It’s an ongoing battle: where to put those essential objects that you use every day but want to hide away until they are called for. You also don’t want to spend precious time opening drawers and removing lids until you find where you last placed them.
Fortunately for every article-overloaded person out there, the Homz 6qt SnapLock® Clear Storage is the answer to this typical storage situation. The durable, see-through plastic can handle ongoing use without cracking under pressure, while the lids snap on securely and stay closed. Line them up in a neat row or stack them on a shelf—however, you want to arrange them, the totes are ready to serve your organizing needs as the following examples demonstrate.
A Box for the Bling[i]
“Where’s that earring back?” “I know I have a pearl bracelet somewhere!” “I’ve got the chain—now where’s the pendant?”
Is this the conversation you have every time you’re on a jewelry hunt? Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have all your personal jewelry neatly organized, instead of hidden away in tiny boxes or worse, loose in a drawer where they bang into each other? It’s not only a wonderful idea, it’s easily do-able!
Gather all your baubles, bangles and beads, then place each item (or set for coordinating pieces) into a resealable bag. For items that are subject to tarnish, use anti-tarnish bags that still offer a view of the items inside. Necklace knotted? Place it on a clean plate, sprinkle the knotted spot with baby powder and it should undo itself with very little help from you. Then, keep it from re-tangling by cutting H-shaped pieces of cardboard and wrap the necklace around the center before fastening.
Line a clear plastic shoebox—or two if you’re a jewelry junkie—with a soft foam sheet to help protect the jewelry and keep the bags from sliding around). Store the bags inside the box, laying necklace bags flat while standing smaller earring bags upright in a smaller carton that will fit within the larger container. Now you can quickly retrieve the right accessory that will make your outfit pop!
A Cummerbund Container [ii]
Okay, maybe your accessory list runs more to belts than fancy cummerbunds but in either case, you still need a place to keep those waist cinchers when they aren’t doing their job.
Roll them, buckle first, then stand them either on end or on their sides with the loose side down. If you have a large assortment, organize them in multiple boxes in a way that makes the most sense to you: by color, by type: casual versus formal, or by material: cloth, leather and metal. Store the boxes on your closet shelf where you can quickly match the belt to the item.
A Case for Cosmetics[iii]
Blush, face powder, eye shadow and mascara. Eyeliner, lip liner, lash curlers and make-up brushes. And then there are the manicure supplies: polish, files, clippers and foam toe separators. So many items to make you so pretty. But how can you keep them all neatly stowed away when you don’t need them?
Clear storage boxes are the ideal solution. Store all your manicure items in one box, storing polish bottles horizontally if needed, and placing files, clippers and foam pieces each in their own resealable bag. Follow the same plan for your makeup items: eye shadows, liners and mascaras in one box, and face products (blush, powder, foundation and other essentials) in another. And since what goes on must come off, use a third box for face wash, cotton balls, makeover remover pads and other products that are part of your beauty routine.
The tight-fitting lids keep all your cosmetics safe and secure, plus allowing you to stack-and-store, rather than dumping them into a drawer or cluttering up the vanity top.
A Shoe Storehouse[iv]
All those cardboard boxes that your shoes came in have one major flaw: you can’t see what’s in them. And do you really have time to create labels with pictures of all those shoes to glue on the front? Instead, opt for an unobstructed view of those heels and flats, boots and booties by storing them in clear containers. Then, place the out-of-season footgear high on a shelf or in the back of the closet and keep the ones you’re wearing now front and center.
Tip: Let your shoes air out a bit before storing them to avoid “stinky-itis” then store with a dried used tea bag inside each shoe. Or baby them with a nice dusting of baby powder or baking soda. Another option is to fill a cotton sock or knee-high hose with clean kitty litter, tie tightly and slip in each shoe. Running shoes will benefit from cedar sachets that offer a dual benefit: the fragrance of nature and anti-fungal properties!
Finally, corral all your shoe accessories—extra laces, inserts, orthotics and footwarmers—into one box so you can find them when you need them!
Office Supply Storage [v]
Step one is to sort the items keeping like with like: paperclips and staples in one box, pens, pencils, correction fluid and markers in a second, envelopes, stamps and return address stickers in a third, and spare ink cartridges in yet another. The clear boxes make it easy to see what’s where and also alert you when you are running low. Use an inexpensive bookcase or shelving unit to store the boxes.
Guest Tips[vi]
Guests coming for an overnight or longer? Invest in some storage boxes and leave them in the guest space so your visitors have a place to keep their personal items during their stay! Add some travel-size guest toiletries—soap, shampoo, conditioner, hand lotion, mouthwash, toothpaste, floss, cotton balls and swabs—along with a few snack items to make them feel extra-special!
[i] Link: http://www.jewelrysupply.com/zip-top-poly-bags
[ii] Link: http://www.homedit.com/diverse-storage-ideas-for-your-belts/
[iii] Link: http://www.smallroomideas.com/8-fantastic-nail-polish-storage-ideas/
[iv] Link: http://decoratingfiles.com/2014/01/organize-accessories-28-ideas/
[v] Link: http://www.smallroomideas.com/10-inspirational-home-office-storage-ideas/
[vi] Link: http://www.tidbitsandtwine.com/22-items-necessary-prepare-your-home-for-guests/