storage

10 Awesome Organizers That Make Organizing So Much Fun

February 15, 2019 8 Comments

You just love organizing, don’t you. If you do, I will bet that you also love the organizers that help you to keep things organized. Am I right? Well, here are 10 organizers and organizing ideas for home and office that you will absolutely adore!

I have come to realize that, for me, the real satisfying in organizing my home is having those special little places to keep things. Whether it is dividers, baskets, bins, hangers or shelving, I just LOVE organizers! Here are 10 organizing posts that have the best tools for keeping your stuff organized.

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Too many pairs of shoes to keep neatly? This DIY Under Bed Shoe Organizer from Anika’s DIY Life is inspiring; it looks pretty and, yet, can be rolled away out of sight!

Are you crafty? I just love craft projects that are practical, too. This DIY Embroidery Hoop Wall Organizers from The Scrap Shoppe Blog would look great in my office!

Do you have a way to store your jewelry that you like? Mine has not been great. As soon as I saw this thread rack jewelry organizer, I knew it was for me! Take a look and see if you agree: From Thread Rack To Jewelry Organizer By One Good Thing

DIY Fabric Storage Bins – the Scrap Shoppe Blog

I can tell you for a fact that homemade fabric storage bins are VERY popular. One of the most visited posts on this blog, week after week, is 16 Fabulous FUN DIY Fabric Baskets For You To Make! Now, not everyone wants to make their own but we all love to LOOK at them. If you are not motivated to make your own, buy some! There are lots of styles available to choose from.

Using carts for storage can be challenging. They are handy and easy to move from place to place but they can get cluttered, if you are not careful. These 6 Ways To Use A 3-Tier Cart from The Snyder Family will help you navigate the organization part so you will love it!

These wooden organizers are CUSTOMIZED to fit your own drawers and your particular stuff! See how she planned it out and, with a little help, got them made perfectly. DIY Custom Wooden Kitchen Drawer Organizers by Keys to Inspiration

This nursery organization post will inspire your organizing imagination even if you don’t have a baby at home. Take her ideas and run with them. And, you may just get some baby GIFT ideas for a mom-to-be friend. Organizers for The Baby’s Room – [Nursery Organization 101] – Room For Tuesday

This dresser is so perfect, she has all of the babies supplies orderly in each drawer. Take a look! Nursery Dresser Organization – Two Twenty One

Now, how many of us would LOVE to take a closet and make a pantry out of it? I thought so…. all of us! You are going to want this pantry for your very own! Shawna’s Closet Turned Into A Pantry found on The Kitchen

This laundry room solution from Pin Junkie is stellar. She didn’t have storage space so she improvised with hanging bags! Laundry Room Organizer When You Have NO Storage – The Pin Junkie

Do you have any organizers that are your faves? Tell us about them!

Enjoy!

How To Clean And Store Dusty Baseball Caps

December 7, 2018 Leave a Comment

Today I finally had it with the mess on the shelf in my hall closet. Gloves, scarves and hats were tossed here and there. Boots were stored in some baskets but they weren’t laying flat because some old dog leashes were caught underneath. It was just time to get it all straightened out.

As I started, I discovered so many old baseball caps stashed there that we could stock a baseball cap shop with them! There were so many caps because each one held a special memory for the wearers. I couldn’t talk them into giving any away. The New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox and several little league teams were represented in that group of hats. There was even an NFL Cleveland BROWNS hat that I have no explanation for. We are Buffalo Bills fans so its presence in the cap collection is a mystery to me.

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As I sorted through the jumble of the cotton twill baseball caps, I held my breath, there was so much dust. They were coated with it! Brushing them off was not working, so here is what I did to get them clean:

In a hurry and just want a GREAT affordable way to store your baseball caps?
Here it is=> ☑️ the DUST FREE, MOISTURE FREE BASEBALL CAP STORAGE BAG!

How To Dust Off Cotton Twill Baseball Caps And Store Them

Select the baseball caps that you want to keep.
Place them in your clothes dryer with a full fabric softener dryer sheet.
Dry them on the lowest heat for 10-15 minutes.
Remove them from the dryer. You should find that most, probably all, are dust-free and ready to wear or put away.
Store them on a hat rack, in a baseball cap storage bag or in a storage basket. They will be in one place and easy to find in the future.

