Dorm Bathroom Essentials – 10 Employee Picks – Laurie
August 11, 2017
Dorm Bathroom Essentials Employee Picks – from my Organized World to Yours – Laurie
No one is going to argue that dorm bathrooms aren’t the suckiest part of living on campus. It’s just a fact. Whether you share a suite with three or more people you don’t know or you have to lug your bucket of beauty aids down the hall to use community showers, dorm bathrooms will most likely make you um, appreciate your childhood home.
There’s never enough room in dorms for all of your stuff, your clothes, the universe and possessions that you have grown to depend on, the stuff that makes you YOU. Let’s face it, dorms were not really made for humans! But there you are. You have no choice really, but to make the best of it, bite the bullet, reduce, embrace a minimalist lifestyle, and go get an education. There will be inconveniences. Lots. But I’m going to make your life easier, by sharing some products with you, my very favorite, tried and true bath products. With a little luck, these will get your own gears turning for back-to-school preparation.
1. Dorm Bath Caddy
Lightweight, but with lots of compartments for your bath gear, this portable caddy is perfect for lugging your bath accessories down to the community bath – or to your in-suite shared dorm bath. Two large compartments hold large shampoos and skin products and three smaller middle compartments are great for soap, razors and loofahs. Aside from transporting your stuff, this keeps all your bath essentials corralled in one convenient place. Cost: $6.99.
2. Shower Rod Caddy
When you share a dorm bathroom, or if you’re lucky enough to have your own, this over-rod shower caddy is great for holding all your toiletries. It has six pockets (three large and three small) for shampoo, soap, foot stones and more… The best part is that it’s made of mesh so it easily drains and keeps your accessories dry. Cost: $9.99.
3. Over-Showerhead Caddy
This shower caddy is my top pick for in-room bathrooms as it has two adjustable shelves and lots of onboard storage for shampoo, razors, soap and more. The bottom soap dish has two integrated hooks for hanging wash clothes or loofahs. It requires no tools for installation and costs only $21.99.
4. Hairdryer – Iron Holder
The beauty of this hairdryer holder is it’s simplicity. Plus, it takes up little space and you can use it on a vanity, a dresser, or some other flat space. Because it’s freestanding, there’s no screws or drills to worry about. The resting surfaces are made of heat-resistant silicone, so there’s no worry about burning mishaps, provided you remember to unplug the iron. It includes storage for one hairdryer and one curling iron. Cost: 15.99.
5. Over-Tank Storage Basket
Provided your dorm toilet has a tank (and maybe it doesn’t), this over-tank wire storage basket is a great way to make extra storage space in that underutilized place next to the toilet. Just lift up the lid and hook it over the rim and tah-dah, instant storage for Kleenex, your hairdryer, or any variety of bath essentials. Cost: $12.99
6. Over-Door Towel Rack
Not enough towel racks in your dorm bathroom? The over-door rack to the rescue! This one has three hanger bars for towels and washcloths and fits easily over any standard-thickness door. Cost: $31.99
7. Clear Tote
A waterproof, clear tote is a great multipurpose bag for down-the-hall shower use and more. Along with carrying towels and bath accessories, this bag will meet safety requirements for football games and other events, thanks to the clear, zippered design. Cost: $10.99
8. Shower Squeegee
Save cleaning time by using a shower squeegee after each shower session. Get your roomies on board with your routine and quadruple the fun. This one by OXO works great and has a built-in hook for hanging storage. Cost: $9.99.
9. Makeup Storage Box
Put your face on anywhere with this makeup storage box by Umbra. Stylish and functional, this box has a smartly-designed handle for carrying, a bottom drawer for pencils and mascaras, and three upright bins for your brushes and other accessories. It’s also great for storing nail files and other nail accessories. Cost: $29.99.
10. Shower Accessory Holder – Suction
This is yet another great way to hold bathroom accessories on a shower wall without tools, holes or trouble. This suction accessory holder is 15-inches long with lots of room for storage and drainage holes to release moisture and prevent mildew. Cost: $9.99.
Back-to-School Lunch Accessories – Top 10
August 1, 2017
[acx_slideshow name=”Back to School Lunch Top 10″]
Back-to-School Lunch Accessories – Our Top 10 Picks for the New School Year
It’s now August and the school year’s quickly approaching. Where did the summer go? Well, there’s still a little left, so be sure to savor it, but it’s not too early to start planning for school. Most likely, the priority school concerns are: transportation, school clothes, gathering and packing basic school supplies, locker organizing and, one of the most time consuming – packing lunches.
Lunches don’t have to be hard with careful planning. Check out our back-to-school Pinterest board for lots of back-to-school ideas, including great lunch accessories, meal planning, learning aids and more. For your convenience, we’ve compiled our top 10 favorite lunch accessories for easy, no-brainer, back-to-school shopping. Enjoy our slides above and use the links below to learn more about these handy lunch accessories. Most of these are from the Fuel line by Trudeau, and it’s no accident they’re on our top 10 list because they make super-high-quality products (and many even come with warranties).
