Decluttering: The Basement Attack Plan

Since I've gone and entered my laundry room basement in an organizing contest, I thought I'd better sit down and come up with a plan of action--before I have to go put on some extra layers and actually spend some time down there!

I have a lot of stuff to move around, so I will start by sorting items into various piles, ideally in large, empty containers or boxes. My pile list:

• Goodwill
• Consignment Clothes
• Baby Equipment
• Baby Toys (no longer used)
• Other toys not currently in rotation
• Books
• Gift Wrap
• Photos, momentos, and scrapbooking items.
• Giftwrap, boxes, ribbons, gift bags, etc.
• Items to sell online
• Items to consign/sell at yard sale
• Extra Bedding
• Laundry Supplies
• Beverage Stockpile

Items in boldface are those that will require a permanent storage place, even in the actual items in that location rotate.

My next step is to find some boxes and bags to use so that I can start sorting everything out. After everything is sorted, I will need to clean the storage spaces and come up with a plan for where everything should be stored, then start putting everything where it belongs.

I think I am going to have some free time this weekend to work on this. We are supposed to host our Brunch, but we are expecting a foot of snow, and transportation comes to a standstill when it snows in this area, so we may have to reschedule.