Dust may not be the only problem with your dirty baseball caps. Some may have stains or have discolored with age. If so, after you have dusted them, try washing them. Caps can be washed in the washing machine, dishwasher or in a bucket or sink. I prefer the sink method:

How To Wash A Baseball Cap

Fill a sink with warm water.
Add 1 T. laundry detergent.
Dunk the baseball cap in the water and gently rub the spots using a rough wash cloth or sponge.
Swish it, now, around in the water.
Rinse it in cool water.
Lay the baseball cap out on a clean dry towel or clothes drying rack till it is dry.

How to dust off old baseball caps and store them #organizing #cleaningtips Click To Tweet

How To Store Baseball Caps

There are 5 GREAT WAYS that I have found for storing baseball caps:

Put them in a storage basket. I use a nice size plastic storage bin or you could pick a nice decorative wicker basket on a shelf.
Hang them from a cap rack on the back of a door. Perfect for the baseball player’s bedroom!
Use a plastic storage bag that is designed specifically for caps.
Hang them from a baseball cap hanger in the closet.
Get a nice wooden baseball cap rack!

Enjoy!

Crafts For Denim Lovers by Pillar Box Blue

April 23, 2018 Leave a Comment

Do you love DIY? How about organizers and storage? If you said “yes” to any of those, then you are going to LOVE this upcycled, DIY denim pocket wall organizer! It has been pinned a zillion times, proving that I am not alone in loving this project from Pillar Box Blue!

Denim Pocket Organizer – Pillar Box Blue

The first time I saw a Claire Armstrong project, it was her ultra-popular denim pocket wall organizer made from blue jeans. Soon as it caught my eye, I couldn’t get away from it. It was just so cute. Such a brilliant idea. I must have pinned it at least 5 times -maybe more- because I didn’t want to lose track of it. I think everybody did!

Next, I was browsing through the entries at our weekly blog hop and came across an awesome project. It was a “how-to on making burlap luggage bag-tag PILLOWS from a map” tutorial. The pillows have that vintage flavor to them, like you’d just found them in grandpa’s attic. But they aren’t old. Claire made them!

Loving these denim crafts and projects by Pillar box Blue! #crafts Click To Tweet

As a blog hop host, I see so many creative projects shared with us every week. Guess who consistently is highly viewed and, therefore, becomes the feature pick from the party? Claire! So, today I want to share some of her many amazing creations with you …

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Check out just some of her marvelously crafty ideas:

Upcycling Empty Paint Cans

Tropical Fabric Birdhouse Decoration

3D Star Decorations

How To Paint Your Own Giant Wall Art

Luggage Tag Map Burlap Pillows

About the Artist: Claire is a resident of Bedford, England. She is married, has three boys and a cute little dog named Toby. Her passion is to create upcycled DIY projects and show us how to do it. When you see what she does, I just know you will be visiting her site often to see what her next weekly craft tutorial will be.

Planters made out of denim recycled jeans #DIY

Recycled Jean Planters

How To Make A Jean Rug in 9 Unique Ways

Map Mason Jar Bank

Crafters you are in for a big treat! Come see all of the original denim #crafts and #DIY projects by Claire of Pillar Box Blue! Click To Tweet

Find all of Claire’s amazing projects at>>> Pillar Box Blue!

Enjoy!

writer, lifestyle blogger, preschool teacher

12 Super Organizing Tips From The Best Organizing Blogs

March 12, 2018 1 Comment

I love organizing. It inspires me! I can look at images and read posts about organizing and storage tips for hours on end. Of course, I like actually organizing things, too. LOL! Visiting my favorite organizing blogs inspired me to start blogging about the topic 8 years ago and many of those blogs are still going strong!

These 12 super organizing tips come from some of the most popular organizing blogs I have found on the internet. Enjoy them. Get busy trying them right away or pin them for later!

This blog contains affiliate links. ♥

Spice Container Organization – The Crazy Organized Blog

Pin It!

Laundry Piling Up? How To Conquer It – Ducks ‘n a Row

Pin It!

Habit of the Month – The FlyLady

Pin It!

Conquering Clothing Clutter – Kids Closet – I Heart Organizing

Pin It!

Lego Organizing Strategies – Just a Girl and Her Blog

Pin It!

