Bravo ! ❤as a teacher for over 30 years, I applaud the developmental, imaginative approach you are using with your children. Too much, too “easy”, too little responsibility and anticipation has been a problem for many years in children at school. What you are doing is engaging them in all developmental areas and you lifted my soul seeing this! Thank you for this video ❤
@@papertownhome stick with what you are witnessing. It’s hard to row against the mob who says more more more. Kids need less as they learn to navigate their world. Nature, music, unstructured imaginative play, and controlled risk taking all lead to creativity, confidence and well being in all areas. 💕
My favorite phrases you used are “I don’t like” and “I don’t have to”. We need to give ourselves permission to say these things to give our hearts a break. Love from Texas🥰!
Our book rotation comes from the library. We go biweekly and my boys, 7&3, choose 5-10 books. We have a basket of our own books as well but their preference for what to read is always changing! Free books from the library for the win!
It took me ages to convince my husband that if he wanted me to cook more we had to declutter the kitchen and set things up for me…shifting multiple items to get to the one pot I wanted was doing my head in. Love your idea about the bag by the door, will have to implement that one.
Yes!! I have to do this! I wish someone could come and make my kitchen make sense for me though. We’ve been here almost 2 years now and I just can’t get it figured out well.
These are great tips! One system that has helped reduce my stress SO much is simplifying my laundry routine to extreme basics. I decluttered all but one of my baskets and we now basically just use washing machine as a hamper and throw our dirty clothes straight into it. Then once a day I turn it on. That’s the whole routine. I no longer sort by color and we just wash everything on cold. It’s been five years and nothing bad has happened yet. I don’t fold anything. I sort that one load a day and my kids and my husband put their own stuff away. It’s only whatever we wore yesterday, so it’s never more than four pieces for each person. If a load isn’t big enough to run yet, I’ll throw in a blanket from the sofa or a few coats too. A few days a week I’ll also run a second load of towels or sheets, etc. I don’t store extra linens, I just wash them and put them right back on the bed. I realize this might not work for everyone. Maybe my kids’ socks are slightly less bright than someone who separates and bleaches all their whites, but no one has ever said anything about it and I also don’t care. Our clothes are clean and I’m always caught up on laundry, so it works for me! It truly has cut down on so much stress, frees up my time on weekends, and I never have a kid telling me they can’t find a certain shirt for school. There are no lost socks. It really is a game changer!
I do this too! It makes my life as the laundry doer so much easier. We also do this with the dish washer (which is my husbands job) so we never have a sink full of dirty dishes.
I too very much dislike microfiber cloths! Hair gets stuck in them, they aren't "lint-free", and they're plastic so they shed microplastics in the wash which I didn't know when I first started using them. I agree with the "less toys is best". My kiddos who are now teens are still good at entertaining themselves and I think a lot of that is due to lots of unstructured play time and not a whole room full of toys. We didn't do "activities" (crafts, playgroups, dance classes) non-stop. We did some, of course, but it was a special thing, not a daily thing. Also reading is awesome for kids. We always made very regular trips to the library to choose new books (bonus that it gets you out of the house and is FREE!) and they are still both avid readers. Plus reading helps with success at school in things other than reading as well (focus and attention, grammar, spelling, writing). Really enjoying your channel which I have just discovered! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much for watching! I'm so happy you're here. And, thank you for sharing your experience and insights! And, yes, the microplastics! So annoying.
Yes when we moved into this house I spent so much time figuring out exactly where I wanted all my kitchen things to live. Having baking things near my kitchen aid mixer and having my coffee mugs and tea things in a cabinet next to my Keurig.
Great video! Thank you! A couple favorite systems I use are: I always put my keys in a hanging basket right by my back door as soon as I walk in the door, I always hang my purse on a designated hook in the mud room and hang up my coat on a designated hook in the mud room. 💓💓💓
Thank you SO MUCH for sharing your observations about your kids toys-- more specifically about your daughter using her imagination to create her own play "kitchen". This was so helpful for me and calmed some of the mom guilt that has come with letting my child use his imagination with the toys he does have instead of buying all of the toy "staples" like food, doctor sets, etc. My son has a very small amount of actual toys and that is by design. Kids always make due with what they have/see around them :)
I never have really stopped to think of making certain areas really work for me! Right off the bat I know of a few things that are going to soon change! Thank you for this video!
Hi if you want to save some space in laundry room I recommend “earth breeze” laundry detergent in sheets. No plastic bottles. I started to use it three months ago and I probably will never go back to regular detergent
I have a similar marble wine cooler/utensil holder that I use as a crock with utensils next to the oven. Or it'd make a great vase. Looooove storage solutions that are also pretty!
@@Ellebelle615 No synthetic fibers are. All the pseudo "sporty" or "outdoorsy" clothes or modern cheap sweathers or dresses are usually with polyesther, polyamide, polyacryl, elasthane and whatnot. Telling someone their clothes will be made out of recycled toxic trash and dyed with more toxic paint won't magically mean environmentally conscious or sustainable, just succesfully greenwashing 😅
I’m an empty nester and newly retired teacher. Two systems that worked well in both home and school was toy and book rotation systems. Some toys/books are left out others are stored. Some people take pictures of what’s in the containers and tape it to the outside. How you rotate depends on personal choice. I rotated randomly with toys but seasonally with books. When the stored toys/books are taken out it’s like Christmas has come early. This rotation is also I good time to reevaluate toys and books and to see what needs to stay or go. I rotate toys with my dogs, too.
I do like this. Now that my kids are all in elementary school and know how to be gentle with books, I've gotten ride of all my kids books that didn't have sentimental value and now take a suitcase to the library once a month and get 40-50 books. We have a couple sections on a shelf for those, and a couple display spots I set ones out on. I've loved this!! We still often re rent favorites, and it keeps a fresh easy supply of readers on each ones current level or interest. Library day means they'll all be glued to books for the evening so don't do it on a day I need them doing something 😂 return day is a treasure hunt for all the books as I pull up the online list wich shows a picture of it through the library system! It takes a half hour, but the kids all help and get competitive about who finds the most.
My kids do the same thing with the pizza/oven! I have gone back and forth with getting a play kitchen, but came to the same conclusion, their creativity makes up for anything that our space cannot accommodate for. I love when they do this creative play at the dr office while we're waiting and just turn random things into restaurant menus and food.
Made a few zones in our kitchen today after seeing this video! I think it will really help! I also appreciated the toy part. We don't have a ton of toys, and it feels like our almost two year old is getting close to outgrowing a lot of the toys that used to be appropriate. You gave me some ideas of types of toys that may grow with him. Thank you for sharing!