1. Reusable Lunch Bag
Eco-friendly, with the added benefit of insulation, this reusable lunch bag has the nostalgic value of a good old paper sack without the waste. Modern and lightweight, the bag is made from BPA-free polyethylene, is foam-padded, and costs only $13.99.
2. Bento Lunch Box
Pack an entire meal in a single container with the Bento lunch box. Two removable compartments hold up to 45 ounces of food. One container has an open design, and the other one has three compartments to separate vegetables, fruits or snacks. This Japanese-style box is space-efficient, and can be tucked neatly into backpacks, briefcases and purses. It’s safe for the dishwasher and costs only $14.99.
3. Mini Condiment Containers
Nothing is more disappointing than a soggy salad on your first day of school (or any time). These mini-condiment containers are perfect for slipping dressings, condiments, or mini-servings of relishes and other foods into your pumpkin’s lunch. They snap together for stackable storage and are safe for the dishwasher. They come in sets of three, hold 2 ounces each and, for only $3.99 per set, you can buy a fleet of them.
4. Snack Container
Celery, carrots, breadsticks, pretzels and other snacks travel happily in this snack container. A small end compartment is perfect for dips, peanut butter or nuts and, at 6.75 inches, it takes up little room in a backpack or lunch box. Cost: $3.99.
5. Insulated Sandwich Wrap
It’s not just for sandwiches! The insulated sandwich wrap keeps burritos, pitas and rollups warm and ready to eat. It measures 15.5 by 17 inches and has a foil lining for insulation and a Velcro closure and carrying strap. Cost: $7.99.
6. Soup Containers
These lightweight soup containers keep liquids warm or cold and feature a leak-proof design for secure usage. Each container stores 16 ounces of soup, pasta, casserole or other foods and has convenient, built-in handles. Cost: $8.99 each and available in two color choices.
7. Sandwich Box
The sandwich box is our other eco-friendly pick. Reduce plastic waste by packing sandwiches in this reusable plastic box. It’s BPA-free and includes a limited-lifetime manufacturers warranty. Cost: $4.99.
8. Travel Cutlery
Here’s another reusable lunch accessory for eco-friendly lunches: the travel cutlery set. No more disposable plastic! Plus, it saves you money in the long run. Cost: $4.99.
9. Salad Container
Salads make a nutritional lunch accompaniment while providing lots of vitamins to your kiddo. This secure salad container holds 40 ounces of salad, has a slim profile, and includes an ice pack to keep it cold until lunch hour. Combine it with the condiment containers for a tasty, non-soggy meal. Cost: $14.99.
10. Insulated 12-Ounce Food Container
Hot or cold, beverages and soups travel well in this food container. Super-compact, at only 7.5 inches high, this insulated carrier keeps your honey’s food at the right temperature for eating. Cost: $9.99.
For more back-to-school lunch accessories, as well as back-to-school supplies of all kinds, check out the Organize-It website or use the “shop” link on the menu bar.
Stackable Plastic for Space-Efficient Dorm Storage
July 28, 2017
Get ready for the dorm move ahead of time with shopping ideas from our blog. You know your dorm is not going to have enough storage room (I can guarantee it having been there). Here are a few ideas for storage and you might also enjoy some of the dorm organizing blog posts at the Organize-It Blog.
IRIS STACKING BINS
Iris stacking bins are great for food, socks, odds-and-ends, whatever you want to store in them. The beauty is that you can use as many, or as few as you need. The semi-clear plastic lets you easy see what’s inside and the open front makes your goods accessible. They come in two different widths – 4.25 and 5.5 inches and range in price from $1.99-$3.99 (with quantity discounts).
STACKABLE STORAGE DRAWER
http://www.organizeit.com/crystal-clear-stackable-storage-drawer-small.asp
This clear acrylic stackable drawer bin is perfect for storing shoes or other items on a closet shelf, dresser or desk. At only $8.99, you can buy as many as you need, and when you move out of the dorms, you can repurpose them for something else.
STACKABLE PLASTIC STORAGE BASKET
The stackable plastic storage basket is great for toiletries, makeup, digital devices, and anything else you need to store. It comes in 9.25 or 14-inch sizes, and in green, pink, frosted white or light blue colors. The movable handle makes it easy to carry, but folds down when not in use. Prices range from $6.99 to $9.99.
STACKABLE MAKEUP BOX
This stackable makeup box will keep your beauty kit organized and accessible and having the capability to stack additional drawers is just dreamy. It’s not just for cosmetics, either, you could put jewelry, i.d.s or a variety of small items inside for safe keeping. It’s 13.5 inches wide and 2.65 inches high for compact storage and the drawer includes a thick handle. Price: $25.99.
KEURIG K-CUP HOLDER
Okay, this isn’t really stackable, but it’s hard for me to think about dorms and studying without interjecting coffee into the picture (so I’m adding this in as a bonus). If you’re a coffee addict like me, you might need a little Keurig brewer on your dorm desk. And here’s the bin to store your K-cups. It’s 5 inches wide and holds up to 40 K-Cups for your favorite Keurig morning cuppa and costs only $29.99.