Oh, the messy catch-all spot in the house is getting to me.
By Marie Coyle
@MarieCoyle (42654)
April 12, 2025 10:34pm CST
'': A catch-all--something designed or serving to catch, hold, account for, or include miscellaneous items or a wide variety of things.'' Webster definition.
I never had a ''catch-all'' place in my home before. But then my son needed my help, and a lot of his things are here...and I have had to get very inventive with storage and such. For the most part, it's all good EXCEPT the utility room. Washer, dryer, hot water heater, shelves. At the end of the room is the HVAC, behind a door.
Not sure how it happened but things have just started sneaking in there! I go in and think '' how did this get here?'' but it had to be by me, being in a hurry, or him needing assistance, etc. I swear half the time I am on auto-pilot.
Today I have been working on it, consolidating, reorganizing, and getting it back to the way it was--with improvements. I am trading out the one set of shelves with another that has more shelves, which will help. The problem has been, I have had to take the shelves out, decided as long as I was doing this, I would wash the walls, baseboards, etc. in there as well--no sense doing it halfway. I've worked on it off and on this afternoon and evening, but I keep getting sidetracked--dinner, dishes, son, life...you know how it goes.
I was given a bunch of square storage baskets, and I plan on using them to have more space available in there.
Webster's definition of a catch-all is spot on for me. Now if I just had someone to help me get it all back in there in a more organized fashion, that would be awesome!
Pinterest picture--I have been looking for more ideas for storage!
9 people like this
8 responses
@DaddyEvil (145711)
• United States
13 Apr
We keep buying large plastic totes and moving stuff out to the garage. We have one whole wall out there covered with sealed plastic totes. Books, blankets, sheet sets, bathroom supplies...etc. I have several small baskets in my bedroom filled with little things I want and use sometimes and just needed them out of the way. We have a drawer in the kitchen that is a catch-all for junk we both use... I still have some boxes in my bedroom closet from when we moved into this house that I haven't sorted out yet and she has some in her closet, too.
We gave away and donated a LOT of stuff but this house is only half that size and we still have too much stuff we don't need or use anymore.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (42654)
•
13 Apr
I have totes in my garage, too. They sure do come in handy. My catch-all drawer in my kitchen is in better shape than ever, now that I am usually the only one in my kitchen fixing food, etc. I keep some things in there I need often, like my marker to write on packages for the freezer, freezer tape, etc.
If you have things you never use, it's best to donate them if you can. I did that with my clothes, when I lost the weight. It was a good feeling.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (145711)
• United States
13 Apr
@MarieCoyle We don't have a working car right now. Stuff we don't need is better left where it is for now than cluttering up some other part of the house. Remember, nothing delivers or picks up here.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (42654)
•
13 Apr
@DaddyEvil
I guess I thought your car would be going by now, but hey...been there, done that, it's not fun nor is it convenient. I hope you can get it repaired soon.
I don't use delivery services for groceries, etc. On my trips in an out if I am in need of something I can get it easily. I do one mass haul once a month, and most generally go once a week to a nearby store for some produce and milk if needed., People that have delivery, they often get the wrong order, or someone gets their order, or...I would prefer to just get my own as long as I am able to do so.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (42654)
•
13 Apr
It really does help a lot to stay organized when we use totes or baskets, etc. I have my closets like that, but never had a need to do the utility room until now.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (187618)
• United States
13 Apr
I have a little utility room, HVAXCmcloset type place area seems to have alot of odd stuff stuck in there as well, as the washer, dryer, air handler and water heater. I keep saying I am going to clean it up, and I have been working on it, but it could use some more organization. I need a shelf or two in there as well.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (42654)
•
13 Apr
I know that I have more to do here than I used to, as for quite some time I was just dealing with my own needs, and now that's not the case. But I should have tackled this before now--out of site, out of mind, I guess.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (42654)
•
13 Apr
@snowy22315
For me, it's easier to put something on the back burner if I can't see it, but hey...I am in the utility room every day, so I have no excuse.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (53026)
• Canada
13 Apr
I think that it really depends on the items that you are storing in order to choose a proper way to store it.
