Yes!! This is what I am looking for!
Here are some popular organizing tools - do you use any of these? Some may be right for you, some not:
https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/home-organizing-tools-262340
Examples:
- #1: Kitchen drawer dividers.
- #2: Plastic pantry bins.
- #3: Entryway hooks.
- #4: Bathroom cabinet corrