Historically, I was notorious for losing things. Once I put something down, it might as well have disappeared into a black hole. That’s why I was so grateful to stumble across the lost-and-found organizing method on Reddit.
This simple home organizing idea helped me find new logical homes for all of my essentials, and after using it for several months, I am pleased to report I no longer lose things at home.
What is the lost-and-found organizing method
This unconventional organizing method is simple. When I finally find an item I had previously lost, I put it back in the first place I looked for it.
A fantastic example is my wallet. I was always losing it, leading to a mild panic mid-week and the need to freeze all my cards as I convinced myself I'd dropped it when at the store. In reality, I had usually left it in a bag somewhere in my home.
Interestingly, whenever I lost my wallet, the first place I looked for it was in a drawer in my home office storage, next to where I keep all my bags. So, following the lost-and-found organizing method, I decided to break the bad home habit of abandoning items when I walk in the door, and instead started to put my wallet in that drawer as soon as I came into the house.
Sure enough, a few weeks on, I have yet to lose my wallet again, and I no longer have that sudden wave of dread when I realize I don’t remember the last time I saw it.
This time-saving tidying tip is not too dissimilar to the cousin-coworker organizing method, where you store something either with other similar items or with items you use them with the most. It is a logical approach designed to make finding the perfect home for something simple.
Rosie Rowe, owner and founder of Ottawa Moving Logistics, also loves this method as it highlights functionality. ‘When you keep an item where you instinctively thought it would be, you are aligning your organization with what makes sense to your brain,’ she explains, so you can effectively build home organizing systems that keep you sane.
‘If you find specific items are cluttering up in one spot throughout, it may be beneficial to add a bin or basket that matches the area those items are in,’ Rosie adds. ‘This helps to make your areas look less cluttered and stay organized while still being functional.’
This set of four woven baskets, from Wayfair, is perfect for this.
This trick works for all sorts of items, including cables, keys, and jewellery.
While the lost and found method can be a fantastic option for those smaller items you use and lose regularly, it may not work for everyone.
For example, Lisa Eckerle, professional organizer and owner of The Designer Organizer, suggests this approach may not work if you don’t have a go-to spot to look for an item.
She shares, ‘I can't even remember why I walked into a room. Now, you want me to remember the first place I looked for something, which could've been days ago? This also assumes that my brain will be in the same state next time to think of the same spot first?! I'll be lucky to remember what I'm looking for while I'm looking for it.’
As a workaround, Lisa recommends giving every item one consistent home based around your usual routines, and instead training yourself to look in that location first to avoid losing control of clutter.
For example, ‘If you always notice your nails need filing while watching TV, keep your emery board in the living room side table. You’ll lower the instances of losing things and reduce the frantic searching.’
What to shop
Having some of the home organizing essentials professionals swear by also helps to keep your home organized and neat, making it harder to lose items.
Measuring 8 x 10 x 11 inches, these handwoven water hyacinth baskets are ideal for instantly creating drop zones and tidying busy shelves, and cabinets.
Make better use of vertical storage to save space on shelves by using stacking drawers in pantries to store snacks and packet goods.
These clear stacking bins are ideal for items that need ventilation, such as food packets or bathroom products, helping to keep them neat without the risk of mold or odors.
With space for slotting unread mail and five hooks for keys, this handy mail organizer is the perfect drop zone for common entryway clutter.
These under-bed storage bags on wheels are easy to pull out, and maintain good ventilation for items to prevent mold or musty bedroom smells.
This bestselling book packs so much information into a mere 200 pages, in a readable and digestible format that's accessible to all readers of all ages.
Meet the experts
Ottawa Moving Logistics is a proudly woman-owned moving company based in Ottawa, Ontario. Specializing in both residential and commercial relocations, they offer a comprehensive suite of services including local and long-distance moves, packing and unpacking, and storage solutions.
Lisa is a natural problem solver turned professional home organizer. She is a member of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO), who has helped hundreds of families restore order in their homes.
If you find yourself losing items regularly, it might be time to employ some effective decluttering methods. This can help to reduce how much you have to sort through to find something and make your home less stressful from day to day.
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