Travel: We have 3 preschoolers so we always have our diaper bag packed and ready to go. We also have a checklist of things we need when headed into town. We pack our waterbottles, one fruit each, one dry snack each, a jacket, and a hat. We keep a potty in the car with a diaper insert ready to go for emergencies. And tp, clorox wipes, baby wipes, doggy bags for diapers, and handsoap. And a mat under the potty.
The system that has made the most impact for me as a mum of 5 is in the laundry... I no longer fold anyones clothing (I Stopped once I had 3 kids). Once the clothes come out of the drier or in from the clothes line, I separate them into one of 6 baskets that sit on a vertical shelving unit (Hubby has the top basket, my eldest has the next one down and so on until we get to the bottom basket which is shared between myself and the baby as there are only 6 shelves). From there everyone takes their own basket and puts their own things away (obviously I do the babys & help with my 4 year olds). So all i have to do is wash, dry & sort. Game changer.
Why is that last step of the laundry process so hard 😄 We don’t have a dryer, so they dry on a clothes horse, then I fold them and put them in the airing cupboard, then… they stay there, several wash loads piled up until they topple over or I’ve grabbed stuff to wear and it becomes a mess! I need to figure out a system for that last step for sure 🙂
Even your explanation was organized. I am watching your channel for the first time. What does the name of your channel signify? I didn't begin watching TH-cam videos until 2015, so you are not alone in that aspect. I really enjoyed what I saw today.
Thank you, Cathy! Welcome! The channel name refers to two things: 1) I live in a town that has a paper mill. It was established in the mid-19th century and the town grew up around it. There's a lot of pride in that part of the town's history. 2) I'm referencing the occurrences of phantom settlements that would appear in old maps. They were called "paper towns" and sometimes people would see them on maps, believe a settlement actually existed and see an opportunity to settle and build community. That's how I think of my channel, as a unique corner of the internet that I'm building in the hopes of attracting a community :)
I have very similar systems as you. For baking I have two baskets. One for bread and one for cakes and cookies. My kids both have a drawer each in the entrance where they keep their hats and gloves, etc… 2 hook each, one for the jacket and one for their backpack, and a shoe tray each. I am always trying to find the easiest way to do things and not waste time, just like you 😊
Just discovered your channel. I LOVE IT! I have a 6 month old, and really want to minimize the stuff in my home. I minimized a ton of sutff a few years ago but we have accumulated so much stuff already since my daughter was born. I love your ideas on efficiency and placement. Excited to watch more of your videos and to implement some of your ideas :)
Welcome!! I’m working on a video (hoping to have out in 2-3 weeks) on simplifying life with kids. It’s basically the road map to simple and slow living as a family. I think it’ll be right up your alley!
A system that I have set up is a bit more overarching and makes us feel like we have a bit of control over the flow of our house. For instance, shoes never go past the mud room. We keep all doors locked around the house except one to make sure folks use the same door for in and out, unless we are working outside of a different door (e.g., gardening, cleaning the porch, etc.). I also have a system for putting clothes away. There is always an empty basket beside the dryer so when a load is done, I immediately fold and put it in that basket to go to the right rooms. Then, the basket that is upstairs in our bedroom, replaces the other one, when I take the folded clothes upstairs. My son is so aware of this process now that he asks me where the basket is when I have moved it upstairs to the bedroom for putting clothes away before he puts his dirty ones on the floor.
Great video. I loved hearing the explanation of your systems It really helps me to understand the functionality and gain some great ideas. I have a similar set up for baking supplies in my kitchen. My kitchen doesn't have a pantry so I had to use the cupboards and keep all the storage minimal. I love seeing videos of family home tours and organisation. Would you be able to do a video showing all the toys your kids own? I have been observing what my kids play with too and been wanting to minimise the collection a bit further. It. Seem quite hard when my kids want to keep everything and I don't have anywhere to store a rotation bin.
Drop Zone for family of 6: Black mat for everyone's ONE pair of Clogs. We live out in a rural area and there is always mud. We have a Kallax Ikea Cube Shelf for all the kids gear. Bottome shelf. Bin 1 Rain boots, 2 tennis shoes, 3 Winter Boots OR Summer Sandals, 4 Winter Fleece Jackets OR year round Hoodie. SECOND ROW: Bins: 1 Winter Accessories: hats, scarves, mittens etc. OR summer swimsuits and rash guards and pool diapers. 2 Year round Bucket hats and baseball cap, one each, 3 Car/Travel Bin: things that belong in the car, grocery reusable bags, baby carrier wrap, first aid for trips, waterproof bag for waterbottles, bags for snacks when traveling etc., 4. Diapers and Wipes. All coats go in the Hall. Everyone gets 1 double hook. Depending on the time of year is what we keep on there. Winter it may be our thicker fleece and rain jacket, or spring a hoodie and rain jacket or waterproof overalls etc. All other shoes for the older ones belong in a tall shoe rack in our bedroom closet. And any doubles of hats and mittens for the kids in our closet (each kid has their own bin for out of season clothes or extras) which live under our hanging clothes for easy access.
Great video! 😊✨ I have 4 kiddos and I like to have a laundry basket in each bedroom as well as a trash bin, we have a basket of socks that I keep in our entryway (I like to get black socks for all so that they all match and don’t look as dingy after being washed) and for my older two children we have a dry erase board for their morning checklist that stays on our fridge, that has sliders they can move when they complete a task. Has been an absolute game changer for them and for me 🙌🏻😅✨ We also have a storage ottoman that we store our babies clothes in near where we get him ready and I do under the bed storage for seasonal clothing ☺️♥️
Ok speaking of rags... Swedish dishcloths are AMAZING! It basically feels like you wadded up 50 paper towels. Love it because you can wipe, then rinse and everything comes off, and repeat. I wash mine in the dishwasher and they're biodegradable. Microfiber like you said I don't love because it releases micro plastics but the material just feels weird at times.
I love Swedish dishcloths. I wash mine in the machine. The only microfiber cloths I like are the glass cleaning set from ecloth. I can’t stand the feeling of others. And I don’t like the thought of microplastics either.
Brilliant again. Your helping this old woman sort out toys that my granddaughter finds different to hers at home. I already have the same laundry system as im in an apartment. Where can i get really good paper dolls from? in in the UK. The tea worked on hubbys throat, It healed it in 4 days. Bless you all with love xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Bathroom Caddy: we keep a bathroom caddy in each of our bathrooms so its easy to get a quick job done. If i have to cross the house to find things. Forget it. Ill move on because I'm already in the kitchen. We keep a toilet gel cleaner, multipurpose spray, and a vinegar/dawn solution for scubbing tubs, sinks, and shower. A scrub brush for the shower and tub and a green sponge scubby for the sinks. Plus 2 microfiber clothes. I always keep a third on the counter to wipe up as we use it throughout the day. And when im going to clean i sue that one first and clean the whole bathroom, toss it to wash, and i use the 2nd one back on the counter to replace the first one. And theirs always the 3rd on on the bottom ready to go if needed.
