Create Mending Basket {Plus How To Keep Up With Mending Clothes}

Today's mission is to create a mending basket, or other area to place the clothing you come across in your household that needs to have small repairs made to it, such as sewing back on a button or fixing a small hole.


This task is designed to be done while working on the Laundry Organization Challenge here on the site, which in part of the 52 Week Organized Home Challenge.

Part of doing laundry in your home actually is about clothing care, and dealing with small rips, tears, and mending tasks that need to get completed from time to time. This is important to do to keep your clothing looking nice, and not wasting the resources you currently have when a few simple stitches can make something as good as new again.

It's quite simple to set up a small basket or other container for family members to place these items that need to be mended. I suggest putting the basket in the laundry room, along with some basic sewing kit essentials (which I'll discuss more below), but you can place this basket or container wherever makes sense for you and that family members will actually use.

How To Keep Up With Your Mending

Once you've set up a system for collecting the clothing or other fabric items that need to be mended, the bigger part of this mission is setting up a system to keep up with this task.

Raise your hand if you've ever put an article of clothing aside, with the idea that when you have a "couple minutes free" you'll mend it, and you realize later it's been, literally, years. Ahem, I am personally raising my hand.

How did I know it had been years? Because it was a little outfit for my son that he'd outgrown by the time I finally got around to even thinking about that task again.

So the danger of a mending basket is that you throw a clothing item in there and it never gets worn, ever again, but instead languishes.

There are several reasons for this. The first is sometimes I actually have no idea how to mend it. While I do know some basic stitches, and can sew a button for example, I am not an expert at sewing by any means. When you don't know how to do something then it is human nature to put it off for another time, since it seems like way too much effort to learn.

So be realistic with yourself. If you don't have any clue how to actually fix it, either commit to learning how (YouTube is an awesome resource for learning how to do simple sewing repairs), or go ahead and let the item go so it doesn't become clutter.

A word of caution though, if you're going to donate an item that needs to be mended make sure you're upfront about that with whatever organization you're giving it to, so that they can decide for themselves if it is worth accepting a torn or damaged item. After all, I never want you to donate trash to a charity.

Another reason we don't actually mend the clothes in our basket is because we don't have the right materials to fix it. But that is really a matter of preparation, and so below I've provided resources so you know what basic materials you should have on hand for these types of repair projects so this won't be an issue.

So that brings us to the last reason the clothing in need of repair in our basket languishes -- we never find "a minute" to get it done.

This isn't just a problem when it comes to sewing repairs, but almost anything kind of mundane in our homes. Unless we make time for these things they just won't get done because we'll never find that little bit of time otherwise.

So if mending clothes is important enough to you to create a mending basket, and gather basic sewing supplies together to do the job, then go ahead and schedule a regular time to get the mending done. You choose the time period that will work for you, but my suggestion is once a month. You could do it more frequently, but I don't suggest doing it less than once a quarter because otherwise the clothes will potentially be out of season by the time you mend them, such as mending the winter scarf once it's spring time, for example.

At first, if you've let all of these mending jobs pile up, you might feel a bit overwhelmed when you first start tackling your pile of clothing that needs repairs. But slowly work down your pile, prioritizing as you go, and you'll get it all done this month or next. Once you begin doing it regularly, perhaps while watching TV or listening to music (as long as it's in a well-lit area) you will find the task doesn't take long at all and can be rather relaxing.

Below I've provided some additional resources so you know what needs to be in your sewing kit for basic repairs.

Basic Sewing Supplies You Should Have For Mending Clothes

Having the right sewing supplies and equipment ready and available for use makes tackling your mending pile much easier.

I've written an article on the Household Management 101 site listing the 10 basic sewing supplies every homes needs to do simple repairs and mending projects, which also includes a free printable of the list.

This is not a list of fancy sewing equipment like you need if you enjoy the hobby of sewing. Instead, this is stuff used to do basic things like sew on a button, fix a hem, and mend small rips and tears.

If I was to add any items to this very basic list, perhaps calling it intermediate items, I'd include a pin cushion, tape measure and dressmaker's chalk.

In addition, make sure your sewing kit contains a space to hold all those little envelopes and baggies of buttons you get attached to new clothing. Actually put them in a designated space and then you'll actually be able to find the matching button you need when doing your mending!

Here's a photo sent in by a reader, Linda, showing how she organizes and stores her basic sewing supplies for mending clothes.


Linda explained that this was her "Sewing kit container! Repurposed a tin to store needles, spools of thread, a few sewing notions. I have extra buttons in a crystal light container. I keep my sewing supplies in a basket that is easily accessible for when I need to do some minor repairs! I do actually have a sewing machine, rarely used, and is in a closet."

You can do something similar with your sewing supplies, and may want to keep both the simple mending supplies and the mending basket together, for ease of use.

Are You Ready To Declutter Your Home?

I hope this article has inspired you to set up your mending basket and keep on top of your clothing care and repairs from now on.

When you begin to declutter and organize the feeling you get is contagious, so if you're loving the results you're getting I would encourage you to keep going.

I've got a whole series of 15 minute decluttering missions (eventually 365 of them!) that you can do.

Just pick and choose the ones you want to do, that will make a big impact in your home. But if you want someone else to tell you the order you can also grab the 15 minute daily decluttering mission calendars and follow along as we all get our homes clutter free together!

You Might Also Be Interested In . . .

In addition, you can also check out this article about creating a station removal station in your laundry room, because it also shows an example of a mending basket!

Related Pages You May Enjoy

Getting Clutter Free 15 Minutes At A Time Hall Of Fame

Declutter Broken Objects From Your Home {Declutter 365 Mission}

Getting Rid Of Cleaning & Laundry Supplies Clutter Hall Of Fame

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