PRO Courses Hot Guides Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade
QUIZZES All Quizzes Hot Love Quizzes Personality Quizzes Trivia Quizzes Taylor Swift Quizzes
EDIT Edit this Article
EXPLORE Tech Help ProAbout UsRandom ArticleQuizzes Request a New ArticleCommunity DashboardTrendingForums Arts and EntertainmentArtworkBooksMoviesComputers and ElectronicsComputersPhone SkillsTechnology HacksHealthMen's HealthMental HealthWomen's HealthRelationshipsDatingLoveRelationship Issues Hobbies and CraftsCraftsDrawingGamesEducation & CommunicationCommunication SkillsPersonal DevelopmentStudyingPersonal Care and StyleFashionHair CarePersonal Hygiene Quizzes Love Quizzes Personality Quizzes Fun Games ForumsArts and EntertainmentFinance and BusinessHome and Garden Relationship QuizzesCars & Other VehiclesFood and EntertainingPersonal Care and Style Sports and FitnessComputers and ElectronicsHealthPets and Animals TravelEducation & CommunicationHobbies and CraftsPhilosophy and Religion Work WorldFamily LifeHolidays and TraditionsRelationships Youth
LOG IN
Log in
Social login does not work in incognito and private browsers. Please log in with your username or email to continue. FacebookGooglewikiHow Account No account yet? Create an account
RANDOM
Home
Random
Browse Articles
TrendingNew
Quizzes & Games
All QuizzesHot
Love Quizzes
Personality Quizzes
Fun Games
Dating Simulator
Learn Something New
Forums
Courses
Happiness Hub
Explore More
Support wikiHow
About wikiHow
Log in / Sign up
Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow
Categories
Home and Garden
Housekeeping
Home Organization
The Best Ways to Find Something You’ve Lost Download Article Easy ways to retrace your steps and find what you’re missing Co-authored by Kathi Burns, CPO® and Aly Rusciano
Last Updated: July 14, 2025 Fact Checked
Download Article
Checking Common Areas
|
Retracing Your Steps
|
Keeping Objects from Getting Lost
|
Video
|
Q&A
|
Tips
|Show more|Show less ARTICLE VIDEO X
This article was co-authored by Kathi Burns, CPO® and by wikiHow staff writer, Aly Rusciano. Kathi Burns is a board certified Professional Organizer (CPO) and Founder of Organized and Energized!, her consulting business with a mission to empower people to master their environment and personal image by assisting them in taking control, making change and organizing their lives. Kathi has over 17 years of organizing experience and her work has been featured on Better Homes and Gardens, NBC News, Good Morning America, and Entrepreneur. She has a BS in Communication from Ohio University. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 3,332,530 times.
Ugh! You swear you had your keys a second ago, and now they’re just gone! Before you panic, take a deep breath. Everyone misplaces things every now and again—losing things is a part of life—but finding them doesn’t have to be a nerve-wracking scramble. In this article, we’ll teach you where you can look and how you can retrace your steps to find lost objects. Who knows? With a little help from the experts, you may find those keys faster than you can say “lost.”
Things You Should Know
Before frantically looking all over your living space, double-check that your missing item isn’t where it’s supposed to be.
If the item isn’t where it usually is, check the most cluttered area of your living space since it’s easy for things to hide in large quantities.
Retrace your steps if all else fails, going through the motions of what you were doing when you last saw or used the missing object.
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 3:
Checking Common Areas
Download Article
1 Double-check where the object usually is. If there’s a place where you typically leave the missing object, start there. Maybe you forgot you put it back, or it’s hidden under something in the near vicinity. Either way, it’s worth taking a look.
For instance, your coat may have fallen off its usual rack to the floor, or your phone may be in a drawer beneath the counter you typically put it on.
2 Look in places where you’ve lost this item before. Do you tend to lose your keys, phone, or jewelry often? If so, it may have ended up in a similar place as before. Think about where your common lost objects tend to be lost. Then, check these areas thoroughly.
For example, maybe you have a habit of leaving your keys in the lock or your bag in the car. Check these places before extending your search.
Advertisement
3 Look in the messiest areas of your living space. Believe it or not, studies have shown that lost objects tend to be misplaced in the most cluttered areas. So, before you panic, check your house or office’s dumping ground. Shift through everything to see if your lost object got hidden in the pile.[1]XResearch source
Scan the space and search for objects of the same color and size as your missing item.[2]XResearch source
Sort through everything slowly and carefully, placing each item to the side to clear the space.
