Share a organization idea that really works for you.

[KrisM]

Every now and then, I find a solution to a organization problem that I am really proud of. I bet others have unique ideas that work well and that would work for others and I thought we could share them here.

First, I organized my Bandaids. Sounds silly, right? But, Walgreen's had character Bandaids for free a couple years ago and I had boxes and boxes of them falling all over in the bathroom. Now, I have them in this: http://www.snapware.com/W-60884021.html with girl charcters on top, boy in the middle and adult and latex free on the bottom. It works so much better for me!

And, I finally found a solution to my "where to put my returns" problem. I have a medium sized Rubbermaid bin in the back of the minivan and it holds most of my returns. It fits front-to-back and I use the lid, so I can still pile in groceries or a stroller just fine. I have things with me and ready and it's been working very well.

[DietCokeLover]

I don't know that this is unique, but it works well for me. I keep a large 3 ring binder and clear plastic sleeves where I put all the manuals to any electronic/ houswares, etc in it. I also keep the manuals that come with strollers, cribs, etc in there. It's so nice to have them all in one spot in case they are needed.

[tiapam]

I put a shoe organizer on the inside of a basement closet door. I use it for just about any odd thing that will fit in a pocket. Extension cords, a ball of string, extra filters for a stick vac, etc.

It's similar to this:

http://www.containerstore.com/shop/closet/shoeStorage/overdoor?productId=10012681&N=155

but a clear one would work even better. I just had it on hand and did not need it for shoes.

[kijip]

I don't know that this is unique, but it works well for me. I keep a large 3 ring binder and clear plastic sleeves where I put all the manuals to any electronic/ houswares, etc in it. I also keep the manuals that come with strollers, cribs, etc in there. It's so nice to have them all in one spot in case they are needed.
That is what I do with Lego manuals.

[niccig]

First, I organized my Bandaids. Sounds silly, right? But, Walgreen's had character Bandaids for free a couple years ago and I had boxes and boxes of them falling all over in the bathroom. Now, I have them in this: http://www.snapware.com/W-60884021.html with girl charcters on top, boy in the middle and adult and latex free on the bottom. It works so much better for me!

And, I finally found a solution to my "where to put my returns" problem. I have a medium sized Rubbermaid bin in the back of the minivan and it holds most of my returns. It fits front-to-back and I use the lid, so I can still pile in groceries or a stroller just fine. I have things with me and ready and it's been working very well.

Totally stealing the bandaid and the returns idea.


I don't know that this is unique, but it works well for me. I keep a large 3 ring binder and clear plastic sleeves where I put all the manuals to any electronic/ houswares, etc in it. I also keep the manuals that come with strollers, cribs, etc in there. It's so nice to have them all in one spot in case they are needed.

I put my manuals in an expanding file. The whole thing sits in a drawer in the filing cabinet - I think I keep way more manuals than I need, so I found I had too many for the binder. I staple the receipt to the manual.


That is what I do with Lego manuals.
Stealing this - 3 ring binder for lego manuals - I need to figure something out with them.

[niccig]

Containers. I have a collection of different containers and I keep ones that I'm not using all contained in a large rubbermaid tub in the garage, so I can use one again. I'm container crazy :o I like containers as I'm lazy about putting things away, but I'll throw it into a basket/container and put that away.

Eg. I have a number of plastic baskets from the dollar store under my side of the bathroom vanity. One is for makeup (I don't have so much that it needs to be organized), one is for sanitary napkins/tampons, another is for pedicure items. I also have things on shelves in baskets - I'm short and I can't reach the top shelves well, but I can get a small basket down, so I organise by first aid supplies, sunscreen, cold medicine etc. I can get down one basket, find what I want and put the basket away.

I have 2 baskets on a shelf in the kitchen, one is for mailing supplies like envelopes/stamps/address labels; the other basket has office supplies like stapler, paperclips, binder clips, ruler etc I can't put them out separately as they'll never get put away, but I'll toss them into the basket and it looks neat on the shelf.

[npace19147]

We have four medium clear bins on a shelf in our front hall closet. Each one is labeled with one of our names and they hold all of our winter accessories - gloves, hats, earmuffs, etc. Each one is a mess but at least we only have to pull down one bin at a time for each person!

Ikea has clothes drawer organizers - maybe Expedit? - very cheap. I use them in all my girls' drawers and my own as well to separate out shorts/pants/pj's/underwear/socks. Otherwise it would just be a pawed-through disaster.