Small Organized Spaces – Purging Books – The Organizing Junkie

Pin It!

Office Supply Organization – The Organized Mama

Pin It!

Getting Started with The Flylady – Organizing Moms

Pin It!

Client Spaces – An Amazing Closet Makeover – Organized Simplicity

Pin It!

How Decluttering Can Pay Off- Literally – Organizing Made Fun

Pin It!

Clever Ideas and Tips for Car Organization – Tidy Mom

Pin It!

If you like these blogs as much as I do, take a minute to subscribe to them so that you don’t miss any of their great organizing strategies and inventions!

12 super organizing #tips from some of the best #organizing blogs! >> Click To Tweet

Enjoy!

50 Strategic Ideas to Organize Your Home

September 4, 2017 Leave a Comment

By Organizing Pro Lesley Dietschy

Organize” is a familiar word heard on many of today’s popular decorating shows. Every family has its struggles with some type of clutter whether it is stacks of papers or a cluttered and cramped bathroom. In fact, the National Association of Professional Organizers reports that 80% of what we keep we never use, we wear 20% of the clothes we own while the other 80% hangs there just in case, and 25% of adults say they pay bills late because they lost them.

If you have stacks of papers, frazzled mornings, or lost car keys, use the following ideas to help you organize your family and home.

Evenings/Mornings: If you have rushed mornings, make lunches, set out clothes, and put everything you need for the next day in a designated area the night before.
1.Have kids pack homework and books in their backpack so they will be ready for the next day.

2. Place your purse, briefcase and keys in a designated area every day so you always know where they are.

3. Decide the night before what is on the menu for breakfast the next morning. If the family is to have cereal, set out the cereal boxes, bowls, and spoons.

4. Make a “to do” list for the next day and organize it according to what task needs to be completed first.

5. Fill the gas tank the day before so you won’t have to worry about getting gas if you are running late the next morning.

Bathrooms:

6. To organize countertop clutter, purchase a plastic tub with a handle on top. Place all of your accessories such as hair spray and lotion, in the tub and place under the counter. Take the tub out when you are ready to use it and then put it back under the counter when you are finished with it.

7. To organize your shower, buy shower caddies to place your soaps and shampoos in. There are numerous styles available in many discount and fine department stores.

8. To help keep your shower doors clean, buy a water squeegee (like you use on your windows) and place it in the shower. When you are done taking a shower just wipe down the doors with the squeegee and you’ll have a clean and dry shower door. Many of the squeegees come with a whole in the handle, which is convenient for hanging it up in the shower with a suction cup.

9. Install a straight magnet in your medicine cabinet for tweezers, nail clippers, and scissors.

10. Store reading material in a decorative magazine rack. As you add new magazines, throw away the older ones to keep the magazine rack from overflowing.

11. Throw away items in your bathroom that are old or you don’t use anymore, such as make-up, lotions, prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, old razors, sunscreen, and perfume.

12. If you are out of space in your bathroom cabinets for towels, roll them up and display them in a decorative basket next to the shower or bath tub.

13. Install hooks on the back of your bathroom door or wall space for towels and robes.

14. Use drawer organizers for makeup, jewelry, ponytail holders, and other loose items.

15. Place a shelving unit above the toilet for storing extra towels, washcloths, and other accessories.

16. Put a clock in each bathroom so everyone can be on time.

50 strategic ideas to help you organize your home #tips #organizing #momlife Click To Tweet

Closet:

17. Place baskets in your closet for laundry and dry cleaning.

18. Sort through your clothes and anything you don’t wear anymore, bag and donate to a local charity. This includes clothes that are no longer in fashion, no longer fit, or clothes you haven’t worn in a year. Also, get rid of those worn out and/or uncomfortable shoes you no longer wear.

19. Separate your clothes by season. If you have a tall closet with several rows of rods, place current seasons clothes on the lowest level and move out of season clothes on the tallest rods.

20. Categorize your clothes by purpose, such as work, casual, and formal.

21. Gather all unused wire hangers and take them to the dry cleaners to recycle.

22. Hang scarves on a hanger or scarf rack. Also, hang belts and ties on hangers or racks.

23. Use a shoe rack to keep shoes organized and throw out shoe boxes that clutter the floor.

24. Install hooks on the closet wall to hang up hats and purses.

25. Store clothes that you want to save in a vacuum sealed plastic bag. These bags pack down for storing under the bed or in a closet. Remember to save only the clothes that you think will be worn!

