148 - The Amazing Storage Solution We Never Think About!

Send me a text message about this podcast Summary147 episodes in, and Heather realises she's never actually done a full episode on one of her favourite neurodivergent-friendly storage solutions: hooks. In this episode she talks through why hooks work so well for messy brains, busy lives, and anyone who forgets things exist the second they're out of sight. Starting with the fruit-bowl-turned-doom-pile most of us have by the front door, and a client's tiny porch that had become a genuine shoe-related fire hazard. From there, Heather walks room by room through where hooks quietly solve problems that baskets and boxes don't: the entryway, the kitchen, and all the small stuff that "doesn't really have a home" :  TV remotes, towels, clothes brushes, and the chair-pile of not-quite-dirty clothes.What you'll walk away withWhy hooks work so well for ADHD brains and anyone who struggles with "out of sight, out of mind"The difference between a container that helps and a container that quietly becomes a doom pileHow a client's small porch and a big shoe problem got solved with hooks instead of basketsWhy giving something a finite number of hooks is more useful than it sounds (especially with kids' shoes)A room-by-room walkthrough: entryway, kitchen, and the "floating" stuff that never has a proper homeThe one question to ask yourself about any storage solution: can I put this away easily?Who this episode is forAnyone with a spot in their home that keeps quietly filling up no matter how many pretty containers they buy for it — especially if you're ADHD, have a busy household, or just tend to forget things exist the moment they're out of sight.Timestamps00:00 - Why hooks are the storage solution Heather had not talked about yet00:30 - Why open containers become doom piles for ADHD and messy brains01:00 - The fruit bowl problem and why hallway catchalls fail02:29 - When containers turn into extra dumping grounds03:27 - Why hooks work: visible, finite, and instant03:56 - Preparing items so they can actually hang on hooks05:22 - How visible storage stops losing, rebuying, and tripping over items06:46 - Why floor space and safety improve with hook systems07:15 - A tiny porch, too many shoes, and why baskets failed08:40 - Replacing shoe baskets with wall hooks in pairs09:38 - Finite wall space as a built-in boundary for growing children’s shoes10:30 - Entryway items that work well on hooks11:58 - Hooks in the hallway and choosing styles that fit your home12:27 - Kitchen tools, pans, and utensils on hooks and racks13:24 - Using a bulldog clip on a hook for receipts and paper piles14:22 - Solving the problem of items that “float” around the house14:46 - Anchoring the TV remote near the sofa15:15 - Towels, colour coding, and preventing damp piles15:43 - Clothes brushes, torches, and worn clothes that need a temporary home16:37 - The final test: can you put it away easily?Affiliate links to great hooks:Dog tail hooksPet stationHeavy duty hookShower glass door hooksOver door hooksRemote control bungeePhone lanyard Support the showIf you'd like to say 'Thank you', by buying me a virtual coffee (it'll actually buy me a cup of tea!), you can do so HERE. It will mean I can afford to continue to give help for free and continue with this podcast.Get started with my Zoning and Getting Started Workshop, everything you need to know on how to get started and have the best success when decluttering.Join my free Declutter Community for real support, tips and advice from Heather and other Untanglers that are just like you!Follow me on FacebookBuy my Declutter Your Home Planner from Amazon to start to declutter your home yourself! (affiliate link)Grab my current freebies to support a cleaner, tidier home.Follow me on instagramFeel free to email me: [email protected] Please note, I may not be able to reply, but do read all emails to me and appreciate them massively.