organization makes sense

I Bought New Storage Baskets But I am Still Not Organized!

Just how do those trendy new storage baskets help you to achieve control if they hold items that have no relationship to one another? Isn't that why "junk drawers" are so frustrating? All the items in there have no relationship to one another except perhaps for the fact that they are are homeless and have no where else to go.

This brings us the the next principle for organized living........
storage baskets

I have seen this principle listed in many sources giving advice and suggestions for an organized home, but I have never seen an explanation storage_baskets as to what it actually means. Could it be that it is assumed that we all know what like with like means?

Being able to see relationships between things and set up categories is the essence behind the guideline "sort like with like". It is also an essential skill for organized living.

Let's explore this idea a bit further with this example.

Sally has some homeless stuff hanging around and she is tired of not being able to find the items she needs at the exact time she needs them so she decides to get organized and purchases some nice new storage baskets. Sally is unaware of the principle "sort like with like" and has never been very good at seeing relationships between items, but she has new baskets and she is determined to be organized!

Sally carefully fills the new baskets with her stuff, and this is what they look like

Basket 1 Basket 2 Basket 3 Basket 4
hair brush
hair elastics
4 colored pencils
hair comb
sewing needles
2 permanent markers
thread
stack of "post it" notes
paper scissors
hair gel
3 pens
small container of hair spray
paper clips
5 blank envelopes

Instead of having a "junk" drawer, Sally has created 4 "junk storage baskets". They are all filled with items that have no relationship to one another. If Sally were proceed with the task of doing her daughter's hair she would have to search through several baskets to be able to find all the supplies she needs to brush her child's hair and make a simple ponytail.

She has not achieved control of her supplies at all and she is still doomed to searching through a bunch of stuff to be able to find everything she needs for one singular function of "doing hair".

Lets see what Sally's baskets would hold if the items were sorted like with like:

Basket 1 Basket 2 Basket 3 Basket 4
hair brush
hair elastics
hair comb
hair gel
small container of hair spray

stack of "post it" notes
paper scissors

3 pens
paper clips
5 blank envelopes
2 permanent markers
4 colored pencils
thread
sewing needles


 

WOW!

Now when Sally goes to do her child's hair she grabs one basket and everything she needs is in there! Even her child could find the right supplies. It is also easier for Sally (or her daughter) to clean up as everything goes back in the basket and they are more likely to be there the next time Sally needs them...... now that is control!

And remember Control is the Goal!


There is one other obvious benefit from this little bit of analysis. If Sally had first proceeded to sort the items "like with like" and then proceeded to "create a place for  everything................." she could have saved herself the cost of the extra storage basket.

But How to Sort?

Your organized home should have items that are used in a similar function all stored together

This is precisely why kitchen cupboards hold the dishes and not the bed linen. Dishes have a similar function so they are stored together.

Bed linens have no use in the kitchen! They function best in the bedroom!

Use storage bins to keep all the tools you need for sewing or picture hanging so they are ready when you need them.

Use plastic storage containers to hold all the equipment you need for special projects like painting, flower arranging, camping, or crafts.

Pretty storage baskets or decorative trays on the bathroom counter can hold makeup or other necessary bathroom supplies.

What criteria are to be used when sorting like with like?

A random assortment of objects may have several characteristics in common including color, size, and function. However, Sally's example shows that the most useful way of sorting items is to sort by function. So we can see that a good way to achieve control is to have items that are used for a particular function stored together. It doesn't matter if you are cleaning, doing the dishes, doing the laundry, or doing your daughter's hair. If all the equipment is stored together you have created many benefits for yourself including:

  • less frustration, everything is right there when you need it

  • easier cleanup as all items go back into the container

  • less loss and wastage,everything goes back into the storage basket after use

  • less duplication of items because nothing gets misplaced

And perhaps most important of all........ you are more likely to be in control!

Now that makes sense!


Go to Procrastination is the Enemy of Control

Go to Do the Math for Clutter Control

Go to Closet Organizers Create a Place for Everything

return from New Storage Baskets to organization-makes-sense.com home

Meet Beverly

Beverly Hansen OMalley


Watch the videos on
How to Fold Laundry

Susanna says

"Thanks Bev!"

"I have a really hard time being tidy and I picked up one little tip that will make my life SO much easier."

"My drawers are always such a mess because I'm always pulling things out and messing up my folding... and I'm just too busy to constantly refold!"

"Now my drawers are so tidy, it's amazing! All I want to do is fold!"

Anyways...Just wanted to say thanks.


"Psst - Did you know that organized living was sexy?"
This page for men only.


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