The Best Organizing Tool EVER
Have you ever found something and said, “THIS is a game-changer!” Well, that’s just what I thought when I found the best organizing tool ever!
Fair warning, y’all… this is NOT a pretty post. However, it IS a practical post that I hope y’all find as amazing as I do!
The Storage Organizing Problem
One of the BIGGEST issues I have with storage and organization is finding where my decor and craft items are located.
We’re talking faux florals, spring decor, fall decor, vases, tablescape items, and CHRISTMAS!
Christmas storage organizing is a BIG problem… can I get an “amen”?
Do you have trouble finding where you’ve put your silver ornaments? How ’bout that mercury glass ornament garland you made? Or maybe even the DIY silver candle rings that dressed up your candlesticks?
I TOTALLY get it!
Using storage bins has always been my go-to for my decor items. But, when you have more than 15 or 20 storage bins, it’s even harder keeping track of WHERE those items are, right? (And for a blogger, 15-20 bins is not that much!)
(Did you notice those labels on my bins??? Read on!)
THE BEST ORGANIZING TOOL EVER
A couple weeks ago, my interior-designer-cousin texted me and said, “I thought you might like this.”
Well, THAT was an understatement!
It was a video of a woman using a storage organizing tool. Actually, it was a storage organizing app! Some people call it a personal home inventory app.
My reply to him…
“That is so dang smart!”
“Oh my goodness!!! I’m going to do a post for this!”
“Like, that is AMAZING!”
And what makes it even better, this storage bin organization app is FREE!
The Game Changing Organization Tool App – ToteScan
You are not going to believe how easy this app is to use, and how well it keeps track of your home inventory.
Though there are several home inventory apps available (I’ll share several more options at the end of this post), I decided to go with ToteScan.
How Does a Home Inventory App Work?
ToteScan uses QR barcode labels and their free app to keep track of the location and contents of your storage bins. The app has an easy-to-use search feature that will tell you exactly which storage location and which bin your items are in!
Let me show you how it works!
This post may contain affiliate links, at no additional cost to you. For more information, see my complete disclosure HERE.
Purchase Affordable Labels and Optional Items
From what I understand, you can make your own QR barcode labels, but for me it’s just easier, time-saving, and economical for me to purchase the ToteScan QR Barcode Labels.
- ToteScan QR Barcode Labels (45 count)
- ToteScan QR Barcode Labels (90 count)
- Index Cards (Apply the labels to Index Cards and place in protective adhesive sleeves, making it easy to change labels when/if needed)
- Self-adhesive Index Card Sleeves
- Storage bins or totes (but, I’m assuming y’all already have these? If not, you can order online at Home Depot and pick-up curbside.)
(You can also purchase labels inside the app.)
If you want to do a DIY for the sleeves, you can make your own and learn how to laminate without a machine!
Download the ToteScan App
Go to your app store and download the FREE Totescan App.
Open the ToteScan app and follow the directions to setup your Main Profile.
Label Preparation
Remove a label from the label sheet and place it on an index card (I placed it at the end of the card, leaving room for notes on the card at the bottom).
Tap “Scan ToteScan Label” and scan your label. (Note: This happens so fast that I couldn’t get a photo of it!)
Then slip the card inside a self-adhesive sleeve and attach it to your storage bin. If you need to change a label on a bin, this makes is super easy without having the mess of removing a label or stacking labels on top of each other.
Choose Title and Location of Tote
At this point, fill in the Title field (“Untitled”) by tapping on the ‘Edit’ button. (Do y’all know how many times I had to change ‘click’ to ‘tap’? Just pretend the photos say ‘tap’. I’m old!)
And choose the location of the bin (aka Tote) (where it will be stored).
This is probably my favorite aspect of ToteScan. Because I live in a tiny home, my family has been kind enough to allow me to store items at their garages/homes. So, I can choose “Storage 1” as my sister’s home, “Storage 2” as my brother’s garage, “Storage 3” as my daughter’s garage, etc.
For a larger home with more storage areas, you can choose “Pantry”, “Garage”, “Shed”, etc. And this can be edited at any time!
Add Items to the “Tote”
Now tap on “Add Item” in the upper right corner of the app.
Type in the name of the item. You want this to be brief, but specific… something that your mind will think of to easily search.
Then you can either add a photo of the item from your photo roll, or take a photo of the item(s) as you go!
Update the quantity (i.e., you may have two candle rings, or three bells).
And, if you like, you can even add more info at the bottom of the screen. (I haven’t tried it, but I bet this is searchable, too!)
Then tap on “Save” in the upper right corner.