Love your videos! Our systems are so similar! My favorite system in my home is the washer machine = the laundry basket. This has saved me so much time! Now my kiddos - 9 and 7, put their dirty clothes in the washer every day. Much less running around for me. Now if anyone has a system for putting away the folded laundry - I am here for it. 😅
Subscribed! This was one of the most helpful videos on home organization and systems. Would love to see an indepth tour of cabinets and drawer etc! Also, any car tips? 😅
Yay, welcome!! Awesome, I’d love to cover those topics. For now, I’d say I have two rules for cars: #1 always bring everything back in the house right away (this can be hard if you have little ones, but worth it); #2 get a bin to corral the few essentials that always stay in the car 🚗
I think it's really similar to those! This one is kind of narrow, for a wine bottle, and the person who gave it to me said it's for wine. I did finally look it up, it's for chilling the wine. Very bougie! LOL
We have a drop zone at our back entry door that includes a repurposed hope chest as a seat that doubles as storage for off season shoes stored in plastic shoe boxes, hooks on the wall for dog paw towels, a dry sink that has a basket for keys and holds our dog’s grooming supplies, more paw towels, etc and an old secretary desk that is used for things going out of the house. Finally we have a raised shelf with a shoe mat on it holding our current outdoor shoes. It sounds like a lot but it’s in a U shape with the door the bottom of the U and the other furniture forming the sides of the U.
Hello, I'm Vera, I've just subscribed as I enjoyed your video and will implement several of the tips you have shared. My cleaning rags are just that... rags..pieces of towels and tea towels that have served us well and can be used in the upkeep of our home and if they get too far through they are used in the garage or garden shed and then as they are cotton can be put in the compost bin. I did buy microfiber cloths but I have eczema and they hurt my hands and didn't even clean well so I passed them on. If I'd thought of the microplastics I never would have had them. We have washing lines in our large garden so if I get the washing straight onto hangers instead of in a basket I can save having to ironmost of it. Folding is a step too far for me now so I roll things that go in drawers and wash bedding and get it back on beds so it doesn't need folding or putting away. Going now to make myself a baking station because I always loved baking but not able for all the traipsing round the kitchen I used to do. Please think about oldies like me who were always fit active energetic and now 64 retired but with severe health and mobility issues cannot do things the way we used to always do them. I would really appreciate some more tips I could adapt for my situation. Thank you. God bless you. ❤
😊love these systems you have in place! One thing I do with my 6 year old son is similar to your drop zone. I have a shelf for shoes, a basket for hats, gloves, etc, and some hooks at his level for his coat and backpack. I also added a basket of socks so he doesn’t have to run upstairs again to get them! So much easier 😅 he loves to organize his own space and this gives him the independence to do so. I’m impressed with your toy collection. We still have way too much, but he has a steel trap memory and will ask to play with something he got 2 years ago. I’ve donated toys before and he’s been devastated about it. So I put some bins in the basement to rotate. It still feels like too much to me in his playroom, but he plays with everything. It’s a journey 😆
My goodness, yes, it really is a journey. I recently decluttered the toy train (and when Peyton realized there was weeping). I rebought the train. Oh well, can't win 'em all!
@@papertownhome oh my goodness I have done this 6 times now. You’d think I’d get the message and stop decluttering the toys🤪😅 things I thought after a year in the basement he wouldn’t care. Wrong!! 🤦🏻♀️
After I watched this I tweaked the location of lunch bags and kitchen linens in my kitchen to be closer to where I would use them. Now if I can just remember where they are!
I'd love to see which lovevery toys you decluttered (perhaps show which you kept, and add images of the kits on the screen circling the ones you let go?) I've just recently been talking about taking apart the kits and finally letting go of never even opened toys (usually duplicates such as the sink, pitcher, flashlight etc) or very little used single purpose toys that weren't a hit but I've been strugfling to take the leap since we have our first and I felt like perhaps some of the unappreciated ones will be a bigger hit with the next babe. In general I love seeing *exactly* what people have in terms of each category (+ big focus on very visual stuff, so trying to overlap/edit in a way where we can hear your voice while we see the shot of the drawer/closet you're talking about etc) and especially exactly what they chose to get rid of. Hannah Louise Poston calls the final selection of what you keep "the edit" and I love that. Minimalism is a lot about trying things and seeing which work (better) than others and enough to not need more. Lastly you have an empty comment section because you have pretty much all of the tips nailed down 😄👏🏻👏🏻 there's not much more I advise people to do than all of what you said. (In fact I have a full closet dedicated to the equivalent of your bag by the door of things I'm struggling to get out of my house*.) Perhaps work with your husband as a big child, if he can't hang on a hanger, dedicate a hook for him instead. *Oh this would be an amazing video: systems and tips for responsibly passing on items that work but no longer work for my family.
I was going to edit my comment but figured I'd let others know, she does have a video on decluttering toys from the lovevery kits and she mostly shows all that she's letting go, go check it out!
Thanks for these ideas! I think another commenter asked me to go through every toy that we have. I'm learning that a lot of people benefit from seeing exactly what people have for each category. So, that's on my list! When I do that I'll try to touch on the things I let go of from Lovevery. Doesn't hurt to hit it again since not everyone circles back to old videos!
Erika, I would love for you to do a video on packing for vacation as a minimalist. I really want to master packing lightly and efficiently. Also how to teach my son how to pack his own bag for trips.
Your brown leather purse\bag in your coat closet- I love!! Any chance you could share where it’s from? I love the colour. Probably a no longer existing Etsy purchase? 😅❤ Thanks for sharing all the wonderful simple living content!
I cook way more with just a blender, shaker, a kettle, oven/stove and pots and pans. 3 utensils. 1 set of measuring cups n spoons n scale. All my kitchenware fits in one single cardboard box and I cook 2-3 meals daily.
