How to Find Lost Everyday Items
We’ve all been there before. You’re about to head out the door for work, but your keys aren’t where you left them. You check your coat from the day before, but no luck. You trace your steps (did I go into the kitchen when I got home?), and you check in unusual places like the shower and the trash. Meanwhile, time ticks away and panic rises as you realize you’re going to be late.
Americans collectively spend 2.5 days a year looking for lost items and 60 percent of people admit to being late to work or school as a result. Whether you’re infamous for misplacing your keys, your phone, or both, here are some of the everyday items we lose the most and how to keep track of them.
Vanishing Keys
To prevent yourself from losing your house or car keys again, consider assigning a designated place for your keys somewhere in your house, such as the entryway. Hang them from a fashionable hook near the door or in a special dish. You can also use a device like Cube Tracker—a Bluetooth-based item tracker that you can use as a keychain. Light, discreet and easy to use, Cube Tracker keeps track of your keys so you don’t have to.
Can Someone Call My Phone?
Americans check their phones on average once every 12 minutes, yet it remains one of the most commonly misplaced items. To keep track of your phone and never miss an important call, email or Instagram story, consider using a timed silent mode; even if you misplace it, your phone’s ringer will turn on automatically. You can also replace your screensaver photo with a message that states your name and an emergency number. If you use Cube Tracker, you can locate your phone with an audible tone, vibration and flash, even if the app is not running or your phone is on silent.
What’s in Your Wallet?
There’s no reason to toss out your Birkin bag or leather wallet and commit to wearing a fanny pack (even though they’re apparently back in style). If you have a habit of misplacing your purse or wallet, designate a special rack, hook, cupboard or drawer as your storing place so you can get used to keeping these items in the same place every day. Placing a Cube Tracker in your wallet and purse is another option, and it even has a special functionality that allows the community to be your search party when your Cube is out of range. If anyone with the app is in proximity to your lost Cube, you receive an update on your Cube’s latest location, which is ideal in a scenario where your purse or wallet may have been stolen.
Where’s the Remote?
Although it almost never leaves the house, the TV remote is the most frequently misplaced everyday item. Whether it gets lost between couch cushions or under a pile of unread mail, the TV remote is notorious for sneaking away, which can be a pain when you’ve had a long day and just want to binge watch your favorite show. Get to the next episode quickly by always keeping your remote by your TV (or in a secret spot behind the TV) so it doesn’t wander with you around the house. You might also prefer the Cube Shadow tracker with its rechargeable battery, so you can use it for years to come. With Cube Tracker, you can spend less time searching for your remote and more time searching for your new favorite series.
Sources:
https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/study-reveals-the-most-common-items-that-go-missing-at-home-246906
https://nypost.com/2017/11/08/americans-check-their-phones-80-times-a-day-study/
https://www.today.com/style/fanny-packs-are-so-popular-they-make-25-percent-accessory-t145246
https://southfloridareporter.com/the-1-most-common-item-lost-is-a-tv-remote-shoes-are-fifth/
Erica Garza is an author and essayist from Los Angeles. Her writing has appeared in TIME, Health, Glamour, Good Housekeeping, Women's Health and VICE.