You will now see a line under the Tote’s main screen with the item and photo. I know, jaw-dropping, right?
To add more items, simply tap on “Add Item”, and repeat!
You can tap on any item to see a photo and details of the item.
View the Contents of Any “Tote”
To view the contents of a “Tote”, simply scan the QR barcode label from the My Totes screen, and the list will populate.
Voila! (Again… it scans so fast, I can’t get a pic… you’ll just have to trust me. 😉 )
Search for an Item in a “Tote”
You can search for a specific item on your My Totes screen or within a specific “Tote”.
Fully Editable
The ToteScan storage organizing app is fully editable (at least from what I can see). Storage locations, tote title, item descriptions, everything!
ToteScan Updates
Now don’t forget, apps are ALWAYS getting updates, and it’s not different with ToteScan. Since this post was first written, there has been and update, AND I’ve added more information on how to use ToteScan on my post that includes the best Christmas storage solutions! Be sure to check it out for more screen shots and directions! It’s even better!
More Home Inventory Apps You Might Like
Here are some additional home inventory options that have either less options or more… take a look and see if these might be a better fit for you:
- Duck Pack and Track Labels, free app
- Elephant Trax Labels, free app
- Outlinx Labels, free app
Have you heard of the Happy Planner? Take a look at this guide to Happy Planner disc sizes.
The Best Organizing Tool EVER Really is the Best
Well, that’s MY opinion about ToteScan! It really seems to me to be the best organizing tool ever. What do you think? Would this home inventory storage app be a game-changer for you, like it is for me?!
If you are already using a storage bin organizing app, share with me in the comments which one YOU use!
This is so cool! I’m literally drowning in stuff and can never find what I’m looking for (or forget I have it all together!) Thanks for sharing 🙂
I’m sure it will be as helpful for you as it is for me, Donna! 😉
Oh, my goodness! Perfect timing on this! Going back through storage right now and reorganizing bins! Can’t wait to try this! Thank you!
Let me know how you love it! LOL!
Omgoodness this is amazing! I can’t wait to get started!!
😁😁😁
Crazy, right??? Let me know how it goes, Danielle!
Thanks for the recommendation, Julie. I don’t have a problem with seasonal stuff – all our holiday decorations are in bins and labeled. It’s the other decorative stuff we use in between holidays that I forget where I stored them – my green vintage bottles or blue candles. I will definitely have to check this app out. Sounds interesting.
Wow, I’m impressed that you can keep track of Christmas decor that easily! I hope it comes in handy for other decor!
What an amazing app! My storage bins aren’t clear and this system would really help me out with the contents of each bin. Thank you so sharing this great organizing idea!
Yep… these are especially great for bins that aren’t clear! 😉
Wow! This is beyond my tech level but it sure is awesome!
Aw, thanks so much, Kathy!
Holy moly! I am so doing this! Even though I claim my storage unit is ultra organized and manually labeled, this IS a game changer. To be able to scan and see what contents are in a tub without trying to figure out my own handwriting or abbreviations I’ve used in the past is PRICELESS. Thank you!
I know! SO many amazing options in this home inventory app! Let me know how it goes!
Such a cool tool and great idea! Pinned!
Right? I love it! With your decorating business, I hope this comes in handy for you!
WOW! YES! I can’t even tell you how useful this will be! Thanks a zillion – amazing all the things that are out there! And I have to change click to tap all the time too! 🙂 Happy Saturday my organized friend!
Right?!!! It’s a crazy amazing organizing app! And so easy to use! (I’m glad I’m not the only click-to-tap person. LOL!)
Such a great idea for people that have a lot of things stored.
Thanks, Sonya! It’s great for anything you need to keep track of… pantries, closets, etc.!
What an awesome app! I just bought more storage bins and can’t wait to try this out. I always feel so disorganized not knowing what’s in each bin. Thanks, Julie!
Woot! I’m loving this new home inventory system!
Wow, I’ve never heard of this and I currently wish I’d had it when I packed everything away from last spring. I’ve been digging through boxes all morning still haven’t found what I’m looking for. Lol.
Well, now is the time to start, since you have bins open! I even took photos of things IN the bins, as I put them in (especially with my florals!)
What a great idea Julie! I’m so excited that this may be the thing that gets me organized again! Thanks for sharing with us.
It’s actually fun to use, and helps me feel accomplished… I wanted to empty and repack all my bins at once, which doesn’t work in a tiny apartment! 😉
Oh my word Julie this is a game changer indeed!! Such a good find…thank you for sharing and for the fabulous tutorial!
