Attic erratic

Supplies

You probably shouldn't tackle this project on your own. Get your family or friends involved in an "official" cleanup day. You will need the following supplies:

Ample supply of industrial-strength garbage bags
Plastic storage boxes
Cardboard boxes
Packing tape
Marking pens
Sort Through It

You will be making four different piles of stuff on cleanup day:

For - Yard sale
For giving away
For keeping
For t hrowing away
Deciding what to put in which pile will be the most time-consuming part of the clean up. One basic rule to follow is: if you haven't looked at or for it in a year, then it should not go in the Keep pile.

For those items that are difficult to dispose of such as furniture and old appliances or hazardous materials (paint, car batteries, etc), you will need to make special arrangements with your sanitation department for pickup.

Almost Done

After you have divided everything up, bag all items that are to be thrown away, and move them to a far corner or outside, if that is an option.

The items in the Keep pile should be divided into categories. Examples include the following: tools, clothes, sporting equipment, legal papers, etc.

Clearly mark the boxes. For example label a box Tax Returns 1997-2002 instead of just Paperwork.


Protect items stored in a damp, musty basement or attic with heavy-duty plastic storage containers.


Move items off the floor and use as much wall space as possible with an easy-to-install wire shelving system.


Place freestanding shelving units along the walls.


Make sure that the units you purchase are sturdy enough to hold heavy items.


Store the items you use the most on the most accessible shelves. Put as many things as possible on shelves instead of on the floor—using the vertical space creates a more organized look.


Use cabinets that lock to store hazardous materials such as paint and cleaning supplies.


Make sure the items you store will not deteriorate from excess moisture or heat.

Source: http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=pg&p=Organize/homeorg_attic.html&ln=ho