So often disorder happens in our homes because we have something in our hands and no place to put it. We set it down somewhere with the intent of dealing with it later. A few simple items quickly turns into a pile and becomes overwhelming. This type of disorganization is easy to solve. Just give these items a home.
So today's tip is to consider setting up three baskets in your laundry room (or some other convenient spot): one basket for items that need to be hand washed (or taken to the dry cleaner), one for items that you need to mend, and one for items that you mean to donate.
Be sure to label the baskets because an unlabelled basket has a way of becoming a dumping grounds for all manner of randomness and chaos.
Come back tomorrow for day four of 31 days to an Organized Home!
[This is day 3 in a series called 31 Days to an Organized Home. Click here to see all of the series posts to date.]
This would work well for us, but I can't think of a space that it would fit in, I think I'll have to do some clearing out first.
ReplyDeleteAt the moment we always seem to have a bin bag sitting around which gradually gets filled with things to donate, a basket would be so much more attractive!
I hope you had a lovely weekend,
Jade
This is one of those smack my forehead moments. Brilliant! I have a couple of baskets for donations--and one of my hampers is devoted to hand washables--but what I don't have is a fix-it basket--and I need one. I have three things in various places right now. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteJoing the challenge though I can't do all the 'days' because I'm only 15 years old and well, I live with my parents ;) But the things I could do for my room, well please, I love to stay organised!
ReplyDeleteNo words for how much I love this tip. I'll be using old boxes though - but it'll still work!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your post..I actuall think I could do this. My husband laughs that every horizontal surface ends up with a pile. Love the basket idea and will try to implement. Excited for these 31 days...blessings. You can follow mine at 31 days to Health or www.onthejourneywithchrist.blogspot.com. Thanks! Sherry B.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous idea! This way I don't have to hunt down the owner of the item in question to find out what needs to be done with it.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! I'm definitely going to be looking for some baskets. :)
ReplyDeleteLove this idea! Your laundry room set up is like mine, but your looks a lot cuter!
ReplyDeleteThis is an awesome idea!! And as I think about it, this is a great place to put those 3 baskets. thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI could see myself using this in other ways rather in my laundry room. I do love baskets when I use them correctly...so many times they turn into a catch all for me!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely laundry room! We have a new home but unfortunately the laundry room is small. I don't like it all:(
I am enjoying your challenge and this is helping me stay motivated!
I came across your blog when looking for organization solutions on Pinterest. I am at the point where I want to cry because my home has become so chaotic!!! I have no money to buy storage solutions, so I'm left to figuring it out on my own. I am LOVING all of your tips, and really getting excited about putting a plan into action. Thanks so much!!!
ReplyDeleteI got all my baskets from the $1 store, that helps on a tight budget and they actually have some cute ones. You can switch them out later with nicer ones as you have the money.
Deleteyou can use type of container and cover them with fabric scaps i use old ice cream pails for junk and small plastic containers crystal light comes in for small items
DeleteWHERE did you get your indoor clothesline?!?!! I have been looking for one like it, but can't find it on the internet (there are other variations, but not like the one in your picture). I am thanking you in advance, best regards.
ReplyDeleteHi Isabelle! I love my hanging clothes dryer! It's on a pulley system and is so useful! I got it at Ikea. Here's the link: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40176078/
ReplyDeleteAlong the lines of baskets in the laundry room... I have small baskets for each member of the family. As I do the laundry, I just toss the socks into each person's basket. Then when folding time comes along, it's SO much easier, because it's already narrowed down. Plus the match-less ones from one load are more likely to find their partner out of the next load.
ReplyDeleteWe have a tiny laundry room. I love the idea for baskets for the dry cleaning and hand washing. We do have a wire shelf above our washer/dryer that I already have three baskets on for different things. I like how you placed these right on the washer/dryer.
ReplyDeleteDo you store the baskets on top of the washer/dryer? What happens when the washer spins? Do they vibrate off?
ReplyDeleteThere is a shelf behind the washer and dryer...the baskets aren't actually on the washer and dryer.
ReplyDeleteWe have 3way hampers that we use for the same purpose - For mine, I have 1 bin for hang dry, one for tumble dry, and one for socks and undies. My husband has his own with 3 bins, and then my baby has her own in her room with just 1. Oh, and we have a final one just for towels. A little different then having baskets - but definitely made a HUGE difference in our lives! My least favorite task is separating laundry and now it's pre-separated :)
ReplyDeleteI love the laundry room color! What's the name?
ReplyDeleteI am so inspired by your organizing tips! I think it would be a LOT easier to just have you move into my house for 31 days an do it with me. What do you think? ;) Your kids are welcome, too, of course!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to do 1) ironing basket, 2) put away basket (for all the nicknacks that gather on top of the machines that actually need to be put away) and 3) mending/donating basket...GREAT IDEA! THanks!
ReplyDeleteAnother good basket idea for those of us with young children is basket of things that have been outgrown. I have a boy and a girl but we still plan to have another baby, so I store both of their clothes is big storage bins in the garage. It would be great to have a basket for clothes that need to go out in those bins.
ReplyDeleteLove your tips!
I have a michigan basement with low ceiling and cement walls so have to figure out where to put said baskets, but a wonderful idea none the less!
ReplyDeleteGreat suggestion. I would also add a small basket for unmatched socks. Then you'll know where to look when its mate turns up!
ReplyDeleteAbout socks not matching my older kids who do their own laundry have lots of socks that don't match. I told my daughter, if you fold your dirty socks together before you put them in the hamper, the when they go in the washer, unfold them, then you know that two socks that match are in that washer load. That way you don't randomly put socks in with everything else and socks get lost in the "who knows where."
ReplyDeletefor those who have a laundry room this is perfect!! but unfortunatly i havent!! x
ReplyDeleteI love all these ideas I just moved from a big house to a smaller home and need all the tips I get. I am so grateful !!!! kathyscreativescrapping
ReplyDeleteWondering how you got those labels to stick to your wooden/wicker baskets...
ReplyDeleteThe ribbon is threaded through the wicker basket.
DeleteThanks for the tips! Lots of great ideas. I read somewhere to keep a mesh bag attached to each hamper and family members just put their socks in bags so they stay together through the laundry process. A friend of mine also hangs a bottle of Oxyclean spray on each hamper so they can spray the tough spots on the way into the hamper. I like that both of those items give some responsibility to the kids.
ReplyDelete