Content

• Steps
• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need

Is your locker such a mess that when you open it, an avalanche of old papers and forgotten sportswear falls on you? Below you will find tips to help you tidy up your locker and make it more spacious so that you can easily find the things you need.

Steps

1. 1 Decide how much time you can spend on your locker. If you only want to make small changes, you can do so during recess, but you risk being late for class. If you need to do some spring cleaning in your locker, take a moment when there are not many people nearby and you can fully concentrate. This is best done after class. Also, make sure that the neighbor you share the same locker with is nearby so that you don't throw anything out of his belongings.
   • If you are cleaning your locker at work, try not to distract you from your duties. Stay after work or come a little earlier. Or come on the weekend.
2. 2 Take out everything in the cabinet. Break everything down into three categories:
   • Everything in your locker
   • Trash heap
   • Items you want to take home or need to return
3. 3 Wipe the sides and bottom of your cabinet with a cloth soaked in warm soapy water. Then wipe it off with a dry cloth. If you are uncomfortable working with wet rags, you can use disposable wet wipes. If you don't want to take the box with you, store them in a zippered plastic bag. The bag will protect them from drying out. (This step is optional, but you may find it helpful.)
4. 4 Throw away the trash and deal with the things you intend to take home or return. Then re-sort the items you leave in the drawer. These can be books, clothing, hygiene products, jewelry, and other groups of your choice.
   • If you don’t need them anytime soon, it’s better to take them home for safekeeping.
   • Take precautions before storing anything of value in your locker. Many schools, sports clubs and offices have access to all lockers for security purposes. And not all employees are so honest. In addition, the locks on them are easy to break, especially if someone knows that you are storing valuables there.
5. 5 From time to time, look into your locker and empty it of old papers, as well as things that you decided to take home. This will help prevent chaos and make it easier to find the right things. It is enough to set aside a few minutes a week for this.
6. 6 Make a list of things to take from home. Sure, it's easy to remember that you need cleaning supplies and pens, but it's easy to forget about them when you leave the house.
7. 7 Hang your clothes and your bag on the hooks. If they are not in the cabinet, attach them yourself. You can find duct tape spider hooks in the hardware department or next to picture hooks in stores. Choose those that can handle heavy things.
8. 8 Store books upright on the bottom shelf (books that are too heavy can break the top shelves) with the spines facing you. Arrange them by size, schedule, alphabet or importance. Place your notebooks / folders on the top shelf. If you have separate sheets or papers that you might need, fold them into a plastic folder and place it on the second shelf. Remember: put heavy items down, light items up. If you have a duffel bag or purse, you can put it on top as well. And best of all, hang it on a hook.
9. 9 Place pencils and other stationery in a pencil case. Carry it with you. Many pencil cases have 3 rings, so you can pin it to your folder so you don't forget.
10. 10 Place anything dirty, such as shoes or sports equipment, on the floor. It will be easy to clean, unlike the top shelves where papers and clean items are kept.
11. 11 Use magnets to attach small items to your cabinet. But do not attach them to the door, otherwise they may fall when the door is slammed. Instead, attach them to the back or side walls.
12. 12 Put a whiteboard in your locker to write your reminders on so you can save paper!
13. 13 Now it's time to personalize and decorate your locker! Do everything to your liking, but don't let the interior distract you. The locker is for storage, not beauty.
14. 14 If you don’t want to buy boxes from the store, dig around at home to find the boxes lying around. Just decorate them with decorative tape and stickers. For example, you can use containers for household needs: plastic bags for storing soft toys and small metal buckets.

Tips

• Girls: Don't forget to put a small box or pouch in the locker where you can put a spare pair of underwear, as well as pads and tampons.
• If you want to install an additional shelf, do so; this way you can put more things in the drawer. The shelf will help double the storage capacity of the cabinet. Metal shelves are better, they rarely break, but one thing to remember is that movable shelves are good, but under heavy load they can fall if there is not enough support. The supported shelves are comfortable, but they can only support a certain weight.
• To keep your bag lighter, put books you don't need to carry home in the locker.
• You will find cheap magnetic accessories for your locker in the convenience stores.
• If you wish, you can clean the locker a couple of times a month - for this you should purchase Clorox bleach. This way you can keep your locker clean.
• Remember: you can do without decorating the box, but you will have to clean it up.
• If you store work clothes or athletic shoes in a locker, it's best to use an air freshener to prevent unwanted odors. Do not forget to change vials after expiration date.
• If you don't have any extra space, attach magnets to bags / boxes and store them on the wall of your locker. It's also worth looking for cups with magnets.
• Keep your locker clean and remember to clean up the trash every time you look in there.
• If you haven't had time for a week, arrange cleaning on Friday.
• If your school allows it and you have enough space, place a small waste bin in your locker. They are so cute and useful despite their small size! Throwing unnecessary papers and broken pencils into the trash can will help keep your locker clean! You can buy them in Target stores for only $ 5-7.
• Many stationery stores sell magnets (mirrors, glasses for pens, coasters, etc.) all year round, but they are usually only two colors (black or metallic) and can be quite expensive.
• Ask to show you an empty cabinet and take measurements. Don't take risks and guess. If it's a custom size, you might accidentally buy something that doesn't fit. Don't forget to bring a tape measure with you.
• If you play a musical instrument, ask if you can leave it in your study room to save space in your locker (if your school doesn't already have one).
• At the beginning of the school year, you can buy locker shelves from Target and hang them on hooks.
• Some stores only sell locker items at the start of the "school season" - late summer and early fall.

Warnings

• Don't buy too many items, or your locker will run out of space.
• Do not leave uneaten food in it, otherwise cockroaches and rodents will start there.
• And make sure you attach something to it that can be peeled off later; for example, stickers. Make sure they can be torn off.
• Never tell anyone your locker code.
• Mirrors can fall if someone slams the door with a bang. Use a powerful magnet and keep the mirrors in a safe place.
• Do not store valuables in your locker.
• Make sure your school is allowed to decorate your locker, otherwise you will get in trouble. Check your school charter to see if this can be done.

What do you need

• Small or medium sized bags depending on the number of items. Gift bags and plastic bags will come in handy.
• Small, sturdy boxes
• Magnets or tape
• Removable shelves
• Castle
• Mirror
• Hygiene products (deodorant, perfume / cologne, brush, feminine hygiene products, etc.)
• Pen / pencil case
• Magnetic shelves (and magnets that can be attached to the cabinet door)
• Books
• Sportswear / Shoes
• Jacket
• Photos of your family, friends, pets, travels, etc.
• Small rubbish bin
• Small white board with dry erasable marker