How to efficiently declutter your warehouse

Clutter is something no respectable household should allow. Cluttered spaces leave much to be desired in the way of aesthetics and order. Furthermore, even when your home is nice and tidy, all that clutter needs to go somewhere. We all have stuff that we don’t know what to do with, so we usually put them in our attics, basements, and pantries. However, if you own a warehouse, and you’ve been using it for a while now, that can be problematic. If you just kept stuffing your warehouse with endless piles of unwanted items, then that can start to look like pushing the problems beneath the carpet. Therefore, your movers and packers Seattle recommends, say that you should solve this ever-growing problem before it gets completely out of control. We are here to offer some useful tips on how to efficiently declutter your warehouse in a few easy steps. 

Declutter your warehouse with our help in a minute

Owning a warehouse brings a certain type of responsibility to it. Aside from keeping everything clean and organized, you need to make sure that things don’t pile up. No matter how many things you have in your unit, you need to keep everything organized. If you lose track of how many items you have and let it pile up, you will get overcrowded. When it comes to this, it is time to declutter your warehouse. So, even though the storage you rented from movers in Bainbridge Island has plenty of room, it is up to you to manage it. Now, maintaining the warehouse and the inventory space may seem difficult. Especially if you have a large unit with hundreds of items. Knowing the layout of your warehouse is important for good maintenance.

Declutter and maximize your space

Which items are necessary? Are there any items that have been neglected over time? Are there items that need to be thrown out? There are plenty of ways to improve the organization of your storage unit and make more room for new items. A lot of people think that organizing a unit revolves only around keeping an inventory, but that is not entirely true. To keep everything organized, you must declutter your warehouse, and maximize the available space. This way, you will increase the efficiency of your warehouse, and have a much easier time navigating it.

Clutter can cause a lot of problems

The problem with the clutter is that negates the purpose of having a warehouse in the first place. If you’re trying to create order in your house, you shouldn’t try to do it at the expense of chaos in your warehouse. Whether you’re renting a Seattle storage unit, or you actually own your own warehouse, you should make sure to keep everything organized. The real problems of a cluttered warehouse don’t end with practical issues. Having clutter out of sight might be a way to fix the problem temporarily. However, you’ll know that all that clutter is waiting for you whenever you think of your warehouse. Not only can your belongings get lost, but you also won’t be able to use the full potential of your warehouse. Keeping your things in order in a warehouse might lead to you having more space to fit other items into your warehouse.

You don’t want your belongings to get damaged or lost in a cluttered warehouse

If you’re putting your things in storage, chances are that you’re not ready to get rid of those items. You’re going to need those items again someday, maybe soon. Therefore, you should be sure to be able to find everything at a moment’s notice. Furthermore, keeping things organized in your warehouse will make sure that your belongings stay safe and functional. Neglecting them and letting them pile up is a sure way of damaging them. We don’t want that, especially because it’s not that hard to keep them from harm.

In addition, losing your items in a cluttered warehouse is also a real risk. If you’re using moving boxes Seattle residents usually use, there should be a way to label them. Having any kind of system that keeps the clutter at bay is a great idea. Therefore, you should find one that works for you.

Declutter your warehouse in order to prevent all sorts of problems

The practical problems clutter causes should not be overlooked either. If you don’t keep your items organized, they will take up more space. Why shouldn’t you take full advantage of the storage unit you’re paying for. Even if you own your own warehouse, it’s a shame for all that space to go to waste. Especially since this is something you can prevent easily. No matter what kind of items you’re storing, you will have more luck if you keep them in line. By sticking to your system, you’re making sure that you’re not wasting all that space. Furthermore, the clutter can prevent you from seeing all the items clearly. You might even forget that you’re storing something important in there. Therefore, clutter can cause all sorts of problems and should be prevented if possible. We’re here to help you find the way to do just that!

Before you start organizing everything, declutter your warehouse first

We all enjoy a simple life, but there are many things that prevent us from reaching it. This can either be a hectic work schedule or moving on a budget. However, one of the most common forms of disorder is simply too much stuff in your life and not enough space for it all. Owning too many items can make everyday life very stressful. So, to reduce the weight it brings down on us, we need to declutter often. With enough determination, you can downsize your warehouse and create more breathing room.

The three-pile method

This method is the most efficient when it comes to cleaning your warehouse and managing it. Start by getting everything out of the unit and placing it out front. If you have a large warehouse full of machinery, you will need the help of heavy equipment movers to get it all out. Once everything is outside, you can use this opportunity to give your storage unit a good cleaning. Clean the walls and ceiling, and give the floor a good wash. After that, inspect the whole unit for damage or mold and then start sorting your items into three piles:

• The “Keep” pile. Items on this pile are either high value, used daily or will serve a purpose at a later moment. If you have an item that is meant to go into the “keep” pile, don’t even put it there. Instead, move it right back into the warehouse in its designated spot. Technically, this pile should be the smallest, but when it comes to a warehouse, that depends on what you are storing.
• The “Donate/Sell” pile. This is where you will place items that you no longer need and use. Whatever is in this group can either be sold or donated to a service such as Habitat for Humanity. However, keep in mind that the condition of the items needs to be appropriate if you are going to donate them. A ruined, ripped-up shirt will be of no use to anyone.
• The “Discard” pile. This one needs no explanation. If it is no longer usable or heavily worn down, into the trash it goes. Before you place anything in this pile, carefully inspect it. Perhaps it can go into the donate pile instead?

After you declutter your warehouse, make sure everything remains in order

Now that everything is cleared out and organized, the next important step is to maintain this order and avoid over-cluttering again. There are methods to effectively keep everything in check. The more you try to maintain order in your affordable commercial warehouse, the fewer problems you will have. Declutter once, and you will only have to do yearly maintenance at best to make sure everything is in order.

The Japanese method of  the 5 S’ works wonders

Over 400 years ago, the Japanese developed a method to make their workspace more efficient and organized. It contains 5 important steps to stick to, all of which will make your warehouse run better, and be safer. These steps are Seiri, Seiso, Seiton, Seiketsu, and Shitsuke. This is what they mean:

• Seiri (Sorting) – Assess your items and decide what you need and what you don’t. If an item serves you no purpose and only takes up space, get rid of it. This will create more space in your warehouse, helping you navigate easier, or store more items in it.
• Seiso (Shining) – Before you do anything in the warehouse, clean it inside and out. This includes the floors, walls, hanging racks, and its contents. This way you are minimizing safety hazards, preventing mold in your storage, and any other problem that may arise,
• Seiton (Setting up an order) – Once you clean the unit, you need to arrange everything in it and make an inventory list. By knowing where everything is, and having easy access to it, you will save time and money. Also, you won’t risk misplacing an item.
• Sekietsu (Standardize) – Think of a way to maintain your unit as best as you can. This can include cleaning and re-doing the unit inventory once every six months, or a year. This way, you will be able to keep track of the condition of your unit and prevent clutter.
• Shitsuke (Sustain) – Cleaning your warehouse is easy, but you need to keep it clean. Letting everything slip back into chaos is easier than you think. That’s why you need to be a responsible owner and never return to your old habits. If you remain diligent, you won’t have to declutter your warehouse over and over. With enough determination, you will have a wonderful warehouse.

Make sure to respect your own time in order to be as efficient as possible

Procrastination is a problem that you’ll undoubtedly face when sorting through your warehouse. It’s a difficult and tedious task. Therefore, you should try to find focus and find a way to make the job fun. It’s the age-old problem. Once you start digging through your old things, you’ll surely find a lot of things that will jog your memory and cause sentimentality. Therefore, you should keep in mind your goal. It’s extremely important to keep your belongings in place and get rid of anything you don’t need. A tidy home can lead to a tidier life. Furthermore, you should set a time frame in which you want to complete the work and try to stick to that deadline. It is important to determine the time limit according to your capacity depending on whether you work better in shorter or longer time intervals. Try to keep yourself motivated throughout!

Keep your warehouse tidy, but work on it regularly

Of course, once you do declutter the space in your warehouse, it’s important to stick to the plan and not let the clutter creep back in. Your warehouse needs to be tidy at all times. It’s therefore important to pay frequent visits to your warehouse. You should go there at least once a week. It can be difficult to find time, but you should try to find a way to make it work.

Once all of your belongings are organized, you should also be sure to take care of the items in there. You don’t want those things to stay there forever, and you should work on finding a purpose for them. Some of them you will need to throw away, and some you might want to sell. That way you’ll always have some space available in your warehouse and ensure that you don’t have clutter accumulating in your home.

Even when it is in perfect order, you should remember that its purpose is to be a temporary space for your belongings. Work on figuring out what to do with them in order to free that space.

Some items may require a bit of extra attention

Depending on the items you’re storing, you could have more or less of a difficult time with them. For example, if you need to store paperwork from your office, you’ll need to dedicate a lot more time to your task than if you’re storing bedding or pillows. Therefore, you should set aside more time and energy depending on the challenges you’re about to face. Get in touch with the office movers Seattle has to offer to help you transport your files. However, you should organize them yourself and make sure that everything is accounted for and in perfect order. The same goes for valuables or expensive equipment. You should pay extra attention to items that are more important and valuable. You want them to be in perfect shape because you will surely need them again, and maybe even sooner than you think. Be careful and pay attention to details.

Make sure your warehouse is in top condition at all times

Making sure that the technical side of things is in order is extremely important. You should make the point of equipping your warehouse with everything a modern warehouse needs to have. The first step is the lighting. Warehouses are usually located outside of town, and they often don’t have windows. Therefore, it’s important to make sure that the power is in order. Good lighting will enable you to see things clearly. Furthermore, you should be sure to call an exterminator every once in a while. It’s important for you to pest-proof your warehouse. Be sure to clean all the shelves and sweep the floors regularly. By maintaining your warehouse in top condition, you’re actually ensuring the safety of your belongings, which is, in truth, the most important part of this whole story. These things might take up a little more of your time, but they should be done regularly.

You can count on our help!

Now that you know the importance of knowing how to declutter your warehouse, it’s time to get to work. Using our step-by-step guide is a quick and efficient way to get rid of the clutter. However, commitment to order is actually the most important thing. Once you do get rid of clutter, it can be rather easy for it to find its way back into your life. Therefore, it’s extremely important to be consistent. Create a system that works for you and stick to it. If you wait for the problem to escalate, you might end up having to hire professional moving services Seattle has to offer. Moving companies also offer removal services that can be of use to those of you who have cluttered warehouses. If you need the help of a reliable moving company, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us!

Why Choose Us

History

Hansen Bros. Moving & Storage is locally owned and operated by the same family for four generations, since 1890. We have a well-established reputation for service quality and reliability with a high percentage of repeat household and commercial clients.

Professionalism

We’re a certified ProMover by the American Moving and Storage Association with A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, voted “Best in Western Washington” in 2009 and from 2011 to 2016 by KING5. Our company is fully licensed and insured and member of WMC and AMSA.

Value

Hansen Bros. Moving & Storage provide free, no-obligation in-home estimate and competitive rates, including low minimum rates for shipments moving under 300 miles. We’ve set a refund policy for unused packing materials and three Puget Sound locations to help clients save on travel fee costs.