How to Declutter Toys

Toys play an important role in child development. While they keep your kid’s entertained to give you a much-needed break, they also aid in everything from learning shapes and colors to problem-solving and more.

Unfortunately, kids inevitably accumulate more toys than they get rid of over time. The result is a growing pile of toys that adds to the clutter in your home. So, how do you declutter toys for a neater home?

Signs It’s Time to Declutter

The best time to declutter is before your home grows chaotic.

These are among the top signs that you need to pare down your child’s toy collection:

• You feel like you’re constantly putting toys away.
• You can’t find specific items you’re searching for because of the clutter.
• Not all of the toys have a space of their own. They might be overflowing out of the toy box or stacked up by the already-full shelves.
• Many toys are missing pieces or are no longer functional.
• Your kids’ toys are no longer age appropriate.

Benefits of Decluttering Toys

Decluttering toys can seem like a major project when they are flowing across your floor in nearly every room, but there are true benefits associated with decluttering.

For example, your home will be neater and more organized. This reduces the stress level of everyone in the home. It saves time as you search for specific items because you don’t have to dig through clutter. You might even save money. For example, you won’t feel the need to buy replacements simply because you can’t find specific items.

In addition, kids may feel stressed or frustrated when they have too many toys to choose from. Some may even say that they’re bored because they can’t decide what to play with. If you have multiple children, you might notice more bickering. This might stem from fighting over a specific toy. It might also be because the clutter impedes on their available play space.

The Decluttering Process

Decluttering your kids’ toys is faster and easier to do with the right approach. This effective process will help you achieve faster results.

• Pull all of your kids’ toys into the center of the room. This includes books on bookshelves, toys in a toy box and items stuffed in the closet.
• Remove items that are no longer age appropriate for your child.
• Remove items that are broken or missing pieces.
• Cluster similar items together in smaller piles. For example, make a special pile for stuffed animals, another pile for books, and so forth.
• If your child is growing into his or her independence, give your child some control over the discard process. Ask them to remove toys that they are no longer interested in.

Smart Toy Storage Tips

After decluttering, you’ll still have a pile of toys to contend with. Consider using clear storage bins. Clear storage bins work well because your child can see what’s inside without opening each bin. If you want to keep more toys, consider stashing some of the bins away. Every month or two, rotate which bins your child has access to.

When organizing your space, consider using vertical space with shelving, wall-mounted containers and more. Furniture with storage can also be incorporated into your home. For example, some beds have pull-out drawers that can hold toys. A sofa ottoman is another smart idea.

What to Do with Decluttered Toys

After organizing all of the toys that you want to keep, you’ll still have a pile of items that you need to get rid of. The toys that cannot be fixed or that are missing parts may need to be thrown out.

The other toys can be gifted to friends and neighbors or donated to charity.

FAQs

What If My Child Wants to Keep Everything?

If your child doesn’t want to get rid of any toys, you could try using the rotating bin tactic. You could also pull out a few items.

If your child doesn’t notice they are gone within a week or two, you can confidently get rid of those items.

How Do I Keep Toy Clutter from Building Up Again?

The best way to minimize toy clutter is to ask your child to get rid of one toy each time he or she gets a new toy. You can also update toy organization once or twice a year when deep cleaning your home.

How Often Should I Declutter My Child’s Toys?

Staying on top of clutter on a daily basis is easier than doing a major decluttering project. Pay attention to your child’s broken toys and items that are missing parts. Pull these out of the toy collection as soon as possible.

In addition, make sure each new toy that you bring into the home has a place of its own. Even with these efforts, you should declutter your child’s toys at least once or twice a year.

Dealing with clutter is only one of the housekeeping issues that busy parents have. If you’re stressed about never-ending chores that are piling up, it’s time to recruit help. Our Cleanzen team will help you keep your home clean and organized with customizable services and flexible scheduling. Contact us today for your first cleaning service.