out items in the open to protect from outside elements and avoid unwanted pests— there’s always a chance that bugs rodents can make a home downstairs during the winter. Use an air-tight tub or bin when storing off-season gear in an unfinished basement to seal out moisture, and prevent unwanted pests from chewing and nesting in your supplies. For finished basements, you can use a combination of baskets or bins. Ensure to put a lid on the stored items.
Store Sensibly: Air circulation is essential in your basement and especially around your stored items. Don’t pack your stored items too close to each other; this will not allow the air in the basement to circulate well. Leave gaps in your storage to prevent things becoming damp from the humidity you may have in your basement. Avoid hoarding stuff in the basement. Before putting an item in the basement, ask yourself, “Whether you need it now or in the near future?” Get rid of as much as possible to allow other stuff to ‘breathe, especially stuff that you’ve had in storage for years and still haven’t used.
Check your possessions periodically: We become so occupied in packing and putting stuff in the basement to declutter upstairs and forget what has been kept down there. Occasionally walk around and check on your belongings for telltale signs of moisture. Water stains, musty odors, powdery deposits on concrete walls and floors, and crumbling mortar should serve as red flags. Ensure that the items kept hanging are secure. Watch for evidence of rodents or insects. If you have particularly heavy rain, check if there are any leaks to be addressed immediately. Consider putting items outside to air out for a bit on a sunny day. It would help if you also kept an inventory of items stored in the basement, as it is useful when trying to find an essential item or claiming insurance.
Avoid fabrics and natural material: Fabrics are prone to damage or wear in damp basement conditions. Whether it’s an ugly Christmas sweater you wear once a year, seasonal clothing you don’t need all the time, or old blankets that aren’t in use right now, avoid storing fabrics down in an unfinished basement.
Be careful about temperature changes: Be mindful about anything you store down there that may be sensitive to temperature changes. Things like electronics, food, or even candles can be easily affected by a sudden cold snap or heat wave if your basement doesn’t have enough climate control circulating through the area.
Storage Shelf and Container Materials: Wood crates and shelving, as well as cardboard boxes, are extremely moisture-absorbent and can cause your stored items unwanted exposure to dampness. Metal shelving and cabinetry, as well as plastic containers, are better alternatives. If you are using cardboard boxes, always leave space for air circulation.
Don’t store anything directly on the floor. Even if your basement doesn’t flood, the items may absorb moisture from the concrete and even develop mold growth. If the basement does flood, forget about saving whatever was on the floor.
Store items in air-tight bags or containers. Everything that fits into a bag or a box should be kept in one. This is especially important for fabrics if you don’t want them to absorb that stuffy, musty smell and keep mold, pests, and other small insects away. Rodents can eat through plastic, but you should notice the hole soon enough to inspect your items regularly.
Moisture Absorbers: Drop a few moisture absorbers around your basement to keep your basement storage dry. You can also place a few cat litter pans, activated charcoal, and silica gel around the basement. Ensure that they are out of reach of children.
How to Store Bulky Items: It is challenging to put heavy items such as lawn equipment, bikes, or sports gear in a container. You can install sturdy hooks on the walls to hang them safely. You can also consider investing in a pulley system to help raise and lower when required.
Avoid storing furniture’s legs or bottom directly on the floor. Ensure to place them on a raised platform or pallet or securely wrap anything that would come in contact with the floor. Don’t let the furniture touch the floor. If you have a moisture problem in your basement, it may lead to metal parts rusting, wood – rotting, and fabrics–molding. If possible, hang or suspend small furniture; if not – wrap the parts that come in contact with the floor.
What Not to Store in the Basement
Never keep valuable items in the basement. Whether it is papers, documents, collectible books, or your wedding dress, keep it where it can be easily retrieved. Do not store food items in the basement as they are prone to moisture damage.
Stamp out excess humidity: Make sure your basement is well-ventilated by opening basement windows. Ensure that the pipes are insulated to avoid excess condensation; Ensure that the gutters and downspouts are flowing smoothly away from the house without any leakage.
Artwork: Humidity and poor ventilation can damage delicate artworks, paintings, photographs, and other items. A lot of DIY supplies such as paint pose a fire risk, particularly if stored near gas-powered appliances. Ensure to strictly follow manufacturer recommendations for storage guidelines.
Books and documents: Poor ventilation and humidity can wreak havoc on anything with a paper component. Unless your space is finished and not subject to significant climate variations, store books above ground and in sturdy, leak-proof containers.
Electronic Storage: Don’t store electronics in a place that is not climate-controlled, especially for a long time. The outer plastic case might look intact, but the inner components can be easily damaged by rust or direct water contact.
How Dehumidifiers Help in Preventing Damp Basements
While you have stored your possessions safely in the basement, purchased storage boxes, vacuum packs, etc., and have followed all the recommended procedures, but still suffering dampness and musty smell in the basement. In this case, the problem may arise from excess moisture in your basement, which renders even perfect storage methods irrelevant. It is advisable to install a basement dehumidifier to pull excess moisture from the basement in such cases. A basement dehumidifier helps keep humidity levels below 50%, prevent mold and mildew growth, protect indoor air quality, and avoid damage.
For convenience, consider a basement dehumidifier that offers automatic drainage, as that will help you avoid manually draining the container when full. You can direct the collected drain water into your sump pump, a floor drain, or even pumped upward to a sink drain. Basement dehumidifiers are equipped with additional features than standard dehumidifiers, such as handling low temperatures and restart after a power outage.
When purchasing a basement dehumidifier, pay attention to energy consumption and construction, as a high electricity bill may burn a hole in your pockets. Additionally, it is imperative to make sure the dehumidifier’s temperature range is appropriate for your basement.
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