What type of cloths do you use? I had some cotton ones for the kitchen that would shed, and my other cotton ones I use for cleaning leave lint in mirrors. What was in the gray bins in the laundry room?😊
I use a set of bar rags that I bought through Amazon. My mom recommended them to me :). I added a link to the description of this video if you'd like to check them out. My experience was that after I washed them a couple times they stopped leaving lint behind. The gray bins had extra laundry supplies that aren't used on a regular basis (e.g., steamer, fabric shaver, at-home dry cleaning materials), a Swiffer dusting wand, and our two beach towels (randomnly where I keep them). I'm planning to do more in-depth videos where I dive into all the bins, drawers, etc. down the road. There seems to be enough interest! :)
I typically rinse them in my kitchen sink (we don't have a utility sink) and then throw them in with all the dirty in the washer. If they're particularly bad or have harsh chemicals (which I rarely use) then I'd set them on top of the washer and do a separate load. Since I'm washing things pretty quickly I haven't felt like I needed a special system for my rags.
Question: I have the same washing machine. How do you keep that tray from zooming off during the spin cycle? Our machine is secure on a pedestal drawer so maybe that’s the difference but the spin cycle is so intense as it ramps up I think the machine is going to launch to the moon.
Hahaha 🤣. “Launch to the moon” made me laugh out loud. You’re right. It does shake quite a bit. It might have to do with the pedestal drawer you mentioned, but also the tray is quite heavy duty and the containers within the tray are heavy. Especially the marble jar that I pointed out. I do sometimes have to move the containers so they don’t clack together during that cycle. 😂
I’d love to know where you got those book shelf dividers for your kids books in the cabinet? What are they called? I try to look them up on Amazon and can’t find any like that!
My husband has a drawer in the kitchen for his stuff, headphones, vitamins, keys etc. it keeps from dropping things on the counter. I have tray at front door for sunglasses.
Once I take clothes off the line I fold and place into each family members basket which sits on open shelves in the laundry. I used to fold and put straight on their beds, but inevitably they’d end up on the floor and need rewashing!🤨 This way everyone knows where their clean clothes are and can put away when they have the time.
Do you have a specific bar rag that you use? I have always used worn out bath and kitchen rags but would like to purchase rags specifically for cleaning.
I bought these: amzn.to/3Ibfi0u. I found that I needed to put them through the wash and dryer a couple times before they stopped leaving behind little bits of lint. Hope that helps!
The key word with the toy rotation bins is opaque 😂 currently my son is always asking for the toys he can see in the transparent container on a shelf in the closet.
@@papertownhome lol I’d love for all my kids toys and books could be in there room but ya it tends to be easy to also have it in our living room lol just sucks because we live in a small 2 bed apartment lol 😂
Same. They actually tear my finger tips but we have so many I don’t want to throw them out and buy new towels. I wear gloves to clean to avoid the microtears. We do use bar towels in the kitchen to cut down on paper towel use, though.
Haha 😂 fair question! If folks want a more traditional tour, I’m down to make it. Personally I find traditional tours unhelpful, so I’ve been hesitant to make mine that way. But I’m also happy to flex for the viewers.
@@papertownhome I'm a minimalist in a small (under 1000 sq ft) house with a family of four so I find home tours helpful for layout and organization. Especially with no closets :-) thanks, I really enjoy your content
@user-wf6xe7fh2r Thanks, Heather! That's really helpful to understand. And, I love knowing that you're in a family the same size as mine and a smaller space. I've been telling my husband we could definitely downsize! Well, I'm totally down for making that video. I'll send a couple polls out to the community to see if I can learn more about how to be most helpful to folks.
What are your favorite organizing systems in your house?
Bravo ! ❤as a teacher for over 30 years, I applaud the developmental, imaginative approach you are using with your children. Too much, too “easy”, too little responsibility and anticipation has been a problem for many years in children at school. What you are doing is engaging them in all developmental areas and you lifted my soul seeing this! Thank you for this video ❤
Thank you so much! This was very encouraging to a young mama still figuring it all out :)
@@papertownhome stick with what you are witnessing. It’s hard to row against the mob who says more more more. Kids need less as they learn to navigate their world. Nature, music, unstructured imaginative play, and controlled risk taking all lead to creativity, confidence and well being in all areas. 💕
@@sl9906❤
I agree 100%
My favorite phrases you used are “I don’t like” and “I don’t have to”. We need to give ourselves permission to say these things to give our hearts a break. Love from Texas🥰!
Love how you put that! "Give our hearts a break." Best thing I ever did in my home!
One of my favorite systems is: Everything has a place and when done using it, it goes back to its place. 😊
Our book rotation comes from the library. We go biweekly and my boys, 7&3, choose 5-10 books. We have a basket of our own books as well but their preference for what to read is always changing! Free books from the library for the win!
Yaaass! Use the library as your storage space for books.
I put all my baking supplies, flour, sugar, etc in a basket so I just pull it down to bake! Super easy!
I learned if I have a cleaning caddy I never clean because it’s another step to the process. Each room has its own cleaning supplies 🤣
It took me ages to convince my husband that if he wanted me to cook more we had to declutter the kitchen and set things up for me…shifting multiple items to get to the one pot I wanted was doing my head in. Love your idea about the bag by the door, will have to implement that one.
Oh man, it’s so true that the extra stuff in the kitchen makes it so much harder to cook.
Yes!! I have to do this! I wish someone could come and make my kitchen make sense for me though. We’ve been here almost 2 years now and I just can’t get it figured out well.
These are great tips! One system that has helped reduce my stress SO much is simplifying my laundry routine to extreme basics. I decluttered all but one of my baskets and we now basically just use washing machine as a hamper and throw our dirty clothes straight into it. Then once a day I turn it on. That’s the whole routine. I no longer sort by color and we just wash everything on cold. It’s been five years and nothing bad has happened yet. I don’t fold anything. I sort that one load a day and my kids and my husband put their own stuff away. It’s only whatever we wore yesterday, so it’s never more than four pieces for each person. If a load isn’t big enough to run yet, I’ll throw in a blanket from the sofa or a few coats too. A few days a week I’ll also run a second load of towels or sheets, etc. I don’t store extra linens, I just wash them and put them right back on the bed. I realize this might not work for everyone. Maybe my kids’ socks are slightly less bright than someone who separates and bleaches all their whites, but no one has ever said anything about it and I also don’t care. Our clothes are clean and I’m always caught up on laundry, so it works for me!
It truly has cut down on so much stress, frees up my time on weekends, and I never have a kid telling me they can’t find a certain shirt for school. There are no lost socks. It really is a game changer!
I do this too! It makes my life as the laundry doer so much easier. We also do this with the dish washer (which is my husbands job) so we never have a sink full of dirty dishes.
Yaaaasss! Thank you for sharing and going into the details. So, so helpful!
I too very much dislike microfiber cloths! Hair gets stuck in them, they aren't "lint-free", and they're plastic so they shed microplastics in the wash which I didn't know when I first started using them.
