If you have kids in New Orleans, you already know how quickly Mardi Gras throws start piling up. One parade can turn into a bag or two full of beads, cups, stuffed animals, footballs, and little treasures that need somewhere to go. And let’s be real, most families go to more than one parade during Mardi Gras season, so those bags add up fast.

Instead of worrying about what to do with everything later, having a simple system in place early can make things feel much easier.

Start with a quick parade-day sort

When you get home, dump everything in one spot and do a fast sort. Beads together. Cups together. Stuffed animals together. Toys together. Anything broken can go in the trash. This doesn’t need to be perfect. The goal is simply to separate things so it’s easier to see what you have.

Let your kids choose their favorites

Have each child pick a handful of throws they truly love. These are the ones that get kept. Once favorites are chosen, the rest becomes much easier to decide on.

Give each category a simple home

Clear bins or labeled baskets work great. One for beads. One for cups. One for toys or plush items. But depending on how much you have, you may also be able to put everything together in one larger bin. When kids know where things go, clean up becomes faster and less stressful.

Decide on a limit.

Choose how many bins you are willing to store. When a bin is full, it is time to donate, share with friends, or let go of older items. This helps keep things from quietly growing year after year.

Store everything in one main spot

A closet shelf, garage shelf, or storage rack works well. Keeping all Mardi Gras throws in one place makes them easy to find and easy to put away.

Reuse and have fun with them

Beads can be fun for crafts or dress up. Cups are great for bath time or outdoor play. Rotating items every so often helps things feel new again without bringing more stuff into the house.

At the end of the day, Mardi Gras throws should feel fun, not stressful. A simple system can make a big difference in helping your home feel manageable during the season.

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

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