Kitchen:

26. Organize your cabinets into several categories such as plates, glasses, Tupperware, kid’s plates and sippy cups. Place the plates on one shelf, the glasses on another shelf, and so on. This way when you empty the dishwasher, you or other family members will always know where everything goes.

27. Group your foods together in the pantry for easy access and to help you identify when inventory is getting low. For example, group together your canned goods, cereals, pasta, etc.

28. Place all packets (gravy, Jell-O, sauces) in a basket and place on shelf.

29. Purchase a spice rack that works best for your cabinet. Alphabetize your spices and place frequently used spices on the front of the rack and all others towards the back of the rack.

30. For all of those plastic containers and Tupperware items, dedicate one cabinet or drawer for those items and try to purchase stackable containers to maximize your space.

31. Save your countertop space for items you use daily. Only display cookbooks that you really use and if possible store your canister set in your pantry instead of on the counter.

32. If you have a collection of clipped recipes that are filling drawers and countertop space, purchase a three-ring binder in a color that matches your decor, a box of plastic sheet protectors (to protect your recipes), paper, and a set of dividers with tabs. Glue each recipe onto a piece of paper (use front and back of each piece of paper) and then place into a sheet protector. Categorize recipes (breakfast, desert, etc.), label the tabs, and place recipes in binder.
Additional tip, if you purchase a binder that has pockets, store clipped recipes that you want to try in the pockets before adding them to your collection.

33. Do you have mounds of plastic bags from the grocery store? Place about 10 bags inside of 1 bag and throw the rest away. You can always get more the next time you go to the grocery store.

34. Get in a habit of cleaning out your refrigerator every time you bring home groceries. Dispose of any food that is no longer edible or your family is not going to eat.

Kid’s Room:

35. In a boy’s room, put a basketball hoop over a laundry basket for slam-dunking dirty clothes.

36. Place a two-compartment hamper in your kid’s room so he or she can sort light clothes from dark clothes as they undress.

37. String a clothesline in your child’s room and have your child clothespin his or her favorite artwork.

38. Hang a fish net from the ceiling to store stuffed animals, dolls, or action figures.

39. Add a bookshelf and help your child organize their books.

40. Buy the kids their own alarm clocks and teach them how to get up on time.

Misc.

41. Make sure everything in your house has a home. Teach all family members to mind their own messes. For example, if you take it out, put it back; if you open it, close it; if you throw it down, pick it up; if you make a mess, clean it up; and so on.

42. Put wastebaskets in every room and place several unused trash bags in the bottom of each one. This will eliminate countless trips to retrieve new trash bags and give all family members a place to throw away their trash.

43. Place a decorative basket on the coffee table to keep remote controls in.

44. Use a plastic caddy (instead of shelf space) to store cleaning supplies in and tote it from room to room.

45. Keep baskets or tubs for toys in every room for fast pickup and play time.

46. For kids’ outdoor toys, purchase a weatherproof, bench-style storage box and store toys inside. Also, gather all outdoor balls and place into a large, mesh drawstring bag and store in garage.

47. Each night before bedtime, have all family members pick up clutter for 15 minutes. Make a game out of it and see who can pick up the most things in the shortest amount of time.

48. Create a family message center on the refrigerator or other prominent place and use it for shopping lists, reminders, calendars, and phone messages.

49. Make a master grocery list on your computer from a spreadsheet or Word document. Categorize the groceries into sections such as frozen, dairy, and so on. In each category, list the most frequent items that you buy. Organize the grocery list according to the way your favorite grocery store’s isles are set up.
Print copies and keep one copy handy for the current week. When you see you are low on a product or you’re preparing your grocery list for the week, simply highlight whatever items you need. Keep the document current by adding new items and/or deleting items you no longer buy. Also, create a space on the document for Misc. items where your family members can write down what they need that is not on your list.

50. Create an in box on your desk for papers (bills, permission slips, etc.) that need your attention.

The goal of organizing isn’t to make your home pristine but rather to make your life more calm and functional. Work with these ideas and you will end up having less clutter, a simplified home, more quality time for yourself and your family and improved productivity.