[PMJ]

This is by no means extraordinary, but looking around my house - this is the 1st that comes to mind. In our coat closet, I have a crate inside where we keep our tool box, golf stuff etc. I keep a "Tote" inside w/sunblock, bug spray, hats -- so when we go on walks, it is easy to access.

Would LOVE to know, how you all organize your Medicine. Right now - I have a small canvas bin (from Bed Bath) that has 3 ziploc baggies inside w/differ meds. This sits under our bathroom sink. Any ideas?

Sorry to hijack - OP.

[wendibird22]

I have this closet organizer in my front hall coat closet. http://www.target.com/Household-Essentials-Natural-Sweater-Organizer/dp/B0006ZP6NA/ref=sc_qi_detailbutton

In the lowest pockets are the girls' summer hats, sunglasses, winter hats, and mittens. They are low enough they can reach them themselves. The middle pockets have DH and my baseball caps, scarves, gloves, etc. The top big pockets hold a couple of purses (I don't have many and they aren't big), battery pack for my PISA, and a few odds and ends. It has really cut down on the clutter, gotten things up off the floor, and helps DD1 to do a few things herself since she can reach.

[essnce629]

From the Organized Junkie blog someone posted a picture of inside one of their kitchen cabinets that she had reorganized. She put in 2 turntables to organize all her vinegars and oils so instead of having to reach way in the back of the cabinet to fine something all she had to do was spin the little turntable. I loved it so I ordered two 9.5" Oxo ones from Amazon and now I have one with all my vinegars on it and another with my oils and extra stuff. Reading the reviews on Amazon, one person said she using the 16" one in her fridge to make it easy to find stuff. I want to try that idea next.

Oxo Good Grips 9-1/2-Inch Turntable
http://www.amazon.com/Oxo-Good-Grips-2-Inch-Turntable/dp/B001795YH2/ref=sr_1_3?s=gateway&ie=UTF8&qid=1285605983&sr=8-3

The turntables are on the middle shelf:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v16/essnce629/IMG_1379-1.jpg

I also use a $7.99 clear over the door shoe pocket organizer on one of DBF's closet doors for all just little odds and ends that are always piling up all over tables. It has 24 pockets and I love that it's clear so that he can see everything. I put his iPod, chargers, cords, random cds, belts, and any other small item in it. I like it so much that I want to get one for each person in the house to put inside their closet. It's this one, but's it's way cheaper at Target:

http://www.amazon.com/Over-Door-Clear-Organizer-Storage/dp/B000IXOH7G/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1285606365&sr=1-1

[cono0507]

Would LOVE to know, how you all organize your Medicine. Right now - I have a small canvas bin (from Bed Bath) that has 3 ziploc baggies inside w/differ meds. This sits under our bathroom sink. Any ideas?

Sorry to hijack - OP.

I have 3 shoe-box sized clear rubbermaid containers for medicine:
1 for first aid supplies
1 for kids medicine
1 for adult medicine
Each box has a clear label on the outside and they are lined up on a high shelf in the linen closet. I like to keep adult and children's medicine in different boxes to avoid any possible confusion.

I also have an additional one for nebulizer supplies, inhalers, etc for DD's asthma.

[niccig]

Oxo Good Grips 9-1/2-Inch Turntable
http://www.amazon.com/Oxo-Good-Grips-2-Inch-Turntable/dp/B001795YH2/ref=sr_1_3?s=gateway&ie=UTF8&qid=1285605983&sr=8-3


I also use a $7.99 clear over the door shoe pocket organizer on one of DBF's closet doors for all just little odds and ends that are always piling up all over tables.

Stealing the turntable idea - that should just fit inside my upper cabinet by the stove where I keep all my oils and vinegars.

I have a shoe pocket organizer like this that I am going to use in a hallway closet to store all the gadget cables etc. At the moment they're all jumbled in a drawer. Just need to get around to it - maybe we can have a challenge in a couple of week and do electronic gadgets!!!

Love this thread - such great ideas.

[crl]

I need to see if an over the door shoe organizer will fill over our pantry door. Great idea!

Catherine

[KrisM]

That is what I do with Lego manuals.

Me too and I use folders like this to put them in: http://www.amazon.com/C-Line-Biodegradable-Binder-Assorted-33730/dp/B002UXRNSM/ref=sr_1_3?s=gateway&ie=UTF8&qid=1285628680&sr=8-3, but from Staples. That way, I can put a few related manuals in one pocket.

