Home Organization: Plastic Laundry Baskets Are Our Friends

With four kids and two dogs running around our home, it can be hard to keep up with all the messes, especially since our house is fairly large. We have a full basement and a first and second floor. Since it seems to be a constant battle for my boyfriend and I to stay on top of everything because of both of our work schedules, we are constantly in search of home organization organize tips to help make our home run more smoothly so Momma doesn’t get so stressed out.

Unfortunately, we’ve noticed that they take me for granted the most since I work from home. All are under the impression that I’m their maid and should pick up all their messes and be at their constant beck and call. Well, it doesn’t work that way. My blog is my job and it requires a lot of time and attention. Just because I don’t post something every day doesn’t mean I’m not working. There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes that people don’t understand. So it’s up to my boyfriend and I to find ways to help make my days a little easier.

About two weeks ago I mentioned to my boyfriend that I would like to get each child a cloth bin to set on the stairs that we could put their clothes in, as well as anything else of theirs that we find laying around the house.

While at Walmart one day I found these stacking laundry baskets. Since they came in four colors, and we have four kids, I thought they offered the perfect solution. Now I just toss all of their stuff in them and they take their baskets up each night to empty them out.

One of the changes we made to go along with these new laundry baskets is that the three oldest are now responsible for folding their own laundry. Before, we did it all. And it never lasted. Their drawers always ended up a mess, which made us mad because we spent so much time folding laundry and picking up their rooms. Now if they don’t do as told, they lose privileges and things from their bedrooms. And they don’t get them back until they earn them. Mom and Dad are done playing games.

If you are looking for baskets like these, check out Walmart. That is where I got these four for, I believe, $5.98 each. A blogger friend of mine mentioned she saw similar ones at Five Below, so you may find something close to these there as well. I do have to say these work out better than my original idea of cloth bins on the stairs because they aren’t cluttering them up, which could potentially cause an injury because someone trips and falls.