I Keep This One Item in Every Room of My Home so It Stays Clean (It’s Been a Lifesaver!)

I’ve never been the neatest person, but since having two kids in the last three years, keeping my home tidy has been more challenging than ever. Like most toddlers, my boys have a short attention span and too many toys. I’ve tried labeling bins, rotating toy days, and limiting play time to a designated area, but the boys often carry entire bins of toys out of their room and dump them in places they don’t belong (like the kitchen, living room, and my bedroom). I’d follow behind them all day, returning each toy where it belongs, but who has that kind of time?

My kids aren’t school-age yet and don’t attend daycare, so they spend their days home with my husband and me. The damage that two little humans can do in 24 hours is astounding. I’ve accepted that I’m not in my organization era, but I was done tripping over LEGOs and letting a rainbow of brightly colored Hot Wheels cramp my minimalist style. My home doesn’t need to look like an episode of Tidying Up with Marie Kondo; I’m happy just to throw a Band-Aid on the problem.

I finally discovered a solution that doesn’t consume my entire day and relieves me of seeing my floors littered with toys. I’ve collected storage baskets in all shapes and sizes and strategically placed them around the house. Whenever I walk by a toy that doesn’t belong, I chuck it in the nearest basket. 

Nothing is grouped by category or color, but I can live with them just being out of sight, out of mind for now. And because the last thing I need is cute baskets overflowing with unsightly toys, I often hide the clutter with lids or throw blankets on top. 

I keep them in most corners of my home, under tables and ottomans, and hanging behind doors. For affordable baskets, I peruse my local Walmart and Target, but I usually prefer to splurge on items from The Citizenry, which is ethically sourced from global artisans and guaranteed by the World Fair Trade Organization.

The toys usually stay in the baskets until I feel inspired to return them to their designated space, which can be anywhere from daily to once per week. The idea is to relieve the pressure of cleaning up after the kids so I don’t beat myself up when the toys have been sitting for too long. 

As for my boys, they often mimic things they see me doing, so they’ve gotten in on the tidying up on occasion by throwing their toys in the baskets too. 

I implemented this six months ago and have yet to step on a LEGO or slip on a toy car. And as long as I don’t peek into the baskets too often, I relish the feeling of a clutter-free home.