Lesley Dietschy is a freelance writer and the founder of The Home Decor Exchange. In addition Lesley is a crochet pattern designer and needle fiber artist.

Enjoy!

Note: this author is an Amazon affiliate. What does that mean? Well, anything that you buy from Amazon by first clicking on an ad, link or using an Amazon search window on Ducks ‘n a Row will, at no extra cost to you, result in a small commission for me. In advance “thank you!” … Sinea

The One Easy Way To Organize Your Dog’s Toys

August 5, 2017 2 Comments

pet supplies, pet toys, dog toys, puppies, puppy toys, storage

Organizing dog toys or toddler toys, for that matter, are just about the same. You put the toys away and somehow they find their way back OUT again! And, there you go … a mess in the making! LOL

We love our our dogs so much, don’t we? I have two: a 5 year old yellow lab “Sadie” and a 4 month old cattledog/boxer mix named “Bailey.” They get along so well – running, playing, wrestling, tugging, ripping, chewing, chomping, climbing (yes – Bailey like heights) barking, eating, sleeping and playing with lots and lots of toys. Many are officially dog toys and others are sticks, branches, an old plastic bottle and leaves. I’ve had some interesting things come into the house including a deceased baby bird who had fallen from the nest. Actually, I caught that one before she could bring it in. I feel like that Subaru commercial “You’re not coming in here with that!”

So, for the longest time I was using a laundry basket for their toys. They could get toys in and out easily (I would put them in – THEY would take them OUT.) It wasn’t pretty but it was functional. It was located in the foyer making it very visible from both the dining room and kitchen. Not exactly haute couture! I wasn’t exactly sure what to do so I just lived with it.

Then I went to a Signature Homestyles party and found my answer. I bought a fashionable woven cube storage box with hinge top to use as a toy box for the dogs!

Yes, a TOY BOX is the

easy way

to keep the dogs’ toys organized!

The material this cube is made from is tough – the same fabric used for making automobile seatbelts. The hinge top is so much better than a lift-off kind that could become a toy in itself. That way I am not putting it on and taking it off all the time! I got the navy blue one – very pretty! It also comes in gray, expresso and I THINK teal (ask Carla, the rep – her phone number is on her webpage – or cruise around the website to see for sure.)

Take a look at before and after …

Having a puppy for the first time in 5 years has brought back a lot of my dog training know-how. Bad behavior is often a failure of the owner to anticipate and divert their furry little one’s attention from “no-no’s” to toys that are “A-OK!”

Bailey’s favorite toys are her Y-shaped bacon flavored Benebone, a squeaky blue dog plush toy, a stuffed cow that she sleeps with in her crate (she has one for each of her crates*), her Kong Wubba Toy (she flips that crazy thing all around!) and her leather dog bone.

*Bailey has a crate located near our kitchen where she naps and stays when we go out. She also has one upstairs near Sadie’s crate. Sadie is plenty old enough to be loose in the house but she moves around at night, wanting to be near us. We love that but it is dangerous. We could trip over her in the dark. So, I got her a super-big crate that fits a Great Dane so she would be more comfortable. She loves her crate.

Got any tips for organizing your dogs stuff?

We’d love to hear about them!

One easy way to organize your dog’s toys!

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Enjoy!

BUY Puppy Toys @ Amazon

Note: this blog contains affiliate links: what that means

Please also note that this author is not a Signature Homestyles representative or affiliate. I simply love the products and love working with Carla Friedman, my Signature Homestyles rep. I get absolutely nothing if you purchase from Signature through links on this post.

Drop It! Create a Family Drop Zone and Stop Clutter In Its Tracks

January 3, 2015 Leave a Comment

By Sinea Pies

drop zone; command center; organizing; decluttering

“Stuff” taking over? Where does clutter just overrun you? In most cases, it is where people (or dogs) first enter your home. The foyer. The kitchen. The hallway. The nearest table. Where is your “hot spot?”