I agree with the "less toys is best". My kiddos who are now teens are still good at entertaining themselves and I think a lot of that is due to lots of unstructured play time and not a whole room full of toys. We didn't do "activities" (crafts, playgroups, dance classes) non-stop. We did some, of course, but it was a special thing, not a daily thing. Also reading is awesome for kids. We always made very regular trips to the library to choose new books (bonus that it gets you out of the house and is FREE!) and they are still both avid readers. Plus reading helps with success at school in things other than reading as well (focus and attention, grammar, spelling, writing).
Really enjoying your channel which I have just discovered! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much for watching! I'm so happy you're here. And, thank you for sharing your experience and insights!
And, yes, the microplastics! So annoying.
I have to say I absolutely hate microfiber rags too! I took an old towel and cut it up in smaller rectangles and it’s been awesome for cleaning.
Preach sister!
Yes when we moved into this house I spent so much time figuring out exactly where I wanted all my kitchen things to live. Having baking things near my kitchen aid mixer and having my coffee mugs and tea things in a cabinet next to my Keurig.
Great video! Thank you! A couple favorite systems I use are: I always put my keys in a hanging basket right by my back door as soon as I walk in the door, I always hang my purse on a designated hook in the mud room and hang up my coat on a designated hook in the mud room. 💓💓💓
Thank you SO MUCH for sharing your observations about your kids toys-- more specifically about your daughter using her imagination to create her own play "kitchen". This was so helpful for me and calmed some of the mom guilt that has come with letting my child use his imagination with the toys he does have instead of buying all of the toy "staples" like food, doctor sets, etc. My son has a very small amount of actual toys and that is by design. Kids always make due with what they have/see around them :)
Absolutely!! You’re giving him exactly what he needs. The freedom that comes with a simple environment and manageable toy collection.
I never have really stopped to think of making certain areas really work for me! Right off the bat I know of a few things that are going to soon change! Thank you for this video!
Love that!
Hi if you want to save some space in laundry room I recommend “earth breeze” laundry detergent in sheets. No plastic bottles. I started to use it three months ago and I probably will never go back to regular detergent
That’s good to know! I’ve wondered about that option.
@@papertownhome I've been using tru earth for 2 years. It's the Canadian version. Love it!
@@taniayoungson5614 nice! And nice to see your name in the comments! Hope you’re well!
@papertownhome 😊 That's sweet, yes, I'm doing well. Thanks for asking.
Fellow Earth Breezer here! I love mine.
I have a similar marble wine cooler/utensil holder that I use as a crock with utensils next to the oven. Or it'd make a great vase. Looooove storage solutions that are also pretty!
Me too! I like the idea of a vase! Good thinking :)
9 months ago (currently 12/2024) you commented hoping to hit 5000 subscribers - you currently are at 24.8 K❣️ Congratulations! Enjoyed this post. ❤
Girl I hate microfiber rags too. You’re not alone 😅
Hahaha, love this.
They’re also not good for the environment from what I hear lately! 😮
@@Ellebelle615 No synthetic fibers are. All the pseudo "sporty" or "outdoorsy" clothes or modern cheap sweathers or dresses are usually with polyesther, polyamide, polyacryl, elasthane and whatnot. Telling someone their clothes will be made out of recycled toxic trash and dyed with more toxic paint won't magically mean environmentally conscious or sustainable, just succesfully greenwashing 😅
I’m an empty nester and newly retired teacher. Two systems that worked well in both home and school was toy and book rotation systems. Some toys/books are left out others are stored. Some people take pictures of what’s in the containers and tape it to the outside. How you rotate depends on personal choice. I rotated randomly with toys but seasonally with books. When the stored toys/books are taken out it’s like Christmas has come early. This rotation is also I good time to reevaluate toys and books and to see what needs to stay or go. I rotate toys with my dogs, too.
I do like this. Now that my kids are all in elementary school and know how to be gentle with books, I've gotten ride of all my kids books that didn't have sentimental value and now take a suitcase to the library once a month and get 40-50 books. We have a couple sections on a shelf for those, and a couple display spots I set ones out on. I've loved this!! We still often re rent favorites, and it keeps a fresh easy supply of readers on each ones current level or interest. Library day means they'll all be glued to books for the evening so don't do it on a day I need them doing something 😂 return day is a treasure hunt for all the books as I pull up the online list wich shows a picture of it through the library system! It takes a half hour, but the kids all help and get competitive about who finds the most.
My kids do the same thing with the pizza/oven! I have gone back and forth with getting a play kitchen, but came to the same conclusion, their creativity makes up for anything that our space cannot accommodate for. I love when they do this creative play at the dr office while we're waiting and just turn random things into restaurant menus and food.
Yes! Those are the BEST moments, seeing them get lost in their play.
Love all your videos. Yes, would love to see additional in-depth organizational details.
You got it!
Made a few zones in our kitchen today after seeing this video! I think it will really help! I also appreciated the toy part. We don't have a ton of toys, and it feels like our almost two year old is getting close to outgrowing a lot of the toys that used to be appropriate. You gave me some ideas of types of toys that may grow with him. Thank you for sharing!
That is awesome! Thanks for sharing!
Travel: We have 3 preschoolers so we always have our diaper bag packed and ready to go. We also have a checklist of things we need when headed into town. We pack our waterbottles, one fruit each, one dry snack each, a jacket, and a hat. We keep a potty in the car with a diaper insert ready to go for emergencies. And tp, clorox wipes, baby wipes, doggy bags for diapers, and handsoap. And a mat under the potty.
The system that has made the most impact for me as a mum of 5 is in the laundry... I no longer fold anyones clothing (I Stopped once I had 3 kids). Once the clothes come out of the drier or in from the clothes line, I separate them into one of 6 baskets that sit on a vertical shelving unit (Hubby has the top basket, my eldest has the next one down and so on until we get to the bottom basket which is shared between myself and the baby as there are only 6 shelves). From there everyone takes their own basket and puts their own things away (obviously I do the babys & help with my 4 year olds).
So all i have to do is wash, dry & sort. Game changer.
I love this! Thank you for sharing!
Love your content! I would love to see your capsule wardrobe updates as the seasons change. Thank you!
Awesome! Will do :)
Me too!
Why is that last step of the laundry process so hard 😄 We don’t have a dryer, so they dry on a clothes horse, then I fold them and put them in the airing cupboard, then… they stay there, several wash loads piled up until they topple over or I’ve grabbed stuff to wear and it becomes a mess! I need to figure out a system for that last step for sure 🙂
Hahaha, I feel you!
Even your explanation was organized. I am watching your channel for the first time. What does the name of your channel signify? I didn't begin watching TH-cam videos until 2015, so you are not alone in that aspect. I really enjoyed what I saw today.
Thank you, Cathy! Welcome! The channel name refers to two things: 1) I live in a town that has a paper mill. It was established in the mid-19th century and the town grew up around it. There's a lot of pride in that part of the town's history. 2) I'm referencing the occurrences of phantom settlements that would appear in old maps. They were called "paper towns" and sometimes people would see them on maps, believe a settlement actually existed and see an opportunity to settle and build community. That's how I think of my channel, as a unique corner of the internet that I'm building in the hopes of attracting a community :)
I just found you! And thank God!!!! That’s exactly what i needed! ❤ great job!!!!!
I'm so glad! Thank you!
❤oh my goodness. Just come help me tackle my home.
Haha 😆 I wish I could do that for everybody!
I have very similar systems as you. For baking I have two baskets. One for bread and one for cakes and cookies. My kids both have a drawer each in the entrance where they keep their hats and gloves, etc… 2 hook each, one for the jacket and one for their backpack, and a shoe tray each.
I am always trying to find the easiest way to do things and not waste time, just like you 😊
That's a great idea to break baking out between breads versus cakes and cookies!
Just discovered your channel. I LOVE IT! I have a 6 month old, and really want to minimize the stuff in my home. I minimized a ton of sutff a few years ago but we have accumulated so much stuff already since my daughter was born. I love your ideas on efficiency and placement. Excited to watch more of your videos and to implement some of your ideas :)
Welcome!! I’m working on a video (hoping to have out in 2-3 weeks) on simplifying life with kids. It’s basically the road map to simple and slow living as a family. I think it’ll be right up your alley!
A system that I have set up is a bit more overarching and makes us feel like we have a bit of control over the flow of our house. For instance, shoes never go past the mud room. We keep all doors locked around the house except one to make sure folks use the same door for in and out, unless we are working outside of a different door (e.g., gardening, cleaning the porch, etc.). I also have a system for putting clothes away. There is always an empty basket beside the dryer so when a load is done, I immediately fold and put it in that basket to go to the right rooms. Then, the basket that is upstairs in our bedroom, replaces the other one, when I take the folded clothes upstairs. My son is so aware of this process now that he asks me where the basket is when I have moved it upstairs to the bedroom for putting clothes away before he puts his dirty ones on the floor.
That's so smart to keep the other doors locked and control the flow of people/animals!
Wow, when you said husband and clean in the same sentence 😮. So happy for you. I enjoy your channel.
Great video. I loved hearing the explanation of your systems
It really helps me to understand the functionality and gain some great ideas.
I have a similar set up for baking supplies in my kitchen. My kitchen doesn't have a pantry so I had to use the cupboards and keep all the storage minimal.
I love seeing videos of family home tours and organisation. Would you be able to do a video showing all the toys your kids own? I have been observing what my kids play with too and been wanting to minimise the collection a bit further. It. Seem quite hard when my kids want to keep everything and I don't have anywhere to store a rotation bin.
Absolutely! I’d love to do that video. I’ll add it to my list.
Drop Zone for family of 6: Black mat for everyone's ONE pair of Clogs. We live out in a rural area and there is always mud. We have a Kallax Ikea Cube Shelf for all the kids gear. Bottome shelf. Bin 1 Rain boots, 2 tennis shoes, 3 Winter Boots OR Summer Sandals, 4 Winter Fleece Jackets OR year round Hoodie. SECOND ROW: Bins: 1 Winter Accessories: hats, scarves, mittens etc. OR summer swimsuits and rash guards and pool diapers. 2 Year round Bucket hats and baseball cap, one each, 3 Car/Travel Bin: things that belong in the car, grocery reusable bags, baby carrier wrap, first aid for trips, waterproof bag for waterbottles, bags for snacks when traveling etc., 4. Diapers and Wipes. All coats go in the Hall. Everyone gets 1 double hook. Depending on the time of year is what we keep on there. Winter it may be our thicker fleece and rain jacket, or spring a hoodie and rain jacket or waterproof overalls etc. All other shoes for the older ones belong in a tall shoe rack in our bedroom closet. And any doubles of hats and mittens for the kids in our closet (each kid has their own bin for out of season clothes or extras) which live under our hanging clothes for easy access.
Great video! 😊✨
I have 4 kiddos and I like to have a laundry basket in each bedroom as well as a trash bin, we have a basket of socks that I keep in our entryway (I like to get black socks for all so that they all match and don’t look as dingy after being washed) and for my older two children we have a dry erase board for their morning checklist that stays on our fridge, that has sliders they can move when they complete a task. Has been an absolute game changer for them and for me 🙌🏻😅✨
We also have a storage ottoman that we store our babies clothes in near where we get him ready and I do under the bed storage for seasonal clothing ☺️♥️
I love that you repurposed the marble wine bottle holder for laundry supplies! I'm curious about what's in the baskets above the washer and dryer.
Hi! It’s mostly excess cleaning supplies and laundry supplies I don’t use regularly. For instance, our clothing steamer.
Ok speaking of rags... Swedish dishcloths are AMAZING! It basically feels like you wadded up 50 paper towels. Love it because you can wipe, then rinse and everything comes off, and repeat. I wash mine in the dishwasher and they're biodegradable. Microfiber like you said I don't love because it releases micro plastics but the material just feels weird at times.
Good point! I forgot about Swedish dishcloths. And, I didn't know you can put them through the dishwasher. I like that.
Yes! When the load is done though I always wring them out because they'd take a while to dry otherwise.@@papertownhome
I love Swedish dishcloths. I wash mine in the machine. The only microfiber cloths I like are the glass cleaning set from ecloth. I can’t stand the feeling of others. And I don’t like the thought of microplastics either.
your drop zones are pretty much identical to mine and it makes things SO MUCH EASIER.
IT REALLY DOES!
Brilliant again. Your helping this old woman sort out toys that my granddaughter finds different to hers at home. I already have the same laundry system as im in an apartment. Where can i get really good paper dolls from? in in the UK. The tea worked on hubbys throat, It healed it in 4 days. Bless you all with love xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Yay! I’m so glad you’re finding useful ideas here. Happy to hear he’s healthy again!
Bathroom Caddy: we keep a bathroom caddy in each of our bathrooms so its easy to get a quick job done. If i have to cross the house to find things. Forget it. Ill move on because I'm already in the kitchen. We keep a toilet gel cleaner, multipurpose spray, and a vinegar/dawn solution for scubbing tubs, sinks, and shower. A scrub brush for the shower and tub and a green sponge scubby for the sinks. Plus 2 microfiber clothes. I always keep a third on the counter to wipe up as we use it throughout the day. And when im going to clean i sue that one first and clean the whole bathroom, toss it to wash, and i use the 2nd one back on the counter to replace the first one. And theirs always the 3rd on on the bottom ready to go if needed.
