If you dread annual household cleaning as I do, I found a workflow that makes the process a lot easier.
I’ve used Gemini in nifty ways, including scanning and organizing 400 games into a Google Sheet database.
While Bluetooth trackers are great for keeping tabs on keys and backpacks, not every household item can be tracked that way.
But I found a way to track important documents and household items during my annual deep-clean.
A new Find Hub feature is more handy than you think
A feature that’s better than taking notes
Google’s Find Hub is one of the most essential features added in recent years. But a new addition has made it my only way to track items at home.
I tend to forget where I keep things in my room and apartment. I’m very forgetful and waste a lot of time looking for things around the house.
Sometimes I’m so engrossed in a task that I even forget the item I’m looking for is in my pocket. That’s how bad it can get.
I even forget where I put the box cutter I use to open packages. Then I waste five minutes looking for it.
This can get really frustrating on a busy day, because I want to get the task over with fast, but often get held back because I don’t remember where I put the tool.
That’s part of why I dread the annual deep-clean of my room and apartment: I tend to misplace things or put them somewhere I don’t remember.
This year, though, I wanted to be more efficient and use Gemini to my advantage, as I did for budgeting and planning my vacation.
The Find Hub feature that changed everything was the Remembered section.
I considered using Google Keep to manually add notes about where I stored items, but using Gemini voice with Find Hub saved me at least two hours while cleaning.
It’s more practical than making notes in Google Keep or manually adding items to the Remembered section.
Imagine pulling out items, clothing, or tools from storage and putting them somewhere you won’t remember months later.
Using Gemini and Find Hub’s Remembered feature solves that problem, especially for items you don’t use often.
I used it to track where I kept my Passport, tax documents, birth certificates, spare house and car keys, and even something like a measuring tape.
I can add an image to the item to show exactly where it was stored after cleaning. It’s completely optional, but I attached images for everything.
It might seem unnecessary when you’re adding items to Find Hub, but you will appreciate it when you go look for those items months later.
After using this workflow, my annual cleaning took considerably less time because I didn’t have to take notes or do any manual tracking.
Still, the actual cleaning took two hours, but without the Find Hub and Gemini workflow, it would have taken an entire day.
How I use Find Hub’s Remembered Items and Gemini together
A workflow I’ve taught every family member
The new Remembered Tab in Find Hub not only lets me track my items more efficiently, but also declutter faster than ever.
What’s neat is that everyone can use this feature, and it isn’t exclusive to a Google Subscription plan.
You just need to make sure you have both the Gemini and Find Hub apps installed on a device running Android 16 or newer, and that you’re signed in to the same Google account.
This workflow is straightforward: use Gemini voice and tell it the item name, storage spot, any notes, and location label.
Alternatively, you can add it manually in the Find Hub app or use the Ask Gemini option. If you need a prompt, here’s the one I use that you can tweak to your use case.
Remember in Find Hub I’ve stored my passport in the bedroom cupboard. Attach the image as well for future reference.
If you want to be more specific, you can add a note like “stored on the top shelf” to be really precise.
You can also organize items by room, such as the garage, attic, or basement, so you don’t have to figure them out later.
After you attach the image and tap Send, Gemini will do the rest. After you add it, you can ask Gemini to find the item when you need it, or use the Find Hub app.
You can ask Gemini, “Where did I put my passport?” or “Where’s the spare car key?” and it will tell you exactly where you stored it along with the picture.
This method works for any item that can’t have a Bluetooth tracker. I use it for documents, seasonal items, anime figures, and other tools that I might need every once in a while.
There’s zero friction to get this up and running, and it takes no more than a few seconds.
One major caveat, though: If I move an item to a new storage spot, I have to update it manually each time, since there is no Bluetooth tracker involved.
It’s not a big deal, but keep it in mind if you plan to keep changing storage spots during your next cleaning session.
A meaningful update to Find Hub that I use daily
Even if you’re not a fan of AI, you have to admit that using Gemini with Find Hub to track everyday items is quite cool.
I use it for all the rarely used objects in the house that I might need someday. It’s a useful feature for forgetful people like me.
Not every item deserves a Bluetooth tracker, but I highly encourage you to try this workflow during your next annual spring cleaning.