4 Peek under and around larger items. Your lost item may have accidentally slid down a crack in the couch or kicked under the bed. Larger items can easily hide smaller objects, so consider how big your lost item is and then check things it could be hidden by.
For instance, you might have inadvertently set a pile of magazines on top of your keys or glasses.
If you lost something in your car, check underneath the floor mats.
If you’re in the living room, look between the couch cushions and under the rugs.
5 Locate a lost and found box if you’re in a public space. If you’ve lost this object while you were out and about, check to see if the store, building, or area has a lost and found. Sometimes, you can get lucky, and someone else will find your lost item and turn it into a front desk or employee.
Lost and found boxes usually aren’t on display, so you’ll need to ask an employee for assistance.
Schools, stores, parks, stadiums, and theaters tend to have lost and founds.
Advertisement Method 2 Method 2 of 3:
Retracing Your Steps
Download Article
1 Close your eyes and picture when you had the object last. Sometimes, thinking about the last time you saw or used the object can help you retrace your steps. Consider everything you can remember—even something as silly as what you were eating or listening to could be helpful![3]XResearch source
2 Look in the place where you last saw or had the object. Follow your reconstructed memory to where you last remember using or seeing the lost object. Sit or stand in your exact position when you saw or had it last, and look around you.[4]XResearch source
Continue going through the motions of your memory until you find the object.
For example, follow the steps and motions you made when you came home from school. Pretend to set your bag on the chair, place your phone on the kitchen counter, etc.
3 Try looking at the room from a new angle. If you’ve retraced your steps, gone through all the motions, and still haven’t found anything, change your perspective. Crawl instead of walk down the hall, or sit where you were standing. Seeing things from a different point of view can help you notice details you may have missed before.
4 Ask for help from friends or family. It’s possible that someone else saw you with this item before you lost it. Reach out to a friend or family member in the same space as you and ask if they’ve seen the missing object. Who knows? They may have accidentally moved it themselves![5]XResearch source
Try saying something like, “Hey, I’m looking for my keys. Have you seen them around?”
If you lost the item outside your home, give the place where you think you lost it a call. Perhaps they have a lost and found, or someone has come across the item since you left.
Advertisement Method 3 Method 3 of 3:
Keeping Objects from Getting Lost
Download Article
1 Make objects stand out so you won’t lose them as easily. If you have a tendency to lose things, make them bigger and more obvious. Give the commonly lost item something that’ll catch your eye in a cluttered space. This way, if you do misplace it, it’ll be easier to find.[6]XResearch source
For instance, attach a large, colorful keychain to your keys or put your phone in a bright neon phone case.
2 Attach a tracker to important items and use an app to locate them. Bluetooth tracking devices are a great and effortless way to keep your phone, keys, or wallet from getting lost. Simply attach a small tracker to the device or object and connect it to its corresponding app. This way, you’ll know where your belongings are 24/7.[7]XResearch source
Tile is a tracking tag or tracker that can be used on small or large items like keys, phones, and bags.
Cube Tracker can help you find your keys, phone, or dog.
Apps like Find My iPhone and Google Find My Device make it easier to find your phone without a tracker by using GPS location.[8]X Expert Source Bryzz TortelloPhone Repair SpecialistExpert Interview
3 Make a mental note when you put down something important. When you set down your phone, laptop, or keys, take a second to memorize where it is (especially if you’re prone to losing things). Solidifying the object's location in your mind and being more mindful can help you remember where the item is later. Think of it as a failsafe when it comes to retracing your steps if the object is ever lost.[9]XResearch source
Try saying, “I’m putting [the item] on the [location of the item]” out loud or in your head.[10]XResearch source
Consider writing down the item's location on a notepad if you’re concerned about forgetting.
4 Keep your space neat and tidy. The best thing you can do to avoid losing things is be organized. Cluttered and crowded areas make it easier to lose objects, as things can fall under other things or get wedged between something else. Regularly clean and organize your living spaces, so you won’t have to spend more time looking for things later on.
Have a designated spot for all your important items. For instance, place a hook by the door for your keys, an empty drawer in your desk for a laptop, and a phone stand on the table for your phone.
