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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
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    Default Unfinished basement organization on the cheap.

    My mostly (but not always) dry unfinished basement needs work including some wall repair. It's also though where we store most of our out of season stuff except for clothes. But it's in uncovered totes, random boxes on card tables, etc. I am hoping to do a big purge and get everything into good covered large plastic storage bins, that ideally would be up off the floor on some type of shelving in case of unexpected flooding since we can't afford a complete finishing/basement waterproofing system.

    Questions:
    - I know some cheap plastic (Sterilite) has an odd smell. Is Rubbermaid my best bet for non-smelly? If I am going to need 20 tubs, who sells them the cheapest in large quantities (or is there a seasonal sale I should be keeping any eye out for?)
    - What shelving would be best for example for putting a couple rows of tubs off up the floor in a way I can just slide out individual tubs? We have limited wall space, so I also want to do it efficiently. I'm not set on metal vs plastic since I don't expect my tubs to have a lot of heavy items in them. So I can probably go pretty cheap? Similarly to above - where to buy? and any seasonal sales?

    Thanks for any tips!

  2. #2
    jgenie is offline Red Diamond level (10,000+ posts)
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
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    13,233

    Default

    The basement in our previous house would flood. We had these racks to hold totes. They wiped down nicely if they got wet. Not sure on your budget but we bought them one at a time as we were able. We still have them 10+ years later. They made the move with us. You could do a similar set up in wood for less but I would worry about mold if they got wet.

    http://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-48-in...872C/100655787

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    North-East
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    4,989

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by jgenie View Post
    The basement in our previous house would flood. We had these racks to hold totes. They wiped down nicely if they got wet. Not sure on your budget but we bought them one at a time as we were able. We still have them 10+ years later. They made the move with us. You could do a similar set up in wood for less but I would worry about mold if they got wet.

    http://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-48-in...872C/100655787
    This is what we have too in our unfinished basement. We keep a mix of rubbermaid and non plastic storage totes; like speciality totes from container store to store extra plates, photo container to store all the extra photo prints. A clear container to store my boys artwork, certificates etc.

    We had a flooding from hurricane Sandy that we waterproofed our basement, upgraded our French sump dump connected to backup generator. That's how our basement flooded, the battery run older sump pump lost power and backed up water, flooding our basement with 1-2 inches of water.

    Anyway, I try to keep our basement free of storage boxes all over the place. Only essentials are kept downstairs. The boys seasonal clothing and DS1 outgrow clothes for DS2 are kept upstairs in flat containers under boys beds. I don't want to run the risks of clothes getting moldy downstairs.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Mummy to DS1-6/11 and DS2-1/14

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    North-East
    Posts
    4,989

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by jgenie View Post
    The basement in our previous house would flood. We had these racks to hold totes. They wiped down nicely if they got wet. Not sure on your budget but we bought them one at a time as we were able. We still have them 10+ years later. They made the move with us. You could do a similar set up in wood for less but I would worry about mold if they got wet.

    http://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-48-in...872C/100655787
    This is what we have too in our unfinished basement. We keep a mix of rubbermaid and non plastic storage totes; like speciality totes from container store to store extra plates, photo container to store all the extra photo prints. A clear container to store my boys artwork, certificates etc.

    We had a flooding from hurricane Sandy that we waterproofed our basement, upgraded our French sump dump connected to backup generator. That's how our basement flooded, the battery run older sump pump lost power and backed up water, flooding our basement with 1-2 inches of water.

    Anyway, I try to keep our basement free of storage boxes all over the place. Only essentials are kept downstairs. The boys seasonal clothing and DS1 outgrow clothes for DS2 are kept upstairs in flat containers under boys beds. I don't want to run the risks of clothes getting moldy downstairs.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Mummy to DS1-6/11 and DS2-1/14

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Posts
    284

    Default

    I think I once saw somewhere that Martha Stewart recommended using crate pallets to store items a few inches off the floor in case of flooding.

  6. #6
    niccig is offline Clean Sweep forum moderator
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    CA.
    Posts
    23,492

    Default

    I have these but in black in the garden shed. I think they're stable enough, especially if put heavy items on bottom. MIL has wooden shelves that BIL made for her. They're deeper so a tote can fit lengthwise.


    Sent from my iPhone using Baby Bargains

  7. #7
    Mommy_Mea is offline Emerald level (3000+ posts)
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Posts
    3,983

    Default

    We have the Rubbermaid Roughneck totes on an IKEA BRODER shelving system (discontinued). We love the BRODER because of its industrial galvanized look, and that it attaches to the rafters of the basement, not to the wall. It allows for very sturdy shelves in the middle of the room (not against a wall).

    Looking around, it sounds like IKEA felt there was not enough demand for this type of system and it was too expensive to produce, and the HEJNE or ALGOT covered the market.
    DS1 June 2009
    DS2 June 2011

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