Depending on where you live, your basement may be a whole room that has been remodeled for regular use or a storage cellar where families keep canned foods and vegetables for winter use. Some homes in Los Angeles may not even have basements, however, some homes in Los Angeles do have basements. It depends on the age of the home and there are also some older homes that have carriage garages. Whatever lies beneath your house, it might get filthy and dusty. It may also become a habitat for rats and insects, so it’s critical to keep it clean and it’s important to have it checked regularly.
Cleaning your basement
1. Set a Schedule
Make a weekend out of it to allow yourself enough time to review everything because a basement cleanup will not be completed in a single day. Cleaning and organizing your basements are full of odd objects, old stuff, seasonal goods, and items that contain memories, etc so don’t rush the process or you’ll end up with a worse mess than you started.
2. Empty It Out
The first step is to clear out your basement of everything you’ve put in there, whether it’s boxes from your most recent move, old furniture, or other belongings. This is an excellent opportunity to check through everything and ensure that nothing has succumbed to bugs, mold, or decay. After you’ve cleared the area, use a broom to sweep up any spiderwebs and use duster or microfiber to remove dust.
3. Get Organized
Once you’ve decided what you want to keep and what deserves to be thrown away, organize your belongings in a way that makes sense to you. Keep all personal belongings in one container, or prepare a box to put them all inside. Other seasonal decorations should’ve been in another container separately, most especially if it’s a Christmas decors which is bulky so it’s better for those to store in ordered containers. Put your outdated paperwork in a filing cabinet, or just recycle it if it’s no longer useful. Don’t forget to label your bins for you to remember where you put these items in the future.
Moreover, we also suggest to use clear containers for you to identify your stuff easily. Some homeowners choose clear bins so they can plainly see what is contained in each one. Other homeowners choose opaque plastic containers with labels because they look better in their basements. It’s up to your if you want them to be easily identified or want it to be more aesthetically pleasing.
4. Gather Your Home Cleaning Supplies
Prepare and get the following cleaning tools:
- Broom
- Mop
- Water bucket
- Rubber gloves
- Microfiber cleaning cloths
- Bleach, and soap
- Vacuum cleaner
Depending on the quantity of debris in your basement, you may use additional tools for you to use to make you comfortable since various surfaces may necessitate different tools and equipment. If you are thoroughly cleaning your basement, you should gather the most powerful cleaning materials and equipment. Depending on the kind of flooring in your basement, you can use a heavy-duty dry or wet vacuum.
5. Cleaning Procedure
Before applying any soap to your walls, begin by scraping out any loose pieces. However, if these areas need to be repaired, they must be addressed and treated differently. You must replace anything that appears to be weak or that may create more difficulties if not treated quickly. If you have anything worst, that’s when you have to call for a professional repairing help. If you think it’s not that serious yet, you may begin by collecting any dirt and filth from your basement floor and walls using a heavy-duty vacuum cleaner. Do not forget to clean areas like around drainage or other critical areas where molds will be present. If this won’t be treated quickie, it may bring the worst case scenarios.
Additionally, you may clean your walls with a moist cloth, beginning at the bottom and working your way up in horizontal layers. After you’ve finished washing the walls, you may go on to clean the basement floor. It is best to use two mops since it allows you to work faster and more efficiently.
6. Control the Humidity
After cleaning, the next thing to do is you must dry your basement. A box fan or window fan can be used to promote ventilation and air circulation for speedier drying. Moreover, a dehumidifier is the most convenient technique to eliminate moisture. Basements benefit greatly from dehumidifiers and these devices extract moisture from the air and condense it in a detachable tank that can be removed and emptied.
7. Get rid of the bad odor
Get rid of any residual musty scents in your recently cleaned cellar as a finishing touch. Open the windows in your basement to let some fresh air in. If not, use fans to circulate air and a dehumidifier to eliminate moisture.
8. Restore any items you wish to keep.
The next step is to retrieve any items from the basement that you choose to keep. Because you will have sorted out what you want to retain, throw away, sell, or give, this procedure may be less onerous than the first work of pulling them out. Before returning damp clothing or materials to the basement, be sure they are totally dry. To minimize moisture build-up, all things that remained plugged in or fastened down while cleaning the basement must be wiped dry. Instead of cramming everything together, try to arrange them so that everything has a place. This aids in reducing inadequate ventilation and circumstances conducive to mold formation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best way to clean your basement is to make a schedule. A basement cleanup will not be completed in a single day. Make a weekend out of it to allow yourself ample time to review everything.
The first step is to clear out your basement of everything you’ve stashed there, whether it’s boxes from your most recent move, old furniture, or other belongings. This is an excellent opportunity to check through everything and ensure that nothing has succumbed to bugs, mold, or decay.
If you want to keep organizing your belongings in a way that makes sense to you. keep all personal belongings in one container, all decorations in another, and outdated paperwork in a filing cabinet. Label your bins or boxes to assist you to remember where you put these goods in the future.
Get rid of any residual musty scents in your recently cleaned cellar as a finishing touch. Open the windows in your basement to let some fresh air in. If not, use fans to circulate air and a dehumidifier to eliminate moisture.
Conclusion
In conclusion, even the cleanest and tidiest people have a few objects they don’t know what to deal with. The basement is a popular location for these objects. It becomes a storage facility for the items that individuals amass over time and cannot find a home for. It is necessary as well for your basement to be checked and cleaned regularly. When cleaning your basement, it is critical to use rubber gloves to protect your hands from hard scrubbing and harsh cleaning chemicals especially for the items that have been there for a long time, it could be dangerous. A soft bristle brush for stains and a microfiber cloth for light surfaces can help you with cleaning your basement. Remember to have it checked by professionals in case of damage within your basement, as this may cause a lot of worst thing in the future.