Advertisement
Community Q&A
Search Add New Question
Question How would I find something that my siblings took from me? Community Answer Check their room secretly. If you can't find it still, confront them and see if they will return it. You can also tell your parents about your suspicions too. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 269 Helpful 734
Question I lost my small earring but I found one of them. What should I do? Community Answer Keep the found one somewhere safe. Keep searching for the other one by retracing steps and using the suggestions in the article. It'll turn up eventually, just be sure to remember where you've put the found one. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 128 Helpful 227
Question I've lost my school planner and I don't know where it is. What should I do? Community Answer Check the most common places first, like classrooms, your desk and other places you might usually see it. Then, if you still can't find it, look in more uncommon areas, like bathrooms or closets. Don't panic, keep your mind clear and take deep breaths. It will probably turn up. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 197 Helpful 475
See more answers Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement
Video
Read Video Transcript
Reader Videos
Tips
Reframe thoughts like, “It’s lost forever” into positive ones like, “It’s around here, and I will find it.” Thanks Helpful 58 Not Helpful 40
Try not to panic when you think something’s lost. We know it’s hard but take a few deep breaths. The calmer you are, the easier finding your lost object will be. Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 0
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
If you are struggling to find something small and shiny (like an earring), turn off the lights of the room that you think it's in. Use a flashlight or a similar device to meticulously scan the floor and surfaces of the room for a glint or glimmer. The glint or glimmer is often a sign of the object you are looking for.
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement
You Might Also Like
3 Simple Ways to Stop Losing Your Wallet for Good12 Fast Tips to Find a Lost Television RemoteEasy Ways to Find Your Lost Electronic Car Key or FobHow toFind Your RetainerHow toAvoid Losing Your AirPodsHow toFind Your CarHow to Find a Lost Cell Phone Quickly: Step-by-Step GuideHow toFind a Cat That Might Be HidingHow toFind a Lost CatHow toFind a Lost DogHow to Find Large or Small Amounts of Lost MoneyThe Best Secret Hiding Spots in Your Room The Do's & Don'ts of Hiding a Spare House or Car KeyHow toGet Your Phone Back Advertisement
Co-authored by: Kathi Burns, CPO® Board Certified Professional Organizer This article was co-authored by Kathi Burns, CPO® and by wikiHow staff writer, Aly Rusciano. Kathi Burns is a board certified Professional Organizer (CPO) and Founder of Organized and Energized!, her consulting business with a mission to empower people to master their environment and personal image by assisting them in taking control, making change and organizing their lives. Kathi has over 17 years of organizing experience and her work has been featured on Better Homes and Gardens, NBC News, Good Morning America, and Entrepreneur. She has a BS in Communication from Ohio University. This article has been viewed 3,332,530 times. 187 votes - 49% Co-authors: 289Updated: July 14, 2025 Views: 3,332,530 Categories: Home OrganizationArticle SummaryX
To find a lost object, stay calm and try to remember the last time you saw it. If you're feeling frustrated, try recruiting a friend or family member to help and turn the search into a game to make it more fun. After searching for some time, try taking a break from looking and doing something else. Taking some time to focus on something else might help you think of a new place to look. You could also put on some music and use your search as a chance to tidy up a bit. You just might stumble across whatever it is you are looking for. For examples of common areas where items get lost, like in a messy car or between your couch cushions, read on!Did this summary help you?YesNo
In other languages Italian Spanish German Portuguese Russian French Chinese Indonesian Arabic Czech Hindi Thai Korean Vietnamese Turkish Japanese
Print
Send fan mail to authors
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 3,332,530 times.
Reader Success Stories
Nicolle Berroa
Mar 18, 2017
"I lost my watch that was super expensive from my dad. It has been lost for a little over two months, and I'm always being grilled on the words "find the watch". It isn't the first time I've lost it. My sister found it under my bed and I haven't stopped looking there. I think it is still in my room, though. If you lose a watch, most of the time it has a glow or beeps at 6:30 P.M. If it does glow or beeps, that is your biggest help. I wrote down notes from this article and I think it'll help me. "..." more Rated this article:
More reader stories Hide reader stories Share your story If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.
Did this article help you?
