Using Your Basement for Storage Could Lead to Disaster!

6/8/2022 (Permalink)

It's common for homeowners around the country to use the available space in their basements as areas for storage, but in doing so they may be setting themselves up for disaster! An unfinished basement is a more than suitable environment for mold to gather and spread, as the concrete slab that makes up the floor is often cold and damp. When cardboard boxes and other biodegradable materials are left to sit on a bare basement floor, they quickly become the needed nutrients to aid mold in its growth.

The best preventative measure that you can take, while still being able to use your basement as a storage location, is to install metal or plastic shelving. Keeping boxes suspended above the cold, damp floor is more than enough to reduce the likelihood of mold growth. Try to aim for a minimum of 18 inches of space between the floor and any storage containers!