Today I am participating with 5 Minutes for Mom’s Tackle it Tuesday and I would like to share with you my decluttering method.
Toddlers relocate-relocate-relocate everything! I always think of that kid-song “which one of these things just doesn’t belong” as I move around my house putting back all the items my two little ones in diapers have moved.
My Problem:
I talk on the phone in my kitchen in front of a mess of baby hair clips, super glue, Rosaries, Hot Wheels, a tube of toddler toothpaste, tokens for the carousel at the park, baby socks, a screwdriver, and a host of other items that “just don’t belong.” I need none of these items when I talk on the phone and they all need to go back to the room where they normally live. With two children with itchy fingers I can’t just run up or down stairs to put a few items back, so they stay in a large, messy, pile by my kitchen phone.
Why Not Just Leave Them There?
My Solution:
I set two purple cloth baskets on my kitchen shelves, one for up stairs items and down stairs items. I plan to collect “lost” items in these baskets and when they are full I can take the entire basket upstairs one time and put everything back in it’s rightful place.
Other Thoughts:
So, this is how I have tackled my kitchen clutter (aka, my toddler-run relocation program.) What system do you have for returning those items that “just don’t belong” to their rightful home?
Be sure to head on over to 5 Minutes for Mom and see more organizing projects tackled!
Kristin, That is a fabulous idea! Thank you so much for sharing!! I think I am file that away to try when my kids can replace as well as they can relocate.
Really great website, and inspiring feats of organization! Nice work. We have something at my house called a “Blitz” a couple of times a day. Everyone gets a bag, I set the timer for about 10 minutes, and we grab everything that is not in the right place, at about 5 minutes into it I yell “switch” and we make deliveries out of our bags and try to beat the timer to an empty bag. Surprisingly enough most things get put in the right place – shoes in the closet, toys in the play room, etc. Then I go through and actually tidy, but it makes it so much easier when things are in the right room at least. I like the idea of the boxes to put things I find in random places during the day. I’ll try it.
Oh how I love before and after pictures! The area looks great. My 5 year old collects everything imaginable and it ends up everywhere. He has his own treasure box, but I still end up sitting on marbles, quarters, cars, or whatever his current collection is, on the couch.
I tackled our family communication center this week.
Onna, so true. My son uses his Thomas the Train bag and totes things around, dumps them out, spreads them around, loses a few under the sofa…you get the idea.
So fun.
Wow! doesn’t that feel good!! I get piles like that all the time!!! I try to go through them periodically ( my husband requests it-piles make him crazy!!) I just did my tackle it tuesday project and felt so good seeing the result. I know exactly what you mean about toddlers moving things!! My daughter loves to put everything in bags and move them to other places!! I am always trying to put it back in the right place!! A never ending battle but hours of fun for the kids!!
I LOVE the title…so appropriate!
Upstatemomof3, Too funny! My mom did this to me when I was a kid on vacuum day–pick it up or lose it to the vacuum!
Great tackle!!
I have to put them away as soon as I see them because Hubby’s system is to just throw them away! So, they never sit on my counter long (at least not if I do not want them thrown away).