Yes No Advertisement If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Kathi Burns, CPO® Board Certified Professional Organizer 187 votes - 49% Click a star to vote 49% of people told us that this article helped them. Co-authors: 289Updated: July 14, 2025 Views: 3,332,530
Nicolle Berroa
Mar 18, 2017
"I lost my watch that was super expensive from my dad. It has been lost for a little over two months, and I'm always being grilled on the words "find the watch". It isn't the first time I've lost it. My sister found it under my bed and I haven't stopped looking there. I think it is still in my room, though. If you lose a watch, most of the time it has a glow or beeps at 6:30 P.M. If it does glow or beeps, that is your biggest help. I wrote down notes from this article and I think it'll help me. "..." more Rated this article:
Karlah Maie
Oct 30, 2016
"Honestly, I was looking for my credit card for 1 1/2 weeks. I looked on this page, and it said to look in odd places. I was feeling tired, and I had a coffeepot in the fridge (who knows why). As I take out the pot, I see my credit card just laying inside it. Thanks, wikiHow!"..." more
Sunny Prana
Jul 10, 2018
"Thought I lost my house keys, and ran up and down the stairs 3 times looking. Turns out they were tucked in the makeup part of my purse. Still felt stupid and frazzled, so I read this article. Thanks for reminding me to slow down and put away things in the right place!"..." more Rated this article:
Anonymous
Apr 23, 2017
"I liked the step where you trace back your steps to the room you think it would most likely be in and then cut the room into sections and look very deeply through each section. Instead of looking through one room though, I'm looking through each room!"..." more
Kristina
Sep 16, 2017
"After reading this I took a few deep breaths and cleared my mind as recommended. I then finally went to some random boxes I didn't think would possibly have my item in them, and 5 minutes in, sure enough, there it was! (After spending hours looking.)"..." more Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories
Quizzes & Games
The Paperclip Challenge: Can You Outsmart the Detective?PlayHow Good Are My Survival Instincts QuizTake QuizOCD TestTake QuizRate My Personality QuizTake QuizAm I Selfish QuizTake QuizWhat Kind of Reality Check Do I Need QuizTake Quiz
You Might Also Like
3 Simple Ways to Stop Losing Your Wallet for Good12 Fast Tips to Find a Lost Television RemoteEasy Ways to Find Your Lost Electronic Car Key or FobHow toFind Your Retainer
Featured Articles
What Turns a Girl On? 31 Things to Try on Your PartnerLove AnalyzerSending Your Sweetie a Love Note? Here are 200+ Romantic IdeasHow toExercise Your BrainHow toBe a Fun Person to Hang out WithWhat Does Your Morning Routine Say About You?
Trending Articles
How toMake OutHow Rare Is My Birthday QuizWhat Am I Craving QuizIs Your Personality More 6 or 7?What Should My Name Really Be QuizIs a Guy You Don't Know Well Interested in You?
Featured Articles
How toDevelop Productive HabitsHow toPractice Self CareWhat Song Matches Your Life Right Now?Your 2026 Vision: What Does Next Year Hold?Understanding the Most Attractive Face Shapes (& Determining Your Own)Type A B C D Personality Test
Featured Articles
250+ Messages to Reassure Your Partner (For Him & Her)What Is My Favorite Color Quiz215+ Funny & Creative Personalized Vanity Plate Ideas100+ Creative Ways to Say Good NightWhy Can't I Sleep Quiz150+ Love Paragraphs to Make Him Feel Special
Watch Articles
How to Deep Clean Your Kitchen Sink (& Keep It Clean)How to Curl Your Hair: 8 Easy & Quick WaysHow toThicken Sauce with FlourHow to Brighten Up White Shirts and Other GarmentsHow to Cook White Rice without a Rice CookerHow to Clean Out the Inside of a Glass Bottle (With or Without a Brush)
Trending Articles
Can We Guess If You're a Cat or Dog Person?30 of the Hardest Riddles on Earth: The Harvard Riddle & BeyondWhich of the Big Three Are Your Parents? (Percy Jackson)How to Perform Magic: 8 Tricks for BeginnersWhat’s My Personality Based on My K-Pop Taste?What School Subject Are You?
Quizzes & Games
Am I Annoying QuizTake QuizMental Health QuizTake QuizAm I Clingy QuizTake QuizHow Lucky Am I QuizTake QuizWho Was I in a Past Life QuizTake QuizWhat Is My Weakness QuizTake Quiz
Categories
Home and Garden
Housekeeping
Home Organization
wikiHow Newsletter You're all set! Helpful how-tos delivered toyour inbox every week! Sign me up! By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy.
