6/30/09

Save My Remotes From Munchkin Techno Pirates!

How many remotes does your house have? Honestly. With all these new super techno, life saving, time wasting devices that crowd our home how is a girl with 6 children ever supposed to find the remote? ANY remote! We have TV remotes, stereo remotes, DVD, VCR, Wii, and some goofy prehistoric Pong game remote... don't get me started on travel TVs or DVD players or cameras!
So, here's a nifty idea if you have Wii paraphernalia crowding your house. I prefer the baskets but they just seem to get tangled and the mess grows over time.

Ya, something like this would be great but... you have to TRAIN you kids to put them there... and then you have to hope there are batteries inside. Why? Well, for sure this never happens in your house... but my useful remotes get pillaged for working batteries to keep the Wii remotes functioning.. or mp3 players or the new toy... whatever. I'm raising pirates... techno pirates.


Me, I'm going to find a little wall space and put some cute board there with all of the remotes super glued to the board. Kind of like one of those super huge boxes that expensive mini electronic devices are sold in to prevent shop lifting. Maybe that board will hang by retractable cording from the ceiling. I'm not sure yet but I'm brewing up a way to rescue my remotes out of what surely has become the technology Bermuda triangle of Arizona.
So now I'm dying to know... Where do ya'll put your remotes?

21 comments:

Amanda @ Serenity Now said...

I'm embarrassed to say they they go on the little "ledge" on the back of the leather couch so that the 17 month old doesn't see them. ;)

becca said...

We have the same problem here. I have a table that my mother in law gave me... don't really like it, but it has one of those magazine rack things on the side of it. I put remotes in there. They of course don't stay there, but that's where they "go."
As far as looking for them goes, I just make all the kids look under the furniture and in the couch cushions til they find whatever one they are looking for. I just navigate. That's the plus side of having a bunch of kids. Delegate.

Sarah said...

Ooohh, I love that your remotes are in a Longaberger basket. I just sat down for a break from straightening and dusting the living room. The crazy thing is that after moving remotes all over the room I was trying to come up with a creative way to house them. And here you are, with the perfect solution. Thanks, I'm going to pull out one of my baskets now! God's blessings on your day, Sarah :D

southerninspiration said...

I have a SLaHOME rosedale planter on the table next to the chair and remotes go in there.....love the basket idea, too! And the shoe organizer is a good idea for Wii stuff!
Suzanne

kahlanne said...

My remotes prefer to stay hidden....under the sofa, beneath the cushions, or even in the kitchen which is remoteless!

Steph @ AnnoyinglyDomestic said...

Is that a Longaberger basket up top (I've only been to a few parties way back when, never purchased, so I have no idea if that is or not)? Whatever it is, I love it. If you have any idea where I can get that, please let me know.

As far as our remotes go, we have a tiled tray on our giant ottoman that they go on. I really would rather not look at them, though... I may have to consider a cigar box or something similar to put on my chest next to the couch.

Pam said...

We have a chair that has a pocket on the side. The remotes are supposed to be housed in the pocket. They usually wind up laying on the end table. Funny thing is - when I actually pick them up and put them in the chair pocket where they belong - the guys can't seem to find them! Hmmm...

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

I have something very similar to the second item you show. It works great for us.

Heathahlee said...

Supergluing them to a board cracked me up! We had a basket on our side table, but it was rather clunky (can a basket be clunky?) so I got a wire basket from Hobby Lobby that is really low profile, and I love it. We just have two remotes and the cordless phone that go in there...no Wii as of yet!

julie & joe said...

I'm so glad you used a Longaberger basket for one of your organizing pics! I'm a Longaberger consultant and the baskets are great for organizing everything!

Victoria Hayden said...

I keep mine in the armoire when not in use. That seems the only place someone can actually find them again and they don't get lost! Thanks for another great post!

Hugs to you,
~Victoria~

Myrnie said...

Heh. I just realized how weird we actually are- we don't have any! Oh, there's one for the TV but the batteries died a year ago, and Ernie is really the only one who watches movies (one a day, during my piano lessons.) CDs go into my little boom box on the kitchen counter. Oh, and there are three Game Cube controllers we hide in a cubby so Mimi doesn't eat them.

Wow. Weird! I like your idea of making a "bar" though- clever!

Aura said...

I use a little basket! We only have three so they fit just fine.

Tracy said...

Inside the entertainment center behind toddler proof locked doors. And when the TV is on usually tucked behind someone so our 17 month old cannot find them. I dream of a day when I can put them in a cute little basket on the coffee table.

Jen - Balancing Beauty and Bedlam said...

Remotes are my nemesis....yes, tried all the holders. How hard is it to put it back where it belongs?

Melissa @ The Inspired Room said...

We finally got one universal remote and it goes in a basket on a shelf next to the couch. I'll show it sometime, I'm due to show some of my baskets!

Happy day!

Vivienne @ the V Spot said...

I am embarrassed to say that our remotes are either on top of the entertainment unit or in the drawer in the coffee table or under the couch cushions, or under the couch or in the basket on top of the coffee table. One of those places.
I like the idea for the wii remotes.

Camille and Luke said...

My mom got so frustrated at one point with this same problem that she hot glued a string to the remote then the other end of the string was tied to the end table next to the couch. That remote was NEVER lost!!!!! It was so funny! I'm thinking about doing it at my house where it's just me and my husband.. we can never find the remote!

Anonymous said...

Funny, Funny! As I write our remotes are missing and have been for sevem days. I am not on a search and rescue mission because my Husband and I don't watch much TV (none a the moment). The four kids is a different story. It entertaining to watch them inquire (grill each other) who did not put it away. One day I am sure the problem will correct itself with intervention from Mom. Until then they find other things to do. A bonus...Let say I am enjoying my vacation from time keeping and policing that little device.

Anonymous said...

I have my Wii remotes in a drawer in the TV stand. The TV/DVR remotes are in the drawer of our coffee table.
My son thinks he has to be holding the remote at all times while watching tv..so he's bad about carrying it into other rooms with him. We've found it just about everywhere...kitchen, bathroom, his room, office.

Jody said...

Our one remote (I know, amazing) has chosen behind the throw pillows on the couch as his home. He sometimes gets moved to the kitchen counters, tables or chairs. But he seems to find his way "home" 99% of the time.

 
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