The attic is the storage area where the items we used least are housed. Often this area is avoided due to the unorganized accumulation of “stuff.” However, today we are going to begin taking control of the chaos and establish a sense of order to the attic. This usually is a personal process as many meaningful items make their way here. Family heirlooms, children’s keepsakes, sentimental artifacts, holiday items and the like usually reside here. So prepare yourself for the sentimental journey but arm yourself with resolve to conquer the chaos.

Here are my suggestions for organizing your items in the attic:

• Take items out of boxes and assess for categories (including a donate or dispose category)
• Group items by categories such as holiday, keepsakes, heirlooms, children’s items, etc.
• Check every nook and cranny of each item. Check pockets, pouches, envelopes and books. You never know what treasures you may find.
• Repack items to be kept in bubble wrap and put into plastic storage bins. Cardboard and paper packing materials tend to attract humidity. Humidity can lead to mold therefore, plastic bubble wrap and bins can reduce the amount of moisture and mold.  Go to the page DIY Silica Gel Packets for Storing Items:  for instructions on how to make your own silica gel packets to put into the bins to further reduce humidity and mold.
• Only put one category in each bin. Label the bin for easy identification.
• Carefully consider these items to determine whether you are going to keep them. If you don’t need them, intend to use them, or they are sentimentally significant, then you will want to sell, donate or dispose of them.
• While in the attic, look for signs of roof leakage and/or rodent evidence. Address these immediately
• Stack the bins for easy access with labels facing out.
• Remove any items to be sold, donated or disposed of.
• Due to the extreme heat in attics, it is best not to store precious keepsakes or valuable items here. Find an alternate location. Items such as photographs, fabrics, leathers, etc. will be better preserved in a friendlier environment.