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Get Solutions for Your Toy Clutter Struggles

Parents play with their children and their toys

Do you have too many toys in your home or do you not have enough storage? Both issues can lead to feeling overwhelmed by the toy clutter. We have good news – the constant clutter of toys doesn’t have to rule your life! Let’s look at these two scenarios separately to provide you with the solutions you need to get the toy clutter under control. With the holiday season upon us, it’s time to get a handle on your children’s toy collections before you add more to them!

Too Many Toys

The first step to deal with too many toys is to sort all of them into groups. Your groups will look different depending on the interests of your children, but sort them into categories such as games, puzzles, dolls, automobiles, books, arts and crafts, building blocks, dress-up… you get the picture. Now that you have a clear impression of all the toys in each category, it is time to do some purging. Set a limit as to how many items your child needs in each category. Help them choose their favorites within that limit and set the rest aside. 

The toys you have set aside can be donated if your child has outgrown or no longer uses them. The rest can be put into a toy rotation bin. Toy rotation is simply storing some of your toys for a time. Then at regular intervals, you’ll swap the current toys for and the ones you stored away. Each rotation is like getting a new set of toys, which brings excitement back to play and helps with clutter!

Too Little Storage

Quite often, clutter is caused by simply not having enough storage or not having the correct type of storage. The first step is to allocate a play area. It doesn’t have to be an entire room, but toys need a designated place to land at the end of every day. Whether you choose to store toys in a basket or bin, on a shelf or in a cabinet, out in the open or hidden, toy storage needs to be practical and easy. Using cut out pictures taped to the appropriate box, bin, or shelf will help children who can’t read yet identify where items belong. Because the ultimate goal is to have your kids put their own toys away.

Once everything is organized, the key to eliminating clutter is to stay on top of it on a daily basis. At the end of each day, set a timer for five minutes. Have your children race to put everything they’ve been playing with back in the appropriate place.

If you are in need of some additional storage, give Zippy Shell a call! We not only offer moving services but can give you flexible storage options to fit any needs you might have. Check us out online or give us a call today at 888-947-7974 for more information.

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Ingenious Ways to Make Small Spaces in your Home Bigger

Living room in a spacious home

Whether you’re in a cramped apartment, the kids are home for the summer, or your in-laws are coming to stay for a few weeks, we’ve compiled some creative ways to give your home some space. Goodness knows, we love their personal space.

Consider these top four ideas for enjoying a spacious, clutter-free atmosphere in your home.

  1. Spread out your living space. If you have outdoor spaces that are adjacent to your indoor ones (balconies, decks, patios and porches), consider how you might arrange those areas to compliment your spacing needs. Maybe a decorative cover or an umbrella outside will invite folks to sit there. Add some cozy furniture and a small television and boom! you have a whole new room.
  2. Put the excess in storage. Clutter – it can make you crazy. Even if you’re not having extra people in your home, the clutter has got to go. One quick way to clear it out, is to put it in storage. This way you still have access to your things, but they aren’t in the way. You don’t want to trip on that magazine rack from 1974! Separate what you need from what you don’t and save yourself some space in your home and peace of mind.
  3. Invest in some space-saver bags! These things are amazing. You can find them at most big box or home improvement stores. Put your out-of-season wardrobe, winter coats, extra pillows, and even those crocheted family blankets in these ingenious bags. Pile your stuff in, use your vacuum to suck out the air, and voila! It’s all been reduced to a third the size. Slip the bags under your bed or in a closet and you’re done.
  4. Consider multi-functional furniture. Some people are so clever and the ones who design and manufacture furniture that can be used in multiple ways need to be applauded. Benches that open and can store shoes by the front door. Tables that can be transformed into desks. Even beds that can be turned into tables. Really cool!

Then, when everyone heads back to school and back home, you can bring all your favorite things back in your home. If you think you may want to employ the use of a portable storage container, we hope you’ll think of Zippy Shell, too. Give us a call at 888-947-7974 or go online for a free quote to see how we can make moving and storage simple for you!

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8 Genius Bathroom Storage Hacks

Modern bathroom with storage space

Your bathroom contains a lot of important items that you use daily to get ready. It is hard trying to fit all those valuables into a small space, so use these tips to fit all your toiletries into your bathroom. Your morning routine will become a breeze and your items will be much more organized!
 

1. SPICE RACKS

All your bottles of shampoo and lotions can fit nicely into spice racks, as spice racks are meant for storing small containers.  Just screw them to the wall to create extra space for them.

2.HIGH SHELVES

Install extra shelves in unused empty space, such as above the door.

3.MAGNET STRIPS

You can use magnet strips to keep track of all the tiny bathroom items you have. They are great way to organize bobby pins, tweezers, nail clippers and most hair clips because these are already magnetic. You can also glue small magnets to the backs of your makeup to keep them organized.

4. COAT HOOKS

Hang up coat hooks instead of towel rods to maximize space. You can hang up multiple coat hooks within the space that just one towel rod would fit. This is great if you are sharing a bathroom with someone.

5.TOILET SHELF

Build a shelf over the top and sides of your toilet.  This extra space doesn’t seem like much, but it can fit a lot of your small items like small hand towels, candles, etc.

6. PVC PIPE

Attach a PVC pipe to your wall to store your hair tools, like a blow dryer.  After using your tool, it is very hot and having the PVC pipe gives it a place to sit and cool down and stay out of your way.

7. SMALL WINE RACK

Use a small wine rack to efficiently fit your hand towels on your sink by rolling them up to fit in each slot.  It is very elegant, yet practical.

8.  SHOE HANGER

On the back of your door, hang a shoe organizer. You will be able to fit countless bottles or items without having to take up any of the space within your bathroom!

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10 Hacks for More Refrigerator Storage Space

Make your tiny fridge feel a lot bigger with these tips!

Install a lazy Susan

Have easy access to all the food in the back of the fridge without having to move everything around to find what you are looking for.

Label your drawers

Label your various drawers with what is in them to make it faster to find what you need.

Install a snack stack

Slide a small drawer stack to store snacks, cheeses, and more.

Use drawer dividers

Place drawer dividers to separate your different food items such as vegetables, fruits, etc.

Cover your shelves in plastic wrap

When spills happen, you can just peel off the layer of plastic wrap and put a new one down.

Cylinder holders

Use any cylinder container to hold cut up vegetables. Many recyclable containers can be very useful for this.

Masking tape labels

Label your containers with masking tape and a sharpie to write the date you made it and/or when it expires.

Add a condiment holder

Use a six-pack holder or an empty egg carton to organize all your condiments.

Plastic freezer bins

Put plastic bins in your freezer to separate your big bags of frozen items.

Use mason jars

Store your leftover food in mason jars. They will keep your food fresh longer and are not are bulky as Tupperware.