It’s really fun to use… and kind of addicting!
Oh my goodness! Where has this been all my life?! This is pure genius!
Yep… totally a game-changer, for sure!
Wow this is so cool!
Right?! I’m loving it!
Oh.My. Gosh! This is BRILLIANT! I have SO much stuff between decor, and inventory, and staging stuff, and then we also do Christmas decor for commercial projects and pack them up at the end of the season…this would be ah-MAY-zing and a total game changer!! Thank you THANK YOU for sharing, Julie.
Yep… it’s my fave organizing find, ever!!!
What a great organizing system!! We store our things in our attic but believe me, it’s still a mess!! Thanks for sharing this Julie!!
Yep… this is perfect for attic storage! No more losing things and having to buy them again (like Shawna pointed out in the comments). 😉
What an amazing idea! No more lost items and having to buy them a second or third time.
Exactly! I need to add that to the post! LOL!
Sounds pretty neat! I would use it for kids clothes! Thank you for sharing with us at EH&F
It’s kind of addicting… I think it would be GREAT for bins of clothes! 😉
This is cool, Julie! I have already told one friend about it. Do you happen to have a link to the video of the woman using the app? I might have missed it as I skimmed through some of your post (Not because it was boring-I was just in a hurry!). I looked one up on YouTube but I’m not sure if it’s the same one.
Cathy! So fun to see your comment here! I actually don’t have the video… my cousin sent it to me, but it wasn’t instructional (and it was a different app the didn’t have labels available on Amazon… they were out). Maybe I should make a quick video? 😉
You should do it!
I’ll try! (But it really is easy enough to do it on the fly.) 😉
Julie,
What an awesome tool. Love it. Congratulations, you are being featured on Thursday Favorite Things.
https://www.eclecticredbarn.com/2022/01/thursday-favorite-things-party.html
Hugs,
Bev
Thank you so much, my friend!
So..you can just print out the barcode without having to purchase them?
That is what I understand. But you need to know how to create QR codes and then print them yourself. For me, it’s actually more time-saving and money-saving to purchase them. 🙂
I have a question about the app. I checked the labels on Amazon it said to use your Echo Dot to scan the labels which I don’t have so I thought I was out of luck. Then I noticed they have the labels to scan with an Android phone. Do you know if the app works with labels? Sincerely Barbara Jones
I need some clarification, Barbara? Are you asking if you can use the ToteScan labels with your Android? They can totally be used with an Android device, if that is what you are asking. 🙂
Wow! This is awesome!! Thankyou so much, I am for sure doing this, thankyou!!!
So glad you found this helpful, Debbie! Thanks so much for letting me know!
Oh my gosh! I am so excited to find this tool! We have so many items stored away in plastic bins but finding the right bin has been a real chore. This will be SO HELPFUL so that we can finally locate the correct bin (much less the correct content). I’ve already downloaded the app and we’ll soon be opening those bins so we can correctly mark them. Thanks so much for sharing this~
Ellen, I’m SO glad this will help you so much. It certainly helped me when I went on the hunt for my fall items! Enjoy!
So it sounds like you had a great time using this system when you packed your things up for storage. How has it been looking for things to UNpack this year?
Hi, Elle! I’m glad to report that finding items this year has been a breeze! I KNEW I had some spray flock/snow in a bin, but wasn’t sure which one. I simply searched the app for “spray snow” and it came up! Told me which bin it was, and I had the bin right there in front of me! This happened several times with different items. Also, I decided to reorganize a little as I went along, and place some items in different bins. Each item has the option to “move” to a different bin, too! You just tap the time, at the bottom, is has the option to ‘move’. You tap ‘move’ and then you scan the bin you want to move it to! SUPER easy! Love this organizing tool more each year! I may just need to write an update post!
I have used Pack n Track since we moved from Northern California to Chicagoland in 2019. For an OCD peŕfectionist, it’s been awesome! Unfortunately, Pack n Track is being discontinued, so I probably will follow your recommendations and try Totescan. Thanks!
Scott
Great, Scott! Let me know what you think! I’m hoping to do an update post after Christmas, as I’ve learned some options in the app since this original post!
Hi, Julie! Where has this barcode organizing system been all my life?! I was super inspired by your dedication to organization and working smarter! I would love to invite you to link up your project at Whimsy Home Wednesdays to inspire others and have a chance to be featured.
Thanks, Meredith. It’s a game-changer, for sure!
Thanks for a great blogging year in 2023. Looking forward to following you in 2024. Blessings!
Thank you so much, Josee! Always love seeing your comments! Happy New Year!