And, what kind of stuff are you dealing with? Gloves, hats, sunglasses, keys, the mail, leashes, toys, school books, the newspaper, loose change, toys? Best clutter-busting practice is to corral the clutter as it first invades your territory. Confine it to small, usable space. Create a “drop zone.” Here are three types that work great.

drop zone, organizing, command center, Ducks n a Row

1. The Quick Drop

Place a tray, decorative plate or shallow basket on the table or counter-top nearest that entry. It will be the drop zone for small items. It is movable, so cleaning is a breeze. It looks nice (if not piled high) so things can remain in it till they go out the door again.

organizing plan; baskets, shelving, declutter

2. The Sweep

Baskets with purpose can be attractive containers to “sweep” stuff into when it is too much for a little tray. If you have a table that allows enough space underneath, you can free up the table top by stashing your clutter below. Now,the storage unit above utilizes an entire wall but you can put the principal into action using the space underneath a bench or hallway table. If you have toddlers or puppies, this will be tempting for mischief. You will be re-sweeping regularly….counter productive. If you can find baskets with lids that seal shut? Then you have a perfect solution.

3. The Hang Up

Hooks are a wonderful thing. My favorite use is as a replacement for a mudroom. You can label each hook for the family member to which it belongs and they will hang up their jackets, scarves and/or bags.

Clutter hot spots? No more! Yipee!

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Where is YOUR clutter hot-spot?
Tell us about it!!!

Photo Credits:

Frustrated by noego on Flickr Creative Commons
Drop basket by Sinea Pies on Ducks ‘n a Row
Wall Organizer with baskets by Josh & Melanie Rosenthal on Flickr Creative Commons
Hallway Command Center from It’s For The Home blog

Note: this author is an Amazon affiliate. Anything you purchase from Amazon through Ducks n a Row may result in a small commission for me. In advance, “thank you.” .. Sinea

How To Organize A Dresser

June 19, 2014 Leave a Comment

Organize your dresser drawers! #organize

Make An Organizing Plan

Before you dig into this dresser drawer organizing project, consider your surroundings. Are you sharing your dresser with somebody else? If so, which drawers are closer to his side of the bed and which are closer to yours? Assign drawers accordingly.

Top: Fill the top drawers with items you use most often, such as socks and undergarments. Why reach to a bottom drawer more than you have to?

Middle: Drawers halfway down can hold tops that you frequently wear.

Bottom: Use lower drawers for items that are for special occasions and not everyday such as dressy tops and sweaters.

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How To Organize A Dresser Step-By-Step

Make A Work Space: Use your bed as a work-space You’ll want it to be flat so either make the bed or take the sheets and blankets off. Either way, you’ll need a large space on which to put your belongings.
Move Your Clothes: Remove everything from each drawer and lay it out on the bed. Have a box on hand for clothes in that won’t be sticking around. You can take it right to the car when you’re finished, ready to donate to Good Will.
You also may find that some things need laundered, especially if they have acquired many wrinkles. Put them in a laundry basket or get them ready to go to the dry cleaners. Be sure to leave space for them to go back in the drawer afterward.
Label Your Drawers: Use sticky notes to temporarily label the drawers according to what they will now hold. Remove them soon as the job is done. Love labels? Try permanently labeling your drawers. It can look great when it’s done right.

Labeled drawers by Infarrantly Creative

Fold And Put Away: Starting with the top drawers, fold the garments and put them away. Socks should be matched and either knotted together or folded inside one another to prevent them from separating. Fold sweaters and shirts so that they can be removed from the drawer without disturbing the other clothes. Store them side by side.
Tip: the key to neatness is in the fold. Check out this excellent video showing you just how to do it!

Tools: drawer dividers do help to keep your drawers organized.

Keep Like-Clothes Together: if socks and under garments will be sharing the same drawer, set up sections. One side will be socks and the other underwear. You may want to color-code them as well, keeping white athletic socks in one area, dark trouser socks in another, etc.

Shirts and sweaters can also be on different sides of the same drawer or in separate drawers.

Tip: if you live in a region with seasonal changes that require a different wardrobe, organize your dresser when it’s time to move from winter to summer clothes, or vice versa.

How to organize a dresser drawer #tips #organizing #home Click To Tweet

Enjoy!

Land Of Nod: Design for Kids and People That Used to be Kids

The Wonderful World of Laundry Baskets and Hampers

May 1, 2014 Leave a Comment

By Sinea Pies

Laundry baskets aren’t just for laundry anymore. They can double as organizing tools, transporting devices and storage space. In the laundry world, there are even special styles of baskets that serve different functions. Laundry hampers, baskets, sorters and bags have each been designed for a slightly different use.