Download Article Easy ways to retrace your steps and find what you’re missing Co-authored by Kathi Burns, CPO® and Aly Rusciano 
Advertisement 
Co-authored by: Kathi Burns, CPO® Board Certified Professional Organizer This article was co-authored by Kathi Burns, CPO® and by wikiHow staff writer, Aly Rusciano. Kathi Burns is a board certified Professional Organizer (CPO) and Founder of Organized and Energized!, her consulting business with a mission to empower people to master their environment and personal image by assisting them in taking control, making change and organizing their lives. Kathi has over 17 years of organizing experience and her work has been featured on Better Homes and Gardens, NBC News, Good Morning America, and Entrepreneur. She has a BS in Communication from Ohio University. This article has been viewed 3,332,530 times. 187 votes - 49% Co-authors: 289 Updated: July 14, 2025 Views: 3,332,530 Categories: Home Organization Article SummaryX
Play
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Take Quiz 
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Take Quiz 
612 
1 Double-check where the object usually is. If there’s a place where you typically leave the missing object, start there. Maybe you forgot you put it back, or it’s hidden under something in the near vicinity. Either way, it’s worth taking a look. 
2 Look in places where you’ve lost this item before. Do you tend to lose your keys, phone, or jewelry often? If so, it may have ended up in a similar place as before. Think about where your common lost objects tend to be lost. Then, check these areas thoroughly. 
3 Look in the messiest areas of your living space. Believe it or not, studies have shown that lost objects tend to be misplaced in the most cluttered areas. So, before you panic, check your house or office’s dumping ground. Shift through everything to see if your lost object got hidden in the pile.[1] 
4 Peek under and around larger items. Your lost item may have accidentally slid down a crack in the couch or kicked under the bed. Larger items can easily hide smaller objects, so consider how big your lost item is and then check things it could be hidden by. 
5 Locate a lost and found box if you’re in a public space. If you’ve lost this object while you were out and about, check to see if the store, building, or area has a lost and found. Sometimes, you can get lucky, and someone else will find your lost item and turn it into a front desk or employee. 
1 Close your eyes and picture when you had the object last. Sometimes, thinking about the last time you saw or used the object can help you retrace your steps. Consider everything you can remember—even something as silly as what you were eating or listening to could be helpful![3] 
2 Look in the place where you last saw or had the object. Follow your reconstructed memory to where you last remember using or seeing the lost object. Sit or stand in your exact position when you saw or had it last, and look around you.[4] 
3 Try looking at the room from a new angle. If you’ve retraced your steps, gone through all the motions, and still haven’t found anything, change your perspective. Crawl instead of walk down the hall, or sit where you were standing. Seeing things from a different point of view can help you notice details you may have missed before. 
4 Ask for help from friends or family. It’s possible that someone else saw you with this item before you lost it. Reach out to a friend or family member in the same space as you and ask if they’ve seen the missing object. Who knows? They may have accidentally moved it themselves![5] 
1 Make objects stand out so you won’t lose them as easily. If you have a tendency to lose things, make them bigger and more obvious. Give the commonly lost item something that’ll catch your eye in a cluttered space. This way, if you do misplace it, it’ll be easier to find.[6] 
2 Attach a tracker to important items and use an app to locate them. Bluetooth tracking devices are a great and effortless way to keep your phone, keys, or wallet from getting lost. Simply attach a small tracker to the device or object and connect it to its corresponding app. This way, you’ll know where your belongings are 24/7.[7] 
3 Make a mental note when you put down something important. When you set down your phone, laptop, or keys, take a second to memorize where it is (especially if you’re prone to losing things). Solidifying the object's location in your mind and being more mindful can help you remember where the item is later. Think of it as a failsafe when it comes to retracing your steps if the object is ever lost.[9] 
4 Keep your space neat and tidy. The best thing you can do to avoid losing things is be organized. Cluttered and crowded areas make it easier to lose objects, as things can fall under other things or get wedged between something else. Regularly clean and organize your living spaces, so you won’t have to spend more time looking for things later on. 
Community Answer Check their room secretly. If you can't find it still, confront them and see if they will return it. You can also tell your parents about your suspicions too. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 269 Helpful 734 
Community Answer Keep the found one somewhere safe. Keep searching for the other one by retracing steps and using the suggestions in the article. It'll turn up eventually, just be sure to remember where you've put the found one. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 128 Helpful 227 
Community Answer Check the most common places first, like classrooms, your desk and other places you might usually see it. Then, if you still can't find it, look in more uncommon areas, like bathrooms or closets. Don't panic, keep your mind clear and take deep breaths. It will probably turn up. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 197 Helpful 475 
Advertisement If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy.