The Genius Dollar Tree Storage Solution That Stops Everyday Clutter Before It Starts

You might have cleaned all day, but as soon as loved ones walk in the door is when clutter starts to happen. Both kids and adults drop things in places where they're not supposed to go, whether it's on a chair, countertop, or table. Especially if you have bedrooms on a second level, the last thing an exhausted child wants to do is keep running up the stairs to put away their belongings (rightfully so). Fortunately, sometimes it's the simplest things that make life easier. Take Dollar Tree's Mini Collapsible Storage Baskets, which can be used to solve household clutter in a brilliant way. 

The 9.25-inch long baskets are $1.50 each and come in the colors black, blue, and gray. They're perfect for all kinds of home projects, but one that will help stop clutter in its tracks involves putting them on your staircase or in your entryway. What it comes down to is that each person in the family needs a spot to set their "stuff." Not a permanent spot, just somewhere that it's okay to drop your items until there's time to put them away. By keeping everything contained, such as in these Dollar Tree mini baskets, there will be less random clutter floating around the house.

The first thing to do is assign each person their own container. Personalize it by adding their name on a label, such as Dollar Tree's Chalk Board Tags. Next, set them on the lower steps of your staircase, one per step. Make sure to push them to the side to avoid any safety issues. When there are items that need to go upstairs — from toys to socks and hairbands, they can be dropped in the basket. Then, when the person is headed that way, they can easily scoop up their belongings or take the whole bin with them.

Even if you don't have stairs, this idea works well for clearing the clutter in an entryway, too. The area by your front door is a notorious drop zone for all kinds of possessions, but by providing each family member with their own basket for the entryway, it can help prevent the mess from spreading. Consider creating a schedule, like after dinner, when everyone needs to put away the items in their bin. If guests are coming over and you don't want them to see your "system," the baskets collapse down flat and can easily be stored away.

Kitchens can also become untidy with items that need to find their homes. Dollar Tree sells larger Collapsible Baskets for $1.50 that come with two handles. You can place them in the kitchen for kids to drop school supplies, hats, electronics, or other belongings that should be taken to their bedrooms. That way, the countertops stay clear of all the random things, so everyone can enjoy their meals in peace. Just remember to label the baskets.

If you want to save bathroom countertop space, containers like these can help do the trick. When you're sharing a bathroom, it can be frustrating if everyone is leaving stuff on the counter, from hair products to lotions. But if each person has their own bin to store under the sink or on a shelf, it could help keep items from accumulating into a cluttered mess. Or, if it's a small bathroom, each person can store their bin in their bedroom and bring it in when they need to, similar to a caddy system most frequently used in dorms. Hopefully, it'll stop things like makeup, deodorant, and hair gel from becoming a ball of clutter on the counter.