I also once lived in an exceptionally messy house, and things were often misplaced. However, I have never had to search for my wood-burning stove. Of course, mine was made in Sweden, a Jotul, and it it never moved by itself. However, if I were trying to find a stove, on a cold night, I would look for the source of the heat. If the stove is not currently warm, look above the debris line (piles of clothes and books), in the general area that the stove was last seen, and follow the stove pipe down. I once had a similiar experience with one of my childen, when he started to crawl.