Storing sports stuff

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Started 1 year ago by snosie
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snosie
Member

I'm hoping I can find some inspired solutions for my water polo bag.

I have a bag with a towel, swimmers, caps etc that live in an open topped bag. I'd like to find a place (in my bedroom - I share my house with my family, which is largely territorial with stuff like this).

My biggest issue is that I use the bag twice weekly, but in between uses I have to put the towel back - so it needs to be somewhere easy to get to.

I'm sure the key is to get rid of stuff in one of my many storage items - I have a wardrobe with shelves, and a large bottom drawer (doesn't fit 'easily' in there), a chest (full of out of season clothes), and half chest (from IKEA) with school memorabilia, and a box of gifts for future friend's daughter b'day - it's a book set. I usually rest 'incomings' on this box, incl my hand bag, but it's a lift off lid. I also have a 16 box book shelf, but I'm not sure I want my bag on display. THOUGHTS?

Posted 1 year ago #
maxinemarshall
Member

You use this 2 x a week, you definitely need easy access. You should get rid of some of your other stuff or move some of your not so used stuff (I bet your school memorabilia is not looked at 2 x a week) to somewhere not so accessible, like your large bottom drawer. If it were me, having easy access would be more important than not having it on display. Good luck and let us know what you decide. Don't worry about the details, just make a change and try it out, you can always change it back again.

Posted 1 year ago #
irishbell
Member

How about a hook on the inside of your closet door? at the least- you could hang your towel there to dry it between uses.

Posted 1 year ago #
lottielot
Member

I have just created a swimming stuff station on some hooks behind the door near my washing machine (it's hidden most of the time as the door stays closed). I put each family member's costume, goggles and a microfibre towel into a mesh bag (the boys' bags came with some life jackets they've grown out of) and each bag has its own hook. I have a similar setup for my gym bag: I keep an emergency towel in there, coins for the locker, gym card, water bottle etc. I've started hanging up my trainers there too, and I have a cloth bag full of small towels for the gym and another bag for all my workout kit. There are lots of hooks here obviously, but so far it's working really well. The swimming costumes can be hung up to dry in the mesh bags, I chuck the wet towels straight into the washing pile and ditto for my smelly gym clothes.
Hooks are wonderful, especially on the backs of doors where you can't see them. You can get stick-on ones if you don't want to drill holes.

Posted 1 year ago #
shebolt
Member

I'm confused by "in between uses, I have to put the towel back". Back where?

My swim gear (fins, goggles, cap, post-swim shower kit) has a dedicated bag), and the bag has a dedicated shelf in my closet where I can grab it at a moment's notice.

The stuff that needs to dry between uses (suit & towel), get pulled out of the bag and cared for when I get home. I grab them and add them to the bag before I leave for the pool.

I personally like to have my gear "on display". My bicycles hang on wall hooks, next to my computer desk. My closet doors have been removed, all of my stuff is visible. My sport bags are front and center.

Posted 1 year ago #
snosie
Member

@maxine - I think you said it very clearly - I need the 'easy spaces' free for use, and clear stuff I seldom use/look at

@shebolt - I like my bag to be 'grab and go' which means I can store the bag after training, but it's overnight at least til the towel and swimmers are dry. So I need to get to the bag again, to put them in. That way I don't have to think on training days 'now, have I got a towel' (usually at the other end of the house) etc.

@irishbell - despite it touching 40C (well over 100F) here today, I get nervous about hooks drying towels. I searched high and low to make sure I have a towel rail that my bath towel can sit flat (not scrunched). But maybe I should give it a try

@lottilot - I have sticky hooks! My decluttering discovered just how many!! I currently have my bed room door with two hooks - one for a dressing gown, the other for my scooter jacket (which is often used). But if I got a different type of bag, I could perhaps hang my water polo gear there.

In summary, i think I'll try Maxine's idea first (which will mean some moving around of things), and let you know how I go. Thanks for all your thoughts/suggestions!

Posted 1 year ago #

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