[KrisM]

Ikea has clothes drawer organizers - maybe Expedit? - very cheap. I use them in all my girls' drawers and my own as well to separate out shorts/pants/pj's/underwear/socks. Otherwise it would just be a pawed-through disaster.

I need to find those!

[KrisM]

I put a shoe organizer on the inside of a basement closet door. I use it for just about any odd thing that will fit in a pocket. Extension cords, a ball of string, extra filters for a stick vac, etc.

It's similar to this:

http://www.containerstore.com/shop/closet/shoeStorage/overdoor?productId=10012681&N=155

but a clear one would work even better. I just had it on hand and did not need it for shoes.

I have one, but its mesh, in my mudroom. In the winter, it held hats, mittens, etc. The mesh let things dry. In the summer, it has sunscreen, sunglasses and anything that needs to go to my car. I'm going to have to get another for odd stuff in our room.


Reading the reviews on Amazon, one person said she using the 16" one in her fridge to make it easy to find stuff. I want to try that idea next.



I love that idea! I am always loosing things in the fridge!

[lizzywednesday]

I use different Sterilite "Showoffs" for the band-aids/1st aid supplies, tampons/pads, DH's travel kits, bath supplies (as in bath salts, oils, etc.), cleaning supplies and I just bought one for my breast pump parts.

For medicines and other stuff we keep in the kitchen, we have a small IKEA wooden drawer board thingy (hard to describe) above our free-standing pantry.

[Nechums]

I stole the turntable idea and already went to Bed Bath and Beyond.

I use tall shot glasses on my bathroom countertop to house q-tips, makeups brushes, tweezers, nail scissors, and other things that are used quite often. They look nice when grouped together on the counter.

[wellyes]

essnce629 (http://www.windsorpeak.com/vbulletin/member.php?u=608) the inside of your spice cabinet is so neat, I'm jealous! And I am ordering a turntable right now. That's brilliant.

Looking around my house, here's what springs to mind.....
- I keep a whiteboard on the extra freezer in the basement; otherwise I forget what's in there
- I store all toddler clothes on hangers as outfits on hangers (shirt & pants clipped together) to make getting dressed faster in the morning. Especially useful now that DD wants to pick what she wears each day.
- All keys always go on magnet hooks (like these (http://www.containerstore.com/shop?productId=10019976&N=&Ntt=key+magnet)) so that I can't lose them.

[ray7694]

I have a stacking plastic organizer that I purchased at Target that has made my junk door so nice. It is similar to this one. You can find it at Target.

http://www.stacksandstacks.com/drawer-organizer-junk-drawer-organizer?id=176&sku=23024&utm_medium=gan&utm_source=gan

[brittone2]

We do the manuals in plastic page protectors (along with a household notebook that is in a separate 3 ring binder. Takeout menus, frequently called phone numbers, meal planning sheets, whatever you need to access often. ).

We do the shoe organizer thing. Great in the mudroom/entry for sunblock, sunglasses, mittens/gloves, etc. Some of them can also be cut down to like a 4 pocket size that you can attach to the inside of a cabinet if you are short on storage (like inside a vanity door).

I use a lot of dishpans. Cheap...like a buck or two. No, they don't look fancy like baskets but they work really well for organizing items, especially in bedroom closets, etc. for things other people aren't going to see. I fold some sweaters and stack in a large dishpan, etc. which keeps the piles kinda neat. Can be used for kid toy storage, etc. Not the prettiest but functional.

I have this idea bookmarked for once we are finally settled...great for a garage, mudroom, homeschool storage for us...
http://inmyownstyle.com/2010/06/trash-the-dollar-store-and-me.html

Could be prettied up with different containers if that's in your budget but I thought this would be handy for the sunglasses, hats, gloves, sunscreen, garden gloves, maybe things like sidewalk chalk, bubbles, etc. if you keep those in your garage.

[npace19147]

For the medicine, I have one bin on a low shelf that the girls can reach with child-safe stuff, mostly bandaids so they can reach them by themselves when they are in a band-aid-a-minute phase!

Adult medicine is in one bin on a high shelf, and the kids' stuff is in two other bins. I should combine those since they're both on kid meds now, I had two separate when one was a baby so I wouldn't grab the wrong one.

