I’ve never been the neatest person, but since having two kids in the last three years, keeping my home clean has become harder than ever. Like most toddlers, my boys have short attention spans and too many toys. I’ve tried labeling boxes, alternating toy days, and limiting playtime to a specific area, but the boys often drag boxes of toys out of their room and throw them in places they don’t belong (like the kitchen, living room, and my bedroom). I would run after them all day, returning each toy to where it belongs, but who has that much time?
My kids aren’t school age yet and don’t go to daycare, so they spend their days at home with my husband and me. The damage two little people can do in 24 hours is astonishing. I’ve accepted that I’m not in my tidy phase, but I was sick of tripping over LEGOs and letting a rainbow of colorful Hot Wheels spoil my minimalist style. My home doesn’t have to look like an episode of Tidying up with Marie Kondo; I’m glad to just solve the problem with a band-aid.
I finally found a solution that doesn’t take up my entire day and saves me from having to look at the floor littered with toys. I collected storage baskets of all shapes and sizes and placed them strategically around the house. When I pass a toy that doesn’t belong here, I throw it into the next basket.
Nothing is sorted by category or color, but I’m OK with them just disappearing from view for now. And because I don’t need cute baskets overflowing with ugly toys, I often hide the clutter with lids or put blankets over them.
I keep them in most corners of my house, under tables and ottomans and hanging behind doors. For affordable baskets, I browse my local Walmart and Target, but I usually prefer to spend money on items from The Citizenry, which are ethically sourced from artisans around the world and guaranteed by the World Fair Trade Organization.
The toys usually stay in the baskets until I feel like putting them back in their designated place, which can be anywhere from daily to once a week. The idea is to take the pressure off of having to clean up after the kids so I don’t beat myself up if the toys are left lying around for too long.
My boys often imitate things they see me doing, so they have occasionally joined in with the cleanup by throwing their toys into the baskets as well.
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 look in the baskets too often, I enjoy the feeling of a tidy home.
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