I like the white clothes laundry idea👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
☺️
Love your videos! Our systems are so similar!
My favorite system in my home is the washer machine = the laundry basket. This has saved me so much time! Now my kiddos - 9 and 7, put their dirty clothes in the washer every day. Much less running around for me.
Now if anyone has a system for putting away the folded laundry - I am here for it. 😅
Love it!! And I feel you. I need a dedicated laundry putter awayer 😂😉
Subscribed! This was one of the most helpful videos on home organization and systems. Would love to see an indepth tour of cabinets and drawer etc! Also, any car tips? 😅
Yay, welcome!! Awesome, I’d love to cover those topics. For now, I’d say I have two rules for cars: #1 always bring everything back in the house right away (this can be hard if you have little ones, but worth it); #2 get a bin to corral the few essentials that always stay in the car 🚗
❤❤❤ty so much for this video!!
I think the marble container that you thought was for wine is actually for kitchen utensils??
At least that's how I use mine! ☺️
I think it's really similar to those! This one is kind of narrow, for a wine bottle, and the person who gave it to me said it's for wine. I did finally look it up, it's for chilling the wine. Very bougie! LOL
Yes. Hate microfiber towels!
We have a drop zone at our back entry door that includes a repurposed hope chest as a seat that doubles as storage for off season shoes stored in plastic shoe boxes, hooks on the wall for dog paw towels, a dry sink that has a basket for keys and holds our dog’s grooming supplies, more paw towels, etc and an old secretary desk that is used for things going out of the house. Finally we have a raised shelf with a shoe mat on it holding our current outdoor shoes. It sounds like a lot but it’s in a U shape with the door the bottom of the U and the other furniture forming the sides of the U.
Nice! Funny I love folding!
Please come fold my laundry 😂
Hello, I'm Vera, I've just subscribed as I enjoyed your video and will implement several of the tips you have shared. My cleaning rags are just that... rags..pieces of towels and tea towels that have served us well and can be used in the upkeep of our home and if they get too far through they are used in the garage or garden shed and then as they are cotton can be put in the compost bin. I did buy microfiber cloths but I have eczema and they hurt my hands and didn't even clean well so I passed them on. If I'd thought of the microplastics I never would have had them. We have washing lines in our large garden so if I get the washing straight onto hangers instead of in a basket I can save having to ironmost of it. Folding is a step too far for me now so I roll things that go in drawers and wash bedding and get it back on beds so it doesn't need folding or putting away. Going now to make myself a baking station because I always loved baking but not able for all the traipsing round the kitchen I used to do. Please think about oldies like me who were always fit active energetic and now 64 retired but with severe health and mobility issues cannot do things the way we used to always do them. I would really appreciate some more tips I could adapt for my situation. Thank you. God bless you. ❤
😊love these systems you have in place! One thing I do with my 6 year old son is similar to your drop zone. I have a shelf for shoes, a basket for hats, gloves, etc, and some hooks at his level for his coat and backpack. I also added a basket of socks so he doesn’t have to run upstairs again to get them! So much easier 😅 he loves to organize his own space and this gives him the independence to do so. I’m impressed with your toy collection. We still have way too much, but he has a steel trap memory and will ask to play with something he got 2 years ago. I’ve donated toys before and he’s been devastated about it. So I put some bins in the basement to rotate. It still feels like too much to me in his playroom, but he plays with everything. It’s a journey 😆
My goodness, yes, it really is a journey. I recently decluttered the toy train (and when Peyton realized there was weeping). I rebought the train. Oh well, can't win 'em all!
@@papertownhome oh my goodness I have done this 6 times now. You’d think I’d get the message and stop decluttering the toys🤪😅 things I thought after a year in the basement he wouldn’t care. Wrong!! 🤦🏻♀️
This so soothing....why are you so cool 😍
You’re too kind 😘
Raupe Nimmersatt 🐛
I love your take on the kids toys. Gonna try to remember that when I have kids.
After I watched this I tweaked the location of lunch bags and kitchen linens in my kitchen to be closer to where I would use them. Now if I can just remember where they are!
LOL, that's totally happens to me! I re-org and can't find anything.
You speak so eloquently 😊❤️
You’re so kind!
I'd love to see which lovevery toys you decluttered (perhaps show which you kept, and add images of the kits on the screen circling the ones you let go?) I've just recently been talking about taking apart the kits and finally letting go of never even opened toys (usually duplicates such as the sink, pitcher, flashlight etc) or very little used single purpose toys that weren't a hit but I've been strugfling to take the leap since we have our first and I felt like perhaps some of the unappreciated ones will be a bigger hit with the next babe.
In general I love seeing *exactly* what people have in terms of each category (+ big focus on very visual stuff, so trying to overlap/edit in a way where we can hear your voice while we see the shot of the drawer/closet you're talking about etc) and especially exactly what they chose to get rid of. Hannah Louise Poston calls the final selection of what you keep "the edit" and I love that. Minimalism is a lot about trying things and seeing which work (better) than others and enough to not need more.
Lastly you have an empty comment section because you have pretty much all of the tips nailed down 😄👏🏻👏🏻 there's not much more I advise people to do than all of what you said. (In fact I have a full closet dedicated to the equivalent of your bag by the door of things I'm struggling to get out of my house*.) Perhaps work with your husband as a big child, if he can't hang on a hanger, dedicate a hook for him instead.
*Oh this would be an amazing video: systems and tips for responsibly passing on items that work but no longer work for my family.
I was going to edit my comment but figured I'd let others know, she does have a video on decluttering toys from the lovevery kits and she mostly shows all that she's letting go, go check it out!
Thanks for these ideas! I think another commenter asked me to go through every toy that we have. I'm learning that a lot of people benefit from seeing exactly what people have for each category. So, that's on my list! When I do that I'll try to touch on the things I let go of from Lovevery. Doesn't hurt to hit it again since not everyone circles back to old videos!
Erika, I would love for you to do a video on packing for vacation as a minimalist. I really want to master packing lightly and efficiently. Also how to teach my son how to pack his own bag for trips.
Great idea! Thank you!
They make marble jars like that to hold kitchen utensils (spoons, laddles, spatulas).
Very true! This one was designed for wine bottles so I’m guessing it’s for allowing them to rest for aeration.