[essnce629]

I'm also a big fan of drawer organizers and separators. Here's a few of my kitchen drawers with their different orgnizers and dividers.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v16/essnce629/IMG_1452.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v16/essnce629/IMG_1418.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v16/essnce629/IMG_1417.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v16/essnce629/IMG_1416.jpg


I also just FINALLY added this row of hooks in our entryway. Such a simple thing and it totally helps get all the clutter off the floor from DS1's backpack and all our reusable bags. On sale at Target for $15 and I should have bought it ages ago! And the trash can there is for all the junk mail and catalogs that come into the house. They go right from the mail slot and into the trash, which gets emptied into the recycle bin outside. So they never get a chance to pile up anywhere (except for the stuff I think I'm going to read but don't!!!!)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v16/essnce629/IMG_1425.jpg

[salsah]

3M hooks! i use them everywhere for everything. back of the kitchen door to hang aprons and art smocks. over the sink for the dish towel, inside the kitchen cabinet for my dish washing gloves, in the laundry area, on the inside of the coat closet door, on the back of the bathroom door, on the back of the girls' bedroom door . . .

i have two level/tiered turntable that i use for spices. (i found it target, but it was nearly 10 years ago -- that makes me feel old!) it fits perfectly in the cabinet (no pantry here). i put the small jars on the outside, and the larger refills in the middle. so easy to find what i need (i also alphabetize my spices).

i hang all the kids clothes in sets. use boxes (gift boxes, shoes boxes) w/o the lids to organize underwear/socks/tights/undershirts/etc. in their dresser drawers.

i use small drawer organizers in the bathroom drawers to organize the girls' hair accessories.

i put a small set of stackable plastic drawers in the bathroom cabinets to make that space more usable/create more storage for small things. (we only have two small built-in drawers in out bathroom. they are only about 6" wide.)

i use old tupperware containers (w/o the lid) to organize smaller items in the fridge and cabinets.

3M shower caddy accessories (stick to the shower walls) for shampoo/conditioner/body wash bottles, soap, razor, etc. (our shower doesn't have a place, aside from the floor, to put anything.)

a tote bag in the car (between the two front seats), for all the little random things that accumulate while we are out. sometimes i use it to make it easier to carry in a bunch of small things. sometimes it stays there for weeks just accumulating things. when it gets full, it is easy to carry in (with all the other stuff that i have to bring in) to get sorted.

i also keep a folder and envelope in the car for coupons and receipts.

i have a trunk organizer with an insulated section and handles in the trunk -- love it.

generally, making a specific place for everything and labeling make my life easier.

i'm sure there are more . . .

[lizzywednesday]

Ooh! 3M hooks would be a GREAT solution for DD's dinner bibs!!!! Thank you for the idea, salsah!

[KrisM]

use boxes (gift boxes, shoes boxes) w/o the lids to organize underwear/socks/tights/undershirts/etc. in their dresser drawers.

i use old tupperware containers (w/o the lid) to organize smaller items in the fridge and cabinets.

i have a trunk organizer with an insulated section and handles in the trunk -- love it.


I love the boxes in drawers and old Tupperware in the fridge/cabinets ideas.

What trunk organizer is it? It sounds quite nice!

[salsah]

I love the boxes in drawers and old Tupperware in the fridge/cabinets ideas.

What trunk organizer is it? It sounds quite nice!

i bought it years ago, at target of course.

http://www.amazon.com/Case-Logic-Trunk-Organizer-8150-08BK/dp/B000WYBQN4/ref=sr_1_48?s=STORE&ie=UTF8&qid=1285711596&sr=8-48

mine is almost identical to this one. not sure if mine is just an older model or maybe a different brand. i think it is the same brand. i'll check next time i go out. it has velcro at the bottom so that it doesn't slide around. it is soft, so when it is empty and you need more trunk space, you can fold it flat (or just throw things on top of it like i do). the center, zippered section is insulated. it wipes clean easily.

[niccig]

I'm also a big fan of drawer organizers and separators. Here's a few of my kitchen drawers with their different orgnizers and dividers.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v16/essnce629/IMG_1452.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v16/essnce629/IMG_1418.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v16/essnce629/IMG_1417.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v16/essnce629/IMG_1416.jpg




I am in lust over your nice wide, deep drawers that are full extension. Sigh...we have a 1980's kitchen, and the drawers are so small, narrow and if you pull them out too far they fall out onto your toes, oh and they drop bits of sawdust onto anything stored in the cabinets underneath. My wish list in a new kitchen are drawers like you have...one day.

