We all have one – a dumping ground somewhere in our homes. Most homes have more than one, in fact. This can look like a junk drawer, a tabletop, or even an entire room full of things. Sometimes these things have nothing to do with each other; and sometimes they’re related – like in a mud room full of shoes, bags, coats, sports gear, umbrellas, and other things. And you know what? This is totally fine!
Your dumping ground is an area where it is natural and convenient to put things quickly. Don’t deny yourself that; but if you want to keep it clean and organized then you can adjust how the stuff is dropped off and retrieved.
First, decide what belongs in the space and what needs to be removed. This area might be a dumping ground; but we can still restrict what things can be stored there. If it’s a commonly used entryway to the home, then limiting the types of items that can be kept there is even more important to keep the area a safe and functional space.
Keeping in mind the amount of available space is vital.
Limit yourself to what can be accommodated in the dumping ground. You can't store more in a place than it can reasonably hold; and the size of your storage pieces will need to be adjusted to fit the storage space (e.g., a small shelf in a small space). Also, if your dumping ground is basically piles of things falling over or burying things you really need, then some of those things should be stored somewhere else simply because there isn’t room where they are currently being dumped.
And, of course, there are all kinds of dumping grounds other than the entryway; and for each dumping ground in your home, you can create a space for what needs to be there.
For instance, in a “junk drawer” small bins can be useful for keeping similar items together.
In an area like the dining room where young kids might do homework or art and they tend to dump random supplies in random places, a cart with easily accessible bins can be a lifesaver...and keep things from getting broken.
Or in a bathroom closet where everything from travel toiletries to medications to washcloths gets dumped and piled together, label a few baskets and let people keep dumping the stuff...just into the right basket so you can find it easily later.
Dumping things is okay; but sometimes you do need to change your dumping habits. Remember, not everything can go into the dumping ground. It is a wonderful tool to use; but there are many times that certain things should not be allowed to get dumped. Once you decide what the dumping ground is going to be used for, follow through consistently with the decision.
And after you've put in all that effort to organize, make sure to communicate expectations for the new system to the rest of the people who are going to be using this space.
For example, if it’s an entry area, some expectations could be that shoes must be put on the shelf/in a basket; school/work bags must be put in the closet or bedroom; keys must be put in the key bowl; and jackets must be hung up. Even if all you have is a very small, narrow space by the entrance door or stairs, you can create a space for the things you need to put down when you get home every day.
And, when organized, they’re easier to pick back up the next time you leave the house.
It's also a good idea to clean up the area every week.
Usually, no matter how good our intentions are, the dumping ground gets messy because when we use it, we're just dropping things when we're tired or in a hurry. So, instead of getting stressed when you notice that things are getting a little disorderly towards the end of the week. Just remind everyone, including yourself, that it will get cleaned up on Saturday or whatever day you have chosen to be the “clean-up day”. Then, make sure you follow through and complete the clean up on that day.
Of course, minimalism has gained some popularity recently. And, it's true. If you own fewer things, that will help you to avoid a weekly clean up. Or, if you minimize drastically, you may never need to have a clean-up day again because there will be enough space to store what you have easily.
But if you're definitely not minimal and the dumping ground requires an entire room, garage, or basement, and it has become a disorderly mess of piled up things, then consider creating a storage plan that includes investing in specialized organizers. For example, if you or your kids are involved in multiple sports then you need to plan a way to store these things properly to gain space, take care of the items, and make it easy to find them. This may include ball bins, helmet shelves, rails or hooks to store your kayaks, paddles, and skis against the wall; a rod and hangars to hang life vests to dry; bicycle hooks, and a flat, cleared space to maintain your equipment.
Any plan and any organizing method that works for the things you need to store is the right way to organize an entire dumping room.
And if you don't know where to start, ask for help! Reach out to family and friends and get their ideas. Hire a professional organizer or a cleaning company. We all need help once in awhile and creating the living space you want is a great reason to ask for it.
But if you'd rather do it yourself, even if it takes longer, because you have sentimental or costly things that you'd rather others didn't handle OR because you have a particular vision and goal of your own OR if you're just a person who likes to tackle things themselves...that's fine!
It might take a little longer to get there; but if you keep working you'll get where you want to be.
YOU CAN CREATE THE LIFE-SPACE YOU WANT
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