12 Things in Your Basement You Should Toss ASAP

Your basement can quickly become a black hole, especially if it's unfinished or isn't well organized. Even completed spaces designed to provide more living space can quickly descend into chaos if you’re not careful. Whether your intention is for the space to be used for relaxation or functional storage (or a little of both), it’s time to regain control of your basement so you can make the most of this extra bit of real estate.

There are a handful of things that should never be stored in a basement for safety purposes. But plenty of seemingly harmless items contribute to the mess, too. One look downstairs, and you’ll likely come across a few offenders in your own home. As a professional organizer, I put together a list of items you should toss from your basement as soon as you can. Use this list as motivation to declutter your basement once and for all.

1. Leftover Home Improvement Materials

If they’re not in the garage or outdoor shed, old home improvement scraps are probably hiding out in your basement. Remnants from a recent renovation or remodel are acceptable to hold onto, so long as they’re organized and you might realistically use them in the future. But backsplash tiles and floor planks that no longer match what’s in your home are simply taking up unnecessary space. Post intact materials for free pick up in your neighborhood’s buy-sell-trade group or inquire about donating them to a charity such as Habitat for Humanity ReStore. If anything is broken or expired (remember, products like caulk, grout, and cement mix have a shelf life), make it a priority to safely discard them.

2. Improperly Sealed Paint Cans

While they can certainly be lumped in with the home improvement category, half-used paint cans are such a prevalent source of basement clutter that they deserve their own spot on this list. As with other home improvement supplies, retaining current paint colors is smart in case walls need touchups or a fresh coat. Ensure cans are sealed and stored properly so the paint doesn’t go bad prematurely. (Be sure to follow suit with cans of primer, varnish, and stain.) Similarly to building materials, paint that’s still good (but you no longer need) can be donated, while everything else can be disposed of according to your municipality’s rules.

3. Empty Boxes

It’s not a good idea to keep any type of paper in the basement, particularly an unfinished one, as it’s a magnet for mold, mildew, and insects. The same rule applies to cardboard, which is the reason you should always transfer contents out of cardboard boxes and into durable plastic storage bins if you plan to keep them in a humid place for any length of time. It’s no surprise, then, that empty boxes from either your last move or past purchases should also be eliminated from the basement. Breaking them down to save for a later date isn’t enough, as bugs will still nestle their way in even as the cardboard deteriorates. Not to mention, oversized boxes take up a ton of space even when lying flat. Either recycle empty boxes or give them to a friend who’s in the process of moving. If you’re struggling to part with a box you might actually use later on, find a more climate-controlled part of the house to stash it.

4. Old Electronics

Electronics are best kept out of the basement altogether. Heat and humidity can wreak havoc on their circuitry and batterie. Plus, dust will collect if they’ve been forgotten about, causing irreparable damage. If you plan to use the basement as an entertainment or game room, only leave the devices that you’ll actively be using down there, and be sure to maintain a comfortable humidity level. Drop outdated tech off at an e-recycling center and organize the electronics you still use somewhere on your home’s main level.

5. Retired Exercise Equipment

At one point, you might have tried to turn the basement into a home gym. If that’s still the goal once you’ve decluttered it, fantastic! But be honest about what gym equipment you’ll continue to use; otherwise, you’ll wind up wasting a considerable amount of space by leaving unattended treadmills and stationary bikes in the basement. Sell any unused, yet intact, workout equipment through your local marketplace, and don’t forget about the smaller, less bulky gear like dumbbells and stability balls. If they’ve been collecting dust in the corner for years, it might be time to let them go.

6. Rarely-Used Cookware

The basement is an excellent place to keep specialty kitchen items, like holiday serving ware or baking tools, rather than crowding cabinets with things you only need to reach for once in a while. When replacing kitchen essentials, you may be in the habit of hanging onto the originals and using the basement to store them “just in case” you’ll need them again someday. But if you truly have no use for them anymore or forget they exist entirely, this is your sign to declutter and free the downstairs space up for something more productive. Gift your old pots and pans sets to a young family member moving into their first apartment, and drop off that unopened panini press at a donation center. Always carefully dispose of damaged cookware, especially if it contains broken glass or ceramic.

7. Worn-Out Holiday Decor

When stored well, holiday decorations should last years, even when kept in the basement. Carelessness and accidents happen, however, so take some time with each season to go through items and toss anything that’s faded, shattered, or stopped working. Remember, too, that tastes and styles change, so donate anything in good condition that you no longer wish to display in your home. Once you see what you’re left with, consider investing in holiday storage organizers designed to save space and protect your precious decor pieces. While at it, get rid of leftover party supplies that look worse for the wear.

8 Excess Home Decor and Furniture

It’s generally a bad idea to store home furnishings in an unfinished basement. Fabrics (including canvas artwork) are prone to mildew, and wood will warp when exposed to heat and humidity. There’s also the issue of oversized furniture and spare rolled-up rugs that make it challenging to navigate the space. Some people like to swap out their decor seasonally. or when they feel its time for a change. If you’re one of those people, safeguard your things by storing them in a more temperate environment, even if that means renting a climate-controlled storage unit. Perhaps you’re storing pieces downstairs because you planned to refurbish them or are still figuring out where they fit into your home. Take this as your sign to finally tackle those projects and clear out even more room in the basement.

9 Outgrown Toys and Games

Most kids love to play in the basement, whether it’s finished or not. If that’s the case in your household, there is probably a plethora of old toys and games creating clutter throughout the space. Give away working toys they’ve grown out of and chuck those with broken parts or missing pieces that haven’t been seen in ages. Unless your basement is equipped to serve as a playroom, avoid storing any toys or games in it, as consistent exposure to moisture in the air can cause rust or mildew to form on them.

10 Bygone Baby Items

Your baby’s things hold many happy memories and are understandably hard to part with. However, they shouldn’t be taking up residence in the basement for various reasons. For one, it’s not worth the risk of ruining sentimental items such as handmade blankets and special outfits if basement conditions are conducive to safekeeping. Secondly, gear like strollers, car seats, and playpens not only occupy a lot of space, metal parts can tarnish if subjected to humidity. While it’s wise to hang onto these things if you or someone you know is expecting or plans to be in the near future, keep in mind that child safety regulations change every so often.

11 Anything Moldy, Expired, or Pest-Infested

As you sort through the clutter, you may come across some unpleasant discoveries. When left unattended in a basement for a prolonged period, things are bound to acquire mold and mildew or become infested with unwelcome guests. Look for signs such as stains, water damage, moth holes, and droppings. If you use the basement to store backstock cleaning supplies or non-perishable pantry goods, stay on top of their shelf life and discard items if they expire.

12 Anything that Belongs to Someone Else

If you’re serious about decluttering your basement (and keeping it that way), you might have to have some tough conversations. Perhaps you’ve let your apartment-dwelling adult child or a chronically disorganized neighbor indefinitely store some of their things in your basement. Or, maybe someone who currently lives with you refuses to take ownership of perpetuating the mess downstairs. It could be that you inherited a host of things from a deceased relative, and although you don’t need or want most of them, you feel obligated to let them live in your basement.

Whichever the case, the stuff needs to be dealt with head-on, and there’s no better time to do so than in the present. Remember your end goal of reclaiming the basement, using it as an incentive to enforce the boundaries and make the decisions necessary to transform the space.