[Twoboos]

I am late to this, but realized I have a couple of ideas to share!

My big A-Ha moment cleaning the craft cabinet today was to make a pencil box for each DD with some pencils, erasers, scissors, tape, crayons, colored pencils in it. The boxes are labelled with their names. The items inside are THEIRS. No more "mom, where's the tape? Where are the scissors? She has my crayons!" I was thrilled with myself over this. :D

Also, my biggest thing is using The Veteran's Association to get rid of my stuff to donate. (You could do Goodwill, Boys& Girls Clubs, etc.) I pile it up on the front steps, they take it away. Some months I have had them come weekly. That way I don't have to worry about what-goes-to-where and how to get it there.

Oh, and I use the drawer organizers (like those posted by essnce629) for my makeup.

[m448]

How have I missed this forum for so long???? My house may not look like it but I love organizing. A few of my favorites:

1. The spice storage in my kitchen. I bought screw top 4oz tins that open quickly but close tightly and glued neodydium magnets to the back of each one and a clear label on the front. They are all on the side of my fridge ready to use and not taking up cabinet space (our kitchen is teeny).

2. I keep a whiteboard on the fridge. We always try to keep one backup of every food/household item at least when we're not stocking up. When we pull out the last one from the pantry, that item gets added to the whiteboard list. When I make up my shopping list I just grab the whiteboard and type it up. Like someone else mentioned I also keep a whiteboard on the garage freezer listing the meals (family or individual) plus the date of stuff that we've put in there. I quickly with a finger erase as I pull out a meal to use.

3. I used sterilite clear bins (15gal) without their lids to organize my whole pantry. They are sturdy (the snap handle ones), easy to pull out like a drawer, clear and easy to see.

4. I also have an unhealthy love for command products. I use them to keep cutting tools out of reach in my sewing room, hang them inside closets to hang up brooms, bags for cloths, etc. and even keep some nicer ones hung at kid level where I can't hang up a row of hooks like Latia for jackets. Behind bathroom doors to hold cloth towel hampers, as hooks in the closet and I'm about to organize my chunky costume jewelry with those too.

5. Our laundry hampers are those tall flexible handle baskets from rubbermaid. There are 5 in my walkin closet and clothes are thrown into their corresponding hamper as we take them off. I took my mom's idea of labeling each item of clothing with their corresponding hamper number so that the kids know where to throw what.

6. On that note I use a sharpie dot to designate what clothing belongs to which kid. One dot for the oldest, two for his brother, etc. which means I just add a dot to the item as it gets handed down. When you get multiple kids and multiple brands that have different sizing this helps a ton. Plus the kids recognize their clothes too.

7. In the fridge I like to use a bin or two for shelves that hold overflow of condiments. I just slide it out like a drawer to access the stuff in the back.

[infocrazy]

6. On that note I use a sharpie dot to designate what clothing belongs to which kid. One dot for the oldest, two for his brother, etc. which means I just add a dot to the item as it gets handed down. When you get multiple kids and multiple brands that have different sizing this helps a ton. Plus the kids recognize their clothes too.


I LOVE this and am going to implement this! I am very lucky in that both DH, MIL, and my mom do laundry (more than I do honestly), but I am the only one who puts it away. The boys are not that far off and I usually end up with a complete mix of their clothes in the baskets. If I don't put it away fast enough DH will put out DS2 shirt for DS1...then complain that DS1 outgrew his shirt...

[jgenie]

6. On that note I use a sharpie dot to designate what clothing belongs to which kid. One dot for the oldest, two for his brother, etc. which means I just add a dot to the item as it gets handed down. When you get multiple kids and multiple brands that have different sizing this helps a ton. Plus the kids recognize their clothes too.


I started this when DS2 arrived and it makes sorting laundry so much easier.

[mousemom]

We love the 3M Command hooks here too. A couple of years ago I got 12 of the small wire hooks and put them up on the wall around my kitchen counter, underneath the cabinets. I hang all my frequently used kitchen tools on the hooks - measuring cups & spoons (one hook can hold several nested light plastic ones), spatula, big spoons, ladle, tongs, pot holders, etc. Cooking is easier with everything in easy reach and yet they don't take up any of my limited counter space. These are the hooks I have:

http://www.command.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/NACommand/Command/Products/Product-Catalog/?PC_7_RJH9U523080QE0IIHEICN90GC1_nid=RLJ13DLNB5gsC 4Z924C3ZHglC6DQJZ3XP6bl