Broom and Dustpan Storage Tip

As we are starting back to a “ramped-up” homeschool schedule this week, one thing that is very important in our large family is “a place for everything, and everything in its place”.

We label many things to keep track of what belongs to who, and where things go. For years I’ve labeled school books, pencils, treasure boxes, and shelves. Several months ago I came up with the idea to label our brooms and dustpans.

We have about 7 of each type of tool, so that – theoretically – the entire house can be swept by 7 people at the same time. Each tool must be put in its place so it’s ready for the next time it’s needed, and especially at afternoon chore time. If a little one drags a dustpan out to help, and leaves it out, someone can easily put it away instead of yelling, “Who left the dustpan under the table? Come and put it away!”

In the picture above I used a permanent marker to write the room where each broom “lives”. In the case of the kitchen, I want my children to put the brooms away in the utility closet – not just anywhere in the kitchen.

(I’m considering labeling the handles as well, since the brush parts of the long brooms seem to be a favorite part of my children’s Spartan warrior costumes…)

Having a system for putting everything in its place quickly, so we can get on with homeschool, definitely works for me!