Your brown leather purse\bag in your coat closet- I love!! Any chance you could share where it’s from? I love the colour. Probably a no longer existing Etsy purchase? 😅❤ Thanks for sharing all the wonderful simple living content!
Absolutely! It’s from Madewell. You’ll find a link in the video description.
I cook way more with just a blender, shaker, a kettle, oven/stove and pots and pans. 3 utensils. 1 set of measuring cups n spoons n scale. All my kitchenware fits in one single cardboard box and I cook 2-3 meals daily.
So true!
I miss the kettle now as we declutter it, but I barely basically never used the shaker and the blender broke and I cba to replace it. @papertownhome
I hang most things right from the dryer. This stopped clean piles and wrinkles for me. Mostly.
That's a good idea! I might need to steal that. ;)
What type of cloths do you use? I had some cotton ones for the kitchen that would shed, and my other cotton ones I use for cleaning leave lint in mirrors.
What was in the gray bins in the laundry room?😊
I use a set of bar rags that I bought through Amazon. My mom recommended them to me :). I added a link to the description of this video if you'd like to check them out. My experience was that after I washed them a couple times they stopped leaving lint behind.
The gray bins had extra laundry supplies that aren't used on a regular basis (e.g., steamer, fabric shaver, at-home dry cleaning materials), a Swiffer dusting wand, and our two beach towels (randomnly where I keep them). I'm planning to do more in-depth videos where I dive into all the bins, drawers, etc. down the road. There seems to be enough interest! :)
Thanks for explaining your methods! Anne😊
You’re welcome 😊
Good info - thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Hi! What do you do with the dirty rags after they have been used to clean? Thanks 😊
I typically rinse them in my kitchen sink (we don't have a utility sink) and then throw them in with all the dirty in the washer. If they're particularly bad or have harsh chemicals (which I rarely use) then I'd set them on top of the washer and do a separate load. Since I'm washing things pretty quickly I haven't felt like I needed a special system for my rags.
Question: I have the same washing machine. How do you keep that tray from zooming off during the spin cycle? Our machine is secure on a pedestal drawer so maybe that’s the difference but the spin cycle is so intense as it ramps up I think the machine is going to launch to the moon.
Hahaha 🤣. “Launch to the moon” made me laugh out loud.
You’re right. It does shake quite a bit. It might have to do with the pedestal drawer you mentioned, but also the tray is quite heavy duty and the containers within the tray are heavy. Especially the marble jar that I pointed out. I do sometimes have to move the containers so they don’t clack together during that cycle. 😂
Do you throw towels in with your daily laundry load? Or do a separate towel load every few days?
I typically throw it all together. If I get behind on towels then I'll do a separate load.
I’d love to know where you got those book shelf dividers for your kids books in the cabinet? What are they called? I try to look them up on Amazon and can’t find any like that!
Absolutely! So sorry, it took me a minute to find the link: amzn.to/3ykbTep. Here you go!
@@papertownhome no rush! Thank you! 😊
The drop bag is really for the random items that my kids leave at your house while on their warpath.
😂😂😂 yes…and the random toys my kids bring from their grandparents’ house. It’s endless!
My husband has a drawer in the kitchen for his stuff, headphones, vitamins, keys etc. it keeps from dropping things on the counter. I have tray at front door for sunglasses.
So helpful to have those drop zones! Thanks for sharing ideas!
Awesome 😊
🙌
Yessss this is genius and just what i needed
I’m so happy it was helpful!
Once I take clothes off the line I fold and place into each family members basket which sits on open shelves in the laundry. I used to fold and put straight on their beds, but inevitably they’d end up on the floor and need rewashing!🤨 This way everyone knows where their clean clothes are and can put away when they have the time.
Do you have a specific bar rag that you use? I have always used worn out bath and kitchen rags but would like to purchase rags specifically for cleaning.
I bought these: amzn.to/3Ibfi0u. I found that I needed to put them through the wash and dryer a couple times before they stopped leaving behind little bits of lint. Hope that helps!
You have shoes in the same basket with coats and hats and jackets ?
Yep!
Well done
Could you do more focus or dive in to your kids clothing organization?
Absolutely! I’d love to.
Do you have an area you keep used bar rags in your laundry for a separate wash from your clothes?
I don’t. Typically I wash them out in the sink and then they go in with everything else.
Under sinks please! Heart❤
The key word with the toy rotation bins is opaque 😂 currently my son is always asking for the toys he can see in the transparent container on a shelf in the closet.
Haha, very true! Though since shooting this video I've completely rethought having any toy rotation system at all. Video on that coming soon!
Retweaking until you get it right 🎉
Amen. :)
..I'd love to know where you got that striped sweater 😂
Carly Jean Los Angeles! Not sure if they still have it, but I love it too.
Can I ask why not just keep the toys and books all in one spot? Then put the blankets just in the wooden bin?
Great question! That was my original idea, but my kids usurped me on this one 😂
@@papertownhome lol I’d love for all my kids toys and books could be in there room but ya it tends to be easy to also have it in our living room lol just sucks because we live in a small 2 bed apartment lol 😂
@@NickyJ311 yeah that can feel like a lot. But I know kids always want to play in the center of it all. That’s been my experience anyway!
Bar rags?
What are those?
I hate microfiber clothes. They just smear the spray and leave streaks on the counter.
They're just the typical rag that a bartender would use. My mom recommended these to me and so far I like them: amzn.to/3T2Enjh
I also hate microfiber cloths!
Haha 😂 I’m really appreciating the camaraderie on this one
Same. They actually tear my finger tips but we have so many I don’t want to throw them out and buy new towels. I wear gloves to clean to avoid the microtears. We do use bar towels in the kitchen to cut down on paper towel use, though.
I really like that about the bar towels too. It's made it so I can cut down paper towels significantly! @@PhilipDonna1982
👍👍👍👍👍👍
☺️☺️
I also don't like folding and throw all my kids clothes into their drawers 😅
Great systems videos, but where is the tour?
Haha 😂 fair question! If folks want a more traditional tour, I’m down to make it. Personally I find traditional tours unhelpful, so I’ve been hesitant to make mine that way. But I’m also happy to flex for the viewers.
@@papertownhome I'm a minimalist in a small (under 1000 sq ft) house with a family of four so I find home tours helpful for layout and organization. Especially with no closets :-) thanks, I really enjoy your content
@user-wf6xe7fh2r Thanks, Heather! That's really helpful to understand. And, I love knowing that you're in a family the same size as mine and a smaller space. I've been telling my husband we could definitely downsize!
Well, I'm totally down for making that video. I'll send a couple polls out to the community to see if I can learn more about how to be most helpful to folks.
I HATE microfiber cloths.
Haha, here here!