The Organizer

Dear Devorah 

Now that Succos is over, I’m ready to pack away the panels, schach, and decorations. There’s just one problem: I have nowhere to put them! I’d love to use my attic for storage, but it’s such a mess right now that I don’t even know where to begin. Any advice?

Sincerely,

Stuck Under the Schach

Dear Stuck,

You’re definitely not alone. Succos ends with joy… and then suddenly, you’re staring at a mountain of boxes and wondering where on earth it’s all going to go. The attic’s packed, the succah boards are wobbling in the hallway, and one wrong move could trigger a full-blown storage disaster.

The good news? There’s no better time to tackle your attic. The weather’s just right – not sweltering, not freezing – and you can actually breathe up there without melting or turning into an icicle.

So grab a hoodie, charge your flashlight, and take a deep breath.

We’re going in.

Step 1: What Are You Even Storing?

Let’s be honest – most people don’t go up to their attic unless something’s leaking or Pesach is around the corner. So before we talk systems, take a minute to ask yourself one key question:Do I actually need what’s already up there?

If your daughter wore that frilly Purim dress when she was two and she’s now in seminary, it’s probably time to let it go. Same goes for old school projects, broken toys, or those mystery boxes still sealed from your last move. These things aren’t just sentimental – they’re taking up prime real estate. And when you’re trying to squeeze in sukkah boards, decorations, and everything else that didn’t make it back into the garage, every inch counts.

Start by pulling out what you can and making quick, confident decisions:

● Keep

● Donate

● Toss

Be realistic. If it hasn’t come down in five years, it probably doesn’t need to stay.

Step 2: Sort in Big, Broad Categories

Attics aren’t exactly built for precision. You’re ducking under beams, sweating through your sweatshirt, and hoping you don’t fall through the ceiling. So keep it simple.

This is not the time for tiny bins labeled “Purim accessories: infant size.” Think broad, obvious, and easy-to-maintain categories. The goal is to find what you need next year without needing a search party.

Here are the MVPs of attic storage:

Yom Tov Keep it all together – but divide it by holiday. Your Seder plates don’t need to live with your esrog box. Label a bag or bin for each – Pesach, Sukkos, Chanukah – and stack them neatly in one section.

Camp + Summer Neck fans, water shoes, duffels, bunk junk – group it all in one place so you’re not scrambling next June. If it only comes out once a year, it should live together year-round.

Kids’ Clothing This one’s big. Within your kids’ clothing zone, separate bags or bins by size and season. “Girls 4T Winter” and “Boys 6 Summer” go much further than one giant mystery bag labeled “Clothes to Save.”

Luggage Suitcases, duffels, and that rolling bag with the missing wheel you swear you’ll fix this year – store them together. Keep the most-used ones easy to grab.

Keepsakes Baby outfits, school projects, photo albums – be selective. If it’s truly worth the attic real estate, keep it. If not, snap a picture and let it go.

Step 3: Lay Out & Labels

You don’t need shelves. You don’t need matching bins.

You just need a plan – and a marker that actually works.

Start by dividing the attic into simple zones. Not bins. Not micro-categories. Just space.

Remember: this isn’t a walk-in pantry you visit daily – it’s a once-in-a-while climb up rickety stairs. Assign each category its own area – and leave breathing room so nothing topples when you come looking for the menorah.

One corner for camp gear. One wall for hand-me-downs.

Yom Tov boxes? Give them their own stretch of floor – preferably not behind a beam you’re destined to bang your head on.

Once the zones are mapped out, make them impossible to miss. 

Grab a roll of tape and some printer paper. Write in giant, bold letters:

● KIDS’ CLOTHING 

● SUCCAH PANELS

● LUGGAGE 

Tape the signs right onto the wall, beam, or slanted ceiling. Big and visible.

Because rummaging through mystery bins in a heatwave is not part of the Yom Tov prep you had in mind.

Step 4: Don’t Break a Leg (or the Ceiling)

Attics are not exactly known for their user-friendliness. There are beams to duck, nails to avoid, and floors that may or may not be actual floors.

So here’s your survival guide:

● Stick to the planks- Not the pink fluff, not the empty space between joists. Just the solid boards.One wrong step and you’re waving hello through the dining room ceiling.

● Watch your head. Attics love to test your reflexes with sloped ceilings and surprise beams. Move slowly, especially when you’re carrying bins.

● Leave a clear path. Don’t block the attic entrance with a mountain of duffels or a wobbly pile of bins. You want a safe route up and down – especially if someone’s running up mid-season to grab a fan or suitcase.

● Keep high-use items in the front. Luggage, hand-me-downs, and fans should be easy to reach. Sukkah stuff and Chanukah tablecloths can live further back. 

● Bring light. If your attic’s lighting is poor (and let’s be honest, it probably is), bring your own. A flashlight – or even your phone light – can save you from both stubbed toes and regret. Ladder climbing and label reading should never happen in pitch black.

Bottom line: you don’t need to babyproof your attic – but it should be safe, clear, and structured enough to get in, get what you need, and get out without injury or full-body sweat.

Step 5: Let Go of the Guilt

There’s a reason your attic got like this. It’s normal. That’s what attics do. They collect good intentions, old memories, and all the things you didn’t know where else to put.

Life is busy. Space is limited. And no one wakes up on a random Tuesday thinking, “Today’s the day I organize the attic.”

But here you are, doing it anyway. 

You’re not just decluttering. You’re clearing space for the future. The next time Yom Tov sneaks up on you, you’ll know exactly where those sukkah panels are and you won’t have to crawl over three car seats, a sheitel box, and your toddler’s size 2 Crocs to find them. 

Final Thoughts

You don’t need to be a minimalist. You just need a system.

Start with what matters. Keep what’s useful. Label it clearly. And store it like a future-you will need to find it fast… in the dark… while holding a sleeping child.

With a little effort (and probably a lot of dust), your attic can go from overflowing to organized – without losing your mind in the process.

Now reward yourself with a cookie. Or better yet, light up that candle and take a deep breath. Yom Tov is over. The attic is conquered. And the sukkah is officially packed away.

You got this.

Happy Organizing,

Devorah