Laundry baskets, hampers, bags, sorters #organizing #laundry Ducks 'n a Row

It is no secret that I love laundry baskets. As a teacher at a “school on wheels,” I am ever so grateful for them. My preschool classroom supplies fit nicely in two plastic baskets with a couple of items on the side. Every school morning I pack the car up. End of day, repack and cart it all home. They make it so easy!

Hampers: Laundry hampers are best placed the bedroom where most dirty clothes are removed. Following a hard day’s work or play, a shower and change of clothes are in order. The soiled clothes can be conveniently tossed into the hamper before you go on with the rest of your day. Laundry hampers seldom leave the room. That is where the handy laundry basket comes into play.

Baskets: Laundry baskets are light-weight, portable, even stackable. They are designed with travel in mind. Pile them up with dirty clothes, plus other soiled items such as linens, and carry them to the washing machine. These containers will be used again to cart your brilliantly-clean wardrobe, neatly folded of course, back to its proper place in the closet, shelves and drawers for the next wearing. Other uses: store toys for kids and pets, create a fort or “car” for your little one to play in!

The many fun uses of laundry baskets! #laundry #organizing Ducks 'n a Row

Sorters: Laundry sorters are great organizing tools for the laundry room. Keep one or two of them near the washing machine to separate the dirty laundry prior to washing. The sorters have several compartments in which you can separate your clothes: whites warm-wash, colors warm-wash, whites cold-wash, colors cold-wash, delicates needing extra care, and so forth. However you want to divide them, you will be able to quickly identify the necessary care and put in a load when that part of the sorter is full.

Bags: Mesh or canvas laundry bags are very useful, especially for college students, soldiers or athletes. Stuff them with clothes, sling them over your shoulder and take the contents wherever you want it to be. Teens and guys gravitate to the bag-method. Caution: if you use a trash bag for laundry. your clothes could accidentally wind up at the curb!

Many Styles to Choose From

Laundry baskets come in a variety of styles. The most common is a curved plastic design with easy-to-carry handles on each side. More decorative styles are woven and made of wicker or rattan, shades of their ancient counterparts. Some with lids, others without.

Yes, baskets have been tools for carrying and storage for centuries. The Bible tells that, as a baby, Moses’ life was spared when his mother put him in a basket and floated him down the Nile. Was it a laundry basket? Could be!

Robust Baskets For Tough Challenges

Over-sized versions of the laundry basket are a “laundry hero” for families with tough jobs. These jumbo sized containers work well for athletic families whose soccer, baseball, or football gear come back in desperate need. Have your kids shed their grimy uniforms first, in the garage or mud-room, before they enter. Keep a jumbo hamper or basket right there, where it will be needed the most. Send your sports-stars for a quick run to the shower. When they are squeaky clean they can get a regular-sized laundry basket and haul their uniforms to the washing machine. Sound like a plan?

Decluttering? Use laundry baskets to speed things up!

What area of your home magnetically collects “stuff”? Start there. It may be a table or counter-top. Miscellaneous clothes, junk mail, keys, books, dog leashes, gum wrappers, loose change…you name it and it just goes to die there! Tackle that “hot-spot” first.

First, identify where the items do belong. Think regionally. Put every item that should go in the bedrooms into your empty laundry basket. Take it to the bedrooms and leave the items there. If the items belong to you, quickly put them away. Don’t spend a lot of time. You need to get back to your “crime scene”.
Now, return with the empty basket to bring the next load to it’s proper destination. After everything that doesn’t belong there has been cleared, then remove everything else to clean and shine it.
Finally, put something decorative, like a vase of flowers or some knickknacks, on display as a visual statement to you and the rest of the family that silently says “do not touch”. It will look so good that no one will want to be the first to mess it up.

Laundry Baskets For Kids

Establish good habits early in life. Give your children each a laundry hamper in their own room. Laundry hampers and baskets are sold with cute designs, sports figures and action heroes. If there isn’t one with the exact theme of your child’s room, pick brilliant complimentary colors that fit. Most importantly, teach them what the hamper is for and what to do when it gets full!

dragon laundry hamper for kids #laundry #organizer Ducks 'n a Row

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Folding Laundry Hamper for Girls – Butterfly

Bright Colored Bongo Buckets (pictured below)