Going Through Stuff in the Attic

The attic is the one space in your home that is easily forgotten, especially since you don’t go up there very often. Most of us don’t enter the attic unless you need to store something or you’re looking for something specific. It’s a place where antiques and family heirlooms are kept, and years may go by between when you put something up there and when you take it down. At EZ Storage® in Philadelphia, we can help you find suitable self-storage for anything that you want to move out of the attic and into a more secure spot.

Going through the stuff in the attic can take time, and there are some things to keep in mind as you venture to the top floor of your home.

1. Be Safe

The first thing to remember when going to the attic is to be safe. The stairs or ladder leading up to the attic may not have been used in a long time, and may not be as stable as they once were. This is especially important to keep in mind as you carry things down to the main part of the house. The last thing you want is to lose your balance while carrying a heavy box full of family heirlooms!

Once you’re in the attic, keep in mind that you may need to take care where you step. There may be plywood or other materials that are providing a platform for your boxes and totes so that the weight is evenly distributed, but if you step in the wrong place, you could put your foot through the floor, or worse, fall through to the house below.

2. Handle With Care

Many of the items in your attic have probably been up there for a long time, and some may be very fragile. Others may have become worn or brittle over the years, but whatever the case may be, it’s always a good idea to handle things with the utmost care. If you have a box of your grandmother’s china stored up there, then you want to be sure that everything comes downstairs in one piece.

If you’ve stored furniture in the attic, then take time to inspect it for any wear or damage. Heat and cold can take their toll on wood and leather, as can pests such as termites or rodents. If anything has been chewed on or splintered due to heat, then you may need to mitigate the damage or restore the piece before you put it into self-storage.

3. Take Time to Clean

The one thing that most people associate with attics is dust. Many upper floors aren’t insulated and/or finished, which means that dust can fall from the roof and settle on your belongings. You’ll want to take the time to clean everything before you put it into storage, mostly so you can know what condition things are in and whether or not they need to be repaired.

With boxes, totes, and tubs, wiping the dust off of them will give you the opportunity to label things properly. Once you’ve gone through a box and cleaned it off, you can write on it to identify what’s in the box. This will make it easier to find a specific item when everything is in storage.

4. Be Okay with Tossing Items

Not everything in your attic is likely worth keeping, which is why it’s important to be okay with tossing certain items. You may have some old clothes that have been stored up there for decades, and if they’re in good condition, then donating them to a thrift store could be the best way to go. If they’re no longer wearable, then throwing them away might be the best course of action.

As you’re sorting through items, you may have some that can go back into the attic, while others are designated for storage. At the end of the day, you’ll have fewer boxes and totes in the attic, while everything that you want to keep safe and secure is locked away in your storage unit.

At EZ Storage®, we’re dedicated to helping every person who needs self-storage find the perfect option. With multiple locations in the greater Philadelphia area, we can show you all that we have to offer.

We look forward to meeting you!