When was the last time you actually spent time in your attic. I don't mean that you spent a night or anything — just that you did more than toss the unused suitcases up there or grab the Christmas decorations, or store the lawn furniture. I'm talking about things like going through the boxes you have stored or re-organizing things.

I spent last weekend in my mom's attic. It's been at least a decade since I set foot beyond the attic steps. Once the family moved the Christmas decorations to the storage unit, there was no reason to head to the attic.

I regret that now, for a few reasons:

1) Wow, was it dusty and dirty and just generally a mess.

2) Some things we might have liked to save (clothes, books, papers) didn't particularly like their extended sojourn in the attic, so they became trash.

3) There were beautiful things up there that family members could have been using over the years.

4) We found photos and memorabilia. I would have loved to have gone through them while my parents were alive so that they could tell me the stories behind the things they kept.

But you can learn from my mistake. Sometime this fall (when the attic is no longer a sauna and before it's become a refrigerator), really go through your attic. We found that it was easier to take everything in a given section out of the attic, sort it, and put it back, but that may not be necessary if you have some breathing space and sufficient light in your attic. Here are your tasks:

• Go through the boxes, crates, bags, etc. Trash, recycle, or repair anything that is broken.
• Donate, recycle, or sell anything still in good shape that you just don't want anymore.
• Get rid of old empty boxes or, as I call them, Airbnb for squirrels.
• Reorganize the things you plan to keep so that you can find what you need without sorting through everything: decorations sorted by holiday; outdoor furniture; luggage; currently unused furniture; etc.
• Sort through the boxes of memorabilia. You may be surprised that, after 10 years in a box, these things aren't quite so precious anymore. On the other hand, they may be even more precious — precious enough to come out of the attic and be displayed.
• If you have any mystery memorabilia, try to visit with family members or others who might be able to answer your questions.

Once you're done with his, give the attic a good sweep and check for leaks or openings that might invite the wildlife to take up residence.

This isn't a task you need to do every year, but you should do it at least once every 3-5 years — the sweeping more often. And, as you take things out and return them to the attic, make sure that you aren't storing things that are broken. Label anything you store and put it in a designated place. Your future self thanks you.