How to Organize Your Locker: 14 Steps

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

Is your locker so cluttered that it is engulfed in an avalanche of old paper or long-forgotten gym clothes every time you open it? Read on for tips on how to organize the space inside so you can easily find what you need and give it more capacity to store your things.

Steps

Step 1. Calculate the amount of time it will take to work on your locker

If you want to make minor changes, do it between classes, but remember that you may be late. If you need to tidy up all your stuff, take some time out when the area isn't crowded with people and you can just focus on the task. At the end of the lessons, for example, you can do it without problems. Also, make sure the person you share the locker with is there with you, so you don't throw away the things they need.

If you are cleaning a locker at work, you should try to do it when it doesn't interfere with your duties. Stay in the office late or arrive early. Or you might consider going there when you have a day off

Step 2. Empty the entire locker

Organize these things into three stacks:

• Everything you put back in the locker.

  

• Things to throw away.

  

• The things you want to take home or have to give back to someone.

  

Step 3. Soak a cloth in warm soapy water and wipe the cabinet walls

Use another cloth to dry. If working with a wet cloth is uncomfortable for you, you can take disposable pre-moistened wipes with you. Place them in an airtight sachet if you don't want to carry the whole container. These pouches will prevent the wipes from drying out (this step is not necessary, but very useful).

Step 4. Throw away the pile of things you no longer need and take care of what you want to take home or return

Then, group the items you want to keep in the locker again. Books, clothes, personal care products, jewelry, and other groups of items that you think are indispensable.

• If you don't need an item or won't use it for some time, you should take it home to keep it in a safe place.
• Think twice before putting anything of value in the locker. Lockers can still be accessed in most schools, sports clubs and workplaces for safety reasons. Not everyone is honest. Lockers are also commonly broken, especially if they know you tend to store valuable items inside.

Step 5. Open the cabinet on a regular basis to throw out old work and junk and to take home any items you don't need

This will allow you to prevent piling up and it will be easier to find things. Once a week, take a few minutes to clean up.

Step 6. Write down the list of items you need to bring from home

It's easy to remember to carry cleaning items and pens if you open the locker and see they're missing, but it's also easy to forget to put them in your backpack or purse before you leave the house.

Step 7. Hang your clothes and backpack on the hooks

If your locker doesn't have any, attack yourself. You can find sturdy hooks to attach thanks to the easy removable stickers in the homeware section or near picture hooks in many shops. Opt for ones that can hold heavier items.

Step 8. Arrange the books vertically on the lower shelf (they may break the upper one if they are too heavy), with the spines facing you

Sort them by size, by lesson organization, alphabetically or by priority. Arrange the notebooks / binders on the top shelf. If you have any single sheets you need, put them in a clear folder and place it on the second shelf. Remember: heavy stuff on the bottom, light stuff on top. If you have a gym bag or some other type of bag, put it on top, or, better yet, hang it on a hook.

Step 9. Collect pencils and other writing tools in a pencil case and take it with you

Many cases have three rings, so you could also attach it to a binder so you don't forget it.

Step 10. Place all dirty things, such as shoes and sports gear, on the lowest shelf

This area is easy to clean and keep cool, so you won't stack dirty items on sheets and clean ones.

Step 11. Use magnetic locker baskets to organize smaller items

Do not attach them to the door, as they can fall out when closed. Rather, glue them to the back or side walls.

Step 12. Attach a magnetic white board to write reminders so you won't waste paper

Step 13. Now, customize and decorate the cabinet

Make it look like yours, but don't let adornments distract you. The purpose of this space is to store your stuff, not to look cute.

Step 14. If you don't want to go to a certain store to buy the containers, you can look around the house to find the ones you already have

Just add washi tape and stickers to decorate them. Examples of containers to find at home: plastic containers used to store your stuffed animals and metal buckets.

Advice

• If you're a girl, don't forget to add a pouch or pouch to store an extra pair of panties and extra pads and tampons.
• If you need another shelf in your locker, plan to get one, it will create more space for your stuff. Having one almost doubles the space. Metal ones are the best and are less likely to break, but still consider adjustable ones too: they are excellent, however, unless they have a support, they could collapse if weighed too much. Shelves with bases are great, but they limit the height of the items you can put underneath.
• Stores that sell everything for one euro have great inexpensive magnetic items for your locker.
• If you want, keep disinfectant wipes to clean the cabinet once or twice a month. You may never think about it, but the locker gets very dirty.
• If you don't have time during the week, make sure you clean the locker every Friday.
• If you keep your workout clothes or gym shoes in the locker, you can add an adhesive air freshener to keep odors in check. Remember to change it when necessary as its useful life is limited.
• Remember: decoration is optional, organization is not.
• Put the books you don't need to take home in the locker to lighten the backpack.
• If you need extra space, put magnets on the bags or boxes and hang them on the cabinet walls. Also, opt for the small magnetic containers.
• Keep the locker clean by trying to locate things to throw away every time you open it.
• Stationery stores often sell magnetic items (mirrors, pen holders, containers, etc.) all year round, but they usually come in one or two colors (black or metallic) and can be quite expensive.
• If you play an instrument, ask if you can keep it in the school music room for more locker space (unless your school already provides it).
• At the beginning of the school year, you can buy locker shelves at a home improvement store and put them in.
• Ask to open an empty cabinet to take measurements. Don't take the risk by assuming it. If the lockers are of an unusual size, you may accidentally buy something that doesn't fit. Remember to take an inch with you.
• If the school allows it and you have enough space, put a small trash can in the locker. They are cute and, however small, they are very useful! If you have old papers or a broken pen, put them in the trash can - this will allow you to keep the locker clean! You can buy them for a few euros.
• Some stores sell locker organizers during the preschool season in late summer or early fall.

Warnings

• Don't buy so many things for the locker that you are overwhelmed.
• Do not leave open food packages in the cabinet, or you may be visited by ants or rodents.
• If someone slams the cabinet door, the mirror may fall. Use a strong magnet and keep the mirror in an area where it is unlikely to break.
• Make sure you include things that are removable, like stickers, for example. Make sure they can be removed.
• Never tell anyone your locker combination.
• Don't leave valuables in the locker.
• Make sure your school gives permission to decorate the locker, or you could get in trouble. Read the rules of the institution to find out if it is allowed.