Your basement: a place you think all your stored possessions and projects are locked away safe.
That is until the mold and leaks hit.
All of that time wasted, money spent and memories ruined.
SEE ALSO: Best Dehumidifier for Basements (2020 Review & Guide)
It’s saddening and angering when it happens and the most upsetting part is that it’s easy to prevent. Don’t keep putting off waterproofing your goods; you could end up feeling very sad and miserable if you do.
Right, so exactly how is the best way to keep things dry in basement storage?
1. Vacuum Pack as Much as Possible
Clothes, blankets and towels are perfect for vacuum packing. Without sounding too much like a school science lesson, by creating a vacuum, evaporation practically doesn’t happen at all. This means less moisture. A LOT less moisture, less mold and less fuss.
2. Check Everything
Check your basement before you store anything in there. Check for cracks, holes, possible leaks and draughty areas. If there is even the slightest crack, get it fixed. You must also check everything before putting into your basement storage. Never store anything that’s wet or damp, and check the item is suitable for long periods of storage - is there a possibility of it leaking? And so forth.
3. Moisture Absorbers
Dot a few moisture absorbers around your basement to keep things dry for longer. You can buy moisture absorbers especially for rooms in the home from markets, supermarkets, DIY stores and online. An alternative is to place a few pans of cat litter, activated charcoal and silica gel around the basement. If you decide to try alternative methods to keep your basement storage dry, always do so safely and keep out of reach of children.
4. Store Sensibly
Don’t pack your stored items too closely together; this will not allow the air in the basement to circulate well. Leave gaps in your storage to prevent items become damp from the humidity you may have in your basement. If you’ve no room for gaps, a clear out could be your answer! Ask yourself, ‘’do I really need this?’’ If the answer is no, toss it out! The same goes for items you’ve had in storage for years and still haven’t used. Get rid of as much as possible to allow other items to ‘breathe’.
5. Use a Dehumidifier
You may have bought wonderful storage boxes, vacuum packs and more, but are still suffering from items becoming damp and musty. Sometimes the problem is that you have too much moisture in your basement; if this is the case, even perfect storage methods may not be sufficient enough. A dehumidifier may be worth considering in these cases.
Keeping your basement dry may seem frustrating at first, but trust us, you’ll soon be a storage genius who manages to keep all of the items dry, out of the way and looking great.