If you have a shelving unit, I would store anything that you have in a box, like that.
Wicker baskets have a place, but they allow for dust and light to filter in, so the contents need to be carefully determined.
I just started using an over the door hook up type of shoe holder.
They are great for light shoes-flip flops and sandals, nothing heavy.
I have some pockets with gloves in it.
Good luck with your ideas that the post provides to you and your decision that will work best for you.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (42654)
•
13 Apr
I am not using wicker baskets. These are a folding type of box-basket, made of a heavy fabric that can be wiped down easily. I am going to get this done today, worked on it for a bit this morning but stopped to make lunch and clean up from that. I have to pace myself somewhat when I start a project like this one, but hey...I will see it to the end, then I will decide what the next project will be!
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (53026)
• Canada
13 Apr
@MarieCoyle Oh that is great, it sounds like you will have that area in a nice form before too long.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (42654)
•
13 Apr
@Juliaacv
I have to admit that I took a nap today when I should have been working on the house. But...I was SO tired...that's my excuse and I am sticking to it!
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (114414)
• Marion, Ohio
13 Apr
I have been trying to do away with those areas. Mine is the dining table
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (114414)
• Marion, Ohio
13 Apr
@MarieCoyle I usually keep mine under control at least
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (42654)
•
14 Apr
@wolfgirl569
I do, too. But this just needs to be reorganized to be efficient.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (42654)
•
13 Apr
We all have an area like that, I think. Mine is the end of the counter, but I do make sure at the end of the day, it's cleared off.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (186424)
• United States
13 Apr
Any flat surface in my house is a catch-all. We are in the process of cleaning out the stacks of stuff in my husband's TV room; so the house is in a bigger turmoil than it usually is. I hope you get everything organized the way you want.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (186424)
• United States
19h
@MarieCoyle My husband's cousin has cancelled twice on me....I think she's upset with me. Things are not getting done; and there's so much to do.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (42654)
•
18h
@LindaOHio
Is there possibly anyone else you could hire to help out? My neighbor lady needed help last fall when her daughter moved out for grad school. She called a couple of churches and one of them recommended a super nice lady who helps her out three days a week and she just loves her. Just an idea for you, Linda. I’m sorry she is being unreliable and difficult.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (42654)
•
13 Apr
I finally just had to stop late last night and now that lunch is out of the way for the son, I will start again in a bit--at least I hope so. It WILL get done today. I am putting more thought to how I am organizing this so that it will be convenient and handy, which now it is not.
Hopefully, at some point your home will be the way you need for it to be.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (225994)
• Chile
13 Apr
I discovered how handy they were just a few months ago. And I used one to put all the medical exams, tests and prescriptions I came across. Now that I´m looking for something to take to the doctor on Monday, I hope that what I need is there. I wish I had started putting away my things in these catch-alls before. They are perfect. I also have one for miscelaneous. I went through it last week and threw away a lot of junk. I felt very happy. As soon as I can go to a Home Depot, I´ll buy a small one to put all my pills and meds.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (42654)
•
13 Apr
They are very convenient to store things in and help to stay organized. I had to stop working for awhile, I got to tired out.vi will finish my project tomorrow.
@JudyEv (350679)
• Rockingham, Australia
Just now
@MarieCoyle Goodness! That would have been a really good day's work. I guess you're pretty tired now but very satisfied with your efforts.
@MarieCoyle (42654)
•
8h
I stayed up last night and got it completely done. Basically, I removed everything movable out of the room except the washer and dryer. I washed all the walls and baseboards, changed out the shelving unit I had decided to switch, and then went through all the stuff I took out of there, and reorganized it and put it on the shelves. Oh, and I scrubbed the floor and cleaned the washer and dryer, etc. It smells really good in there, too!
1 person likes this
