If you're going downstairs, take me!
Until 3 years ago, I lived in single story houses. You’ve heard me whine about how my laundry is now downstairs, but there’s another thing about having two levels that causes me endless grief as well.
It’s all the things from DOWNSTAIRS that somehow make their way UPSTAIRS!
I was forever making piles on the dining room table that were meant for downstairs, but rarely making it there. Pretty soon I had a Leaning Tower of Downstairs Junk precariously sitting on my table that inevitably got banished to the bar so we would have a place to eat. From there, it just ended up scattered again, and the situation was no better off than before.
That’s when I came up with the Downstairs Box.
Originally, it was a basket, but it wasn’t long before the basket was torn up and I knew I needed something sturdier. The plastic tub in the picture above was perfect for the job and I added the label so we would never mistake it for a toy tub or some such thing.
The empty box you see in the picture is an utter rarity. That box is NEVER empty (I’m thinking either it had just been emptied or I dumped out a few things before taking that picture because it is NEVER empty!) During our 15 Minute Tidy time, that box is taken downstairs by my oldest son (the only one I can trust to not play with the toys in it and actually put EVERYTHING away), who then empties it and brings it back up.
So, now instead of Leaning Towers and scattered bits of downstairs on the main level, we have a nice, neat place to contain it all until it can be taken downstairs to its proper home!
{I’m also secretly hoping that Half My Stuff Saturday will lessen the load this box bears!}
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Mama Mirage says
I used to have a downstairs box too… I have no idea what happened to it. Probably got kidnapped by tots. Hmmm…
.-= Mama Mirage´s last blog ..Large Family Bloggers – a call to stand in the gap! =-.
Mari says
Great idea! When my kids were young, we lived in a 2 story house. My problem was things coming to the main floor that needed to go back upstairs. I could have used an upstairs box!
.-= Mari´s last blog ..Works for me Wednesday =-.
Alicen says
Our laundry room is downstairs too so there is usually an empty laundry basket waiting to go back downstairs. We use that as our Dwonstairs Box. Great Idea!
heather says
I am moving into a two story house this summer for the first time ever. Thanks for the tip.
oh amanda says
I need to do this. Ours would be the UPSTAIRS box. The poor bottom of our stairs is littered w/stuff that needs to go back upstairs to the kids’ rooms. Great idea!
a
.-= oh amanda´s last blog ..Outlaws or In-Laws? A Retro Photo. =-.
Christine (iDreamofClean) says
Such a great idea! Love that the responsibility is given to your oldest son too!
.-= Christine (iDreamofClean)´s last blog ..Clean a Microwave the No Hassle Way =-.
Sherry says
Great idea! We have 3 floors with bedrooms on top floor and laundry in basement. Ugh! Need a chute! 😀
Have a great day!
Sherry
.-= Sherry´s last blog ..WFMW – Cool Free Job Chart! =-.
Jenn says
We too have a downstairs basket sitting at the top of the stairs and an upstairs basket sitting at the bottom. Works great unless my ever so helpful husband confuses the downstairs box with the Goodwill donation box that happened to also be sitting at the top of the stairs! LOL, guess we didn’t really need those things anyway! 🙂
Amy says
LOL! That’s one way to get rid of stuff!
Grace Wheeler says
Ha ha ha! This made me laugh 😀
.-= Grace Wheeler´s last blog ..Bringing Some Upstairs, Downstairs =-.
Milehimama says
Good idea! Glad to see I’m not the only one whose baskets mysteriously unravel from overuse, LOL!
.-= Milehimama´s last blog ..Playroom Purging =-.
Sandpiper says
My problem is that things need to get back upstairs! Our main living area is downstairs, but the playroom/school area is upstairs. I started with a glass jar for all of the Lego pieces that I find everywhere. Now I’m using an empty wipes container, but I think I’m going to have to upgrade.
Since I’m 34 wks pregnant, I really have to think seriously before I make the trek up all of those stairs!
.-= Sandpiper´s last blog .. =-.
Amy says
OH, the Legos! They are the worst!
Grace Wheeler says
I think I need a “going upstairs” box…Do you just leave it on the steps?
.-= Grace Wheeler´s last blog ..Bringing Some Upstairs, Downstairs =-.
Amy says
Mine isn’t on the stairs, but it is very near the stairs. If you have enough room on the stair itself, that is an ideal place.
Kari says
I have one of these too except mine is an antique stair basket that my grandmothers boyfriend gave us and it’s take up all the stuff that comes down! It really does help control the clutter and if I’m going up the stairs I just grab what’s in the basket and I know I’m one step closer to peace (at least for five minutes!!!)
.-= Kari´s last blog ..Help! =-.
Shannon says
Hi Amy-
I gave you a blog award-
http://homeschoolingtheirhearts.blogspot.com/2010/04/my-first-award.html
.-= Shannon´s last blog ..My First Award! =-.
niki says
Hi there! Niki here, from over at Free 2 Be Frugal, stopping by from Works for Me Wednesday.
I love your post! We do the basket thing here at our house. I am thinking of going to everyone getting their own box though.
Stop by and visit me when you get the chance.
🙂
Mariel says
That’s a lot better than just piling all the stuff on the top of the stairs to go down…can you say, “safety hazard??” Maybe we’ll smarten up and just get a box too!
Great post! Come on by my blog, http://www.oneshetwohse.com…there‘s a whole ton of mommy ideas there!
Mariel