Refrigerator Storage Bins
July 29, 2016
If I could use only one product to organize my fridge, it would be refrigerator storage bins.
If you’ve ever been down on your knees, cleaning up the mess from the mushrooms you forgot, the meat that thawed and leaked through the cellophane, or the Buffalo Wing sauce you inadvertently tipped as you rummaged for a midnight snack, you know exactly what I’m referring to. Messes. Icky, sticky messes. Unidentified, mystery messes. Messes made glaringly apparent by the stark contrast against your cold white refrigerator interior.
When I started working at Organize-It, I quickly discovered tons of ways to organize my home. The refrigerator bins by Dial were probably the most glorious discovery. I quickly purchased enough to fill my refrigerator. Now you might be thinking you can get some dollar store plastic and use that, but I don’t recommend it. Here’s why, some plastics are safe for food, and some aren’t. Also, plastics not engineered for cold temperatures quickly crack when the temperature exceeds their tolerances.
Dial refrigerator storage bins are food and refrigerator safe. There are numerous other reasons they are great:
- Clear plastic lets you see the contents.
- Recessed handles let you pull them out for easy access.
- Spills are cleaned by removing and washing the fridge bins only.
- Easily access hard-to-reach items by removing the bin.
- Easily organize food by consolidating like foods into individual bins.
- Reduce refrigerator maintenance by tending to bins as they get soiled.
- Refrigerator bins come in a variety of sizes including narrow bins for fruit.
- Bins are stackable for efficient vertical storage of smaller food items.
Refrigerator storage bins help me keep my refrigerator organized and I seem to have less food waste, as the food is visible and accessible. The stackable design lets me add more as needed and I was able to combine units to fill most of my shelf space, with a little left over for small liquid cartons, such as milk. I highly recommend these, as they are my favorite food organization product.
5 Unique Book Storage Ideas
July 25, 2016
“A book is a gift you can open again and again”– Garrison Keillor
Giving away books is hard, you’ve cried together, laughed together, and fought side-by-side with the hero/heroine as they navigated through a journey of hardship and personal discovery. Instead of giving away your favorite books when you are running low on space, transform your current space to keep your books prominently displayed without losing any space in your home.
Turn the page to discover new ways to store all of your favorite books you’ve collected throughout the years.
- Turn a wall in your living room, den, or sitting area into a mural dedicated to all of your favorite books. Use floating bookshelves or wall boxes to create a unique design right on the wall, or you can install the shelves in perfect symmetry and use the book’s colors to create a unique look to the wall.
- Freestanding bookshelves are the norm for book storage, but who says you can’t turn them into a spectacular work of art? This cube-style bookcase takes up minimal floor space and the unique angles are visually interesting so you won’t even notice they are bookshelves.
- Are you looking for a more rustic alternative to book shelving? You can stack wooden crates on top of one another to not only create more storage space, but add a vintage look to your decor. Use cedar crates to offer a pleasant aroma to the living room or bedroom space. Tip: anchor each crate to the wall to provide additional safety especially in households with pets or children.
- Do you know anyone who constantly has a book in one hand? Never be caught without reading material with help from a magazine rack or holder. You can even use an over the toilet magazine rack (no I’m not kidding) to keep a book on hand so you are never forced to read the ingredients from a shampoo bottle again.
- If you are short on wall or floor space, there is a solution! Take a wooden magazine holder, turn it sideways, and screw it right into a corner of the room. This allows you to store books inside the makeshift shelf or on top of it, and you can also use it to store various odds and ends around your home.
Find all of these storage solutions and more at Organize-It. Do you have a unique way to showcase or store your books? Please share in the comments below!
College Dorm List
July 25, 2016
College Dorm List – Back to School Ideas
Whether you are a freshman or a returning student, getting ready for college in the fall can be a bit nerve-racking, exciting, and fun – all at once. Preparing for dorm living now and compiling a college dorm list can ease some of the discomfort. The following is our essential dorm list to get you started now on your exciting fall adventure.
1. Bed Risers
Dorm rooms are notorious for being small and having limited storage space. First thing to do if you have a freestanding bed is to add storage underneath. Use inexpensive bed risers to add extra height to your bed and more storage clearance underneath. They’re made from a variety of materials and colors to suit your needs. Elevating the bed gives you tons of under-the-bed storage options.
2. Under Bed Storage Containers
Shoes, clothes, books, jackets, linens and tons of other stuff can be stashed under your bed, provided you have room. Canvas chests, lidded plastic containers, and even containers with wheels are available for easy access to your goods. If you have a freestanding bed, you won’t want to miss out on the storage space beneath it. Under-bed storage containers are lifesavers for dorm living.
