5 kid's clutter cleanup solutions

Photo Credit: http://www.moneysmartfamily.com/sites/default/files/tips/PickUpToys.gif

Dealing with kids’ clutter is every parent’s worse nightmare! And there’s a good reason why – once you get home from work, you cannot reach the living room without tripping over Barbie dolls or stepping on dangerous roller-skates. You put the toys and skates away, yet on the following day they magically reappear in your hallway to haunt you again. You simply have no idea what to do with your children’s closets – they’re literally bursting at the seams, overflowing with dirty crumpled clothes and yes… with more toys and trinkets! And just thinking about what’s underneath their beds is enough to give you a splitting headache. You’re completely at odds with what your coarse of action should be? Now here’s a few ideas how to easily get yourself rid of your kids’ clutter: 

  1. Establish a sorting system 

Once you do that, it would be easier for you to decide what needs throwing away and what should stay. After all you should start from somewhere! So why not start from the floor in your kids room and proceed with the rest of the house or apartment? What’s more you can always ask the children to participate in the sorting. As you pick up clothes and toys from the floor or closet, ask the child whether he or she wants to keep them; if the answer is “yes”, place the thing in a “keep” pile, if it’s “no” – put it in a bag and donate it. Keep in mind you should set a number of “no” items – otherwise the child would likely keep most of the stuff.

  1. Use Labels

   Now that every toy has been collected and sorted out with the rest of its kind in a proper box, label the separate boxes so that the child knows where everything is. This way the little girl or boy wouldn’t have to dump everything back on the floor just to find her Mermaid Barbie doll or his favorite toy truck. Make sure the child is involved in the labeling process. Ask them to draw some ornaments or flowers on the label – this will make it much more fun. Or you can buy some colorful notebook labels from the stationery.

  1. Make build-ins in the kid’s room

   A child’s room has so many nooks, which can potentially be turned, into clutter areas. That’s why you should take advantage of those and transform them into storage space. Turning all the little nooks in the kid’s room into build-ins could prove to be a great idea. Don’t let these small spaces go to waste – make a build-in for your child’s coloring books to prevent them from ending up on the floor. Another niche close to her or his bed can be used as a nightstand.

  1. Turn organization and cleaning into a game

If you want your kids to participate in the clutter cleanup, you might as well spice up the whole process a tiny bit are advising you from SW15 TenancyCleaning. Come up with different cleaning games and always use a reward system to stimulate the boy or girl. For example if the child has successfully cleaned up his desk and thrown away all the useless loose sheets of paper from his/her drawers, rewards them with a special treat – watching a favorite TV show or allowing them to treat themselves to an extra piece of cake. This way the child will know that if he or she makes their best to avoid clutter or at least clean it up, they would receive something special.

  1. Get kids involved in the process 

Every family is different and therefore has different needs. The best way to successfully clean up clutter is by involving your kids in the process. Clothes are a good example. If your child experiences difficulties in finding what he or she is looking for in the wardrobe, that sure is an alarming clutter sign. Let the child know that if he or she keeps everything within the closet organized, it would be much easier and quicker for them to prepare themselves for school each morning. Label each compartment in the closet and teach the kid to place the respective pieces of clothing there. The tees go in one compartment, the skirts or pants in another.

Remember the best way to get rid of kids’ clutter is to teach the children how to avoid it. This way they will learn to keep their own personal space in order and you, on the other hand, will not have to deal with rolling skates and dolls as soon as you get back from work.

About the Author

Kathleen Crane

Guest Blogger