Finding a 'home' for random things at home AIBU

[WellAlwaysHaveParis]

AIBU to ask your advice on how to keep everything tidy and in order please?

As it's a new year, I want to finally try and find a way of keeping everything in order so that my house is tidy and so I can everything I need relatively easily.

I've done the whole Kon-Mari thing, and the bit that I struggle with most is how to deal with 'miscellaneous objects'.

In my room, for instance, I've got all sorts of random stuff that I have no idea how to sort or where to put e.g. an armband to put my phone in for running and other random bits and pieces that I need but can't seem to find a place for.

Any advice please?

Have a junk drawer where you can chuck random misc items in. 90% of houses have one.

With you on this op. That's always the problem we have

I am terrible at being tidy so am probably not the best to give advice but one thing I have found more sustainable than actually having a proper home for every single thing is to have a bag or two of "miscellaneous guff of occasional utility". Then if I can't find something like the tape measure or something I have a limited number of places I have to look. Drawstring bags on hooks are good for things of more frequent usefulness

Put items next to where you use them.
Eg - your armband - store it in the same drawer as your running clothes. Or inside one of your trainers.

Give us some more items and we'll make suggestions of where to put them!! Good game!!

It’s all about working out the categories. Armband for running lives with your running clothes or your running shoes.

Armband with running kit makes sense to me. As does putting any things that are used together in the same place.

Yeah- I'd put an armband for running in my wardrobe, on the shelf with my running gear.

String is one that annoys me- is it DIY, it is it Craft?

Either put the armband with your running clothes or if it's only occasionally used put it with other outdoor accessories like gloves and scarves.

Placemarking. I spend my life wandering around picking up crap and sending stuff to charity shop.

or is it Craft?

Ooooh, this is one of my few actual skills, knowing how to have a place for everything. Even in my studio...it isn’t always tidy, but it could be if I wanted it to be.
Go on...challenge us!

Neither @PhilODox - it's gardening 😁

Fluffy string is DIY.
Butchers string and sparkly string is in the parcel wrapping and ribbon box
Really hairy rope type string is in the garage with garden stuff
Guitar strings are with plectrums in DS room
Cooking string is in the drawer with garlic crusher

Ah string is "random bag of stuff that gets tangled up when it's put with anything else" - along with ribbon and wool. Has been a gamechanger, that category.

I have a small basket on my dressing table. I keep my running armband in there, along with a zip up bag with headphones and other shit. I also keep my deodorant, large hair clips and some other jazz in there too.

As for string it goes in the tape and other packaging box.

Ikea Kallax units with storage inserts are your friend.

To me a phone band is either a sport accessory or a phone acessory. Sports things have a place as do phone things. Shelves with organised boxes or drawers (kallax indeed good) and regularly review contents.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00HV6VOOC/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?psc=1&keywords=sock+drawer+divider&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&tag=mumsnetforum-21&ie=UTF8&qid=1514804458&sr=8-1-spons this type of thing for drawers and use it for miscellaneous crap. Big plastic tubs for shoes, under bed tubs for handbags. Baskets for bathroom stuff.

To me string is stationery and gets dumped with brown tape and blutak etc.

I bought cheap plastic baskets that sit inside one of my kitchen cupboards. 3 per shelf for all the crap.

Eg, first aid supplies, batteries, stationery and spare pens, etc

I now have a coffee table with drawers in. Don't know how I ever managed without it. I also have a wooden chest for all my art and crafty stuff. String goes with that.

We always seem to have chargers and cables lying around and I never know where to store these.

I keep all the holiday stuff (travel plugs, kettle, extension lead etc) in a suitcase.

What about bills to be paid, waiting for payday stuff. Where does that go?

I have large glass vases (Ikea) in the bathroom for any smaller toiletries /razors/face wash type things. They go in the dishwasher (low temp) when needed.

I recently swapped my 3 door wardrobe fr DD 2 door (she wanted extra room) so my coats have a hook/rail stand and clear covers to protect)

I put all new toilettry products in a chest of drawers ( 4 drawer, plastic from The Range) so I know what we have / short of.

I'm seem to have a million mugs at the moment, took some to work and some cutlery.
Took some Chistmas bits to the charity shop.

Need to cut right back on my washing products, I do not need 5 different types of product ( white/non-bio/colour/black and cashmere)

I'm whittling it down - EcoEgg for wools/delicate, big box of tesco powder for whites and a colour liquid for all else . See how long I can keep this up

Lonelylinda in a letter holder, I keep mine near the front door so I have to look at them every day, if they make it to a drawer I forget about them. Once dealt with I burn them.