Summer Cleaning
Fun time with cleaning!
The above graphic describes what I'll be focusing on this weekend, cleaning the basement. I did this a few weeks ago and made tremendous progress, but the task is yet to be completed.
Yesterday I went to Target to get some more storage container bins. They had a good deal on 18-gal bins for $4.99. The only thing I don't like about them is that they aren't clear, so you can't see the contents inside the bin. I picked up three bins anyway.
The best place to get bins is at Target. Usually they have some bins on sale every week. When they run out, wait a couple of days and they will probably have it back in stock. Over time you'll see that they usually have the same bins on sale over and over again.
The Container Store has the best selection of clear bins, but they have it at a premium price. I would recommend getting bins for valuable items such as baseball cards and letters that you want to keep. The Container Store bins are pretty good quality.
Walmart has a pretty good selection of bins but I didn't find them much cheaper than Target. Walmart selection did seem a little smaller than Target, maybe Super Walmarts carry more inventory? Walmart quality is pretty good, but the bin section seemed very unorganized.
I recently purchase a few bins at Ikea and found the quality to be pretty good. My only complaint is that they charge extra for the lids. Not sure of the logic behind that: $3.99 for the base and $1 for the lid. I can't think of any reason of why someone would not want a lid. The bins are pretty good quality, almost like the Container Store and they stack very nicely.
My advice to those looking to declutter their basement/attic is to use lots of small bins that are stackable. I find sorting things between smaller bins makes things easy to find later on. For example, I have several small bins that I use to store some office supplies, that way it will be easy to find pens/paper and notebooks when I am looking for them. Use larger bins for storing seasonal clothes and large holiday items.
Its going to be a fun weekend decluttering the basement. I plan on having a Yard Sale in a few weeks so I need to decide on what to keep and what goes in the yard sale.