3. In-Closet Hanging Storage
You’ll want plenty of standard hangers to organize your clothes, but other in-closet storage hangers make the closet more versatile. Hanging cubes add convenient in-closet shelf space for jeans and sweaters. Scarf and belt organizers help get you dressed in a hurry while freeing up drawer space. Tiered hangers are really great for space-saving hanging storage of slacks and jeans. Usually, in dorm rooms, closet space is at a premium, so think about ways to optimize your closet using hanging storage solutions.
Umbra’s Little Black Dress line of organizers are great for storing jewelry, cosmetics, accessories and all kinds of smaller items. They are cleverly designed and feature tons of clear vinyl pockets for easy viewing and accessibility. The mini version is perfect for smaller storage needs and great for weekend getaways as you can roll it up and throw it in your luggage.
4. Over-Door Organizers
When space is at a premium, over-door storage hangers are lifesavers. A single shoe rack can store up to 36 pairs of shoes, freeing valuable shelf and floor space in your closet and living areas. Sharing with a roommate is a good idea, depending on your combined collection size. For the sports-minded, the Perfect Cap Rack makes for easy storage of baseball caps and again, it’s OK to share.
Over-cabinet-door hair care racks are another life saver for rooms with bathrooms. Made in a variety of configurations, these lightweight storage racks are designed to store hairdryers and curling irons – plus, some even have onboard shelves for storing hairspray, styling gels and other hair products. If no cabinet door is available, this wall-mount rack provides plenty of storage for all of your hairstyling accessories.
5. Makeup Organizers
Makeup organizers help keep your purse and vanity less cluttered by consolidating everything in one place. This two-tiered pink spinning rack holds a ton of makeup, nail polish and other supplies and is made from attractive pink mesh with a spinning mechanism for absolute accessibility. For smaller cosmetic storage needs, you can’t beat the clear acrylic two-drawer cosmetic holder. At only 7.25-inches wide, it takes up very little space on your counter or dresser, and the clear finish makes it easy to find what you’re looking for.
6. Device Chargers
Device charging stations are lifesavers, and not only keep your digital goods ready to use, but help prevent you from misplacing them, provided you make a habit of storing them in the station during your down time. Cell phones, iPods, tablets, mp3 players and other digital toys are likely candidates for this must-have college item.
7. Laptop and Tablet Stands
Whether you’re chilling while watching a movie, chatting on Facebook, or doing homework, Laptop and tablet stands hold your device upright at the angle you need. Whether you need a dedicated laptop cart, a squishy lap desk, or a bamboo tablet stand for your iPad, we have it.
9. Backpacks
Next on your college dorm list is backpacks. Backpacks are your portable workstations. They can be makeup bags, device holders, book bags and the portable refrigerators that keep you fed while on campus. A backpack, while essential to your campus experience, can also be a personal statement. Whether you want to strut your stuff in bold hot pink or prefer a subdued, earthy, low-key style, you’re sure to find something you like at Organize-It. Lots of pockets for writing utensils and compartments for devices and water bottles are must-haves. If you do a lot of walking, consider one with wheels. Laptop backpacks are designed with extra-secure storage to keep your devices safe. And leather ones are available as an upscale option.
10. Bulletin Boards
Bulletin boards make fantastic visual reminders for your new class schedule, things to do, and places to be. They are the hub by which you can communicate with your roomies, schedule events, and just write goofy stuff. Erasable, magnetic, stainless steel and corkboard ones are available. Choose something that suits your style. They also make a great way to temporarily decorate, hang your latest selfies, and share your inspired and not-so-inspired thoughts.
11. Laundry Bags
There is no surviving the dorm without a laundry bag. Baskets are nice, but when space is at a premium, it’s great having something that collapses and folds out of the way. For small needs, this compact, colorful laundry tote is great as it has carrying handles and takes up little space. It’s about 21 inches high and the sides expand, so it holds more than one might think. On heavy laundry days, this 33-inch high canvas laundry bag with strap has the heft and volume you need. Plus it has a heavy-duty shoulder strap and a smart, black and white design that makes dirty clothes look almost fashionable.
Getting your living space together is going to make staying organized for classes easier and we carry just about anything you need to get settled into your dorm life and start your semester off on the right foot. Be sure to make a college dorm list of your own as you prepare for your bold new life.
Also see our Pinterest College Essentials board for dorm organizing ideas and everything college related and check our blog archive for more back-to-school ideas. And we have a dorm food checklist here. And, finally, read about 10 dorm storage ideas for under 10 bucks here.