15 things I've learned while cleaning the basement

I'm sure I'll learn more.

1. My grandma sowed a ton of stuff. I knew she sowed some stuff, but the amount we found was just truly incredible. Hopefully she wouldn't be disappointed at my extreme lack of skills in this area.
2. My mom used to draw moody pictures. Not that I never imagined that my mom had emotional times, I just never knew she drew out her feelings.
3. Don't save magazines. You don't really want to save them all, you just don't.
4. Parents love their children's artwork more than the children do. My mom would not let me get rid of a mask of my face or a partially destroyed ostrich that Cory had made.
5. Bags and boxes are not the best filing systems.
6. Get boxes that seal because your basement will flood at some point.
7. Making a map of a disorganized closet does not help.
8. Label boxes with tape because, chances are, that you're going to change what the box is for. If you don't label with tape you end up with boxes labeled: TO SELL, $, C.P. Aaron, and Wicker Baskets.
9. Hang up art you buy right away, otherwise it's just gonna go missing. We found SO much art that had languished int he basement.
10. As hard as it is, you do have to get rid of books. Don't end up with as many boxes of books as we did...please.
11. Plan your basement cleanups around your trash and recycling schedules. We did not do this and had to borrow a neighbor's recycling bin because of all of the stuff we got rid of...and I think we'll have to again.
12. Every household has at least one bag of bags. I think we have about three right now.
13. You don't need to save all wrapping paper. A lot of it is not good after the first use.
14. It can be fun to see a lot of old doodads again...which isn't a helpful feeling when you're trying to downsize.
15. Toys will always hold a special place in my heart. They're one of the hardest things for me to get rid of.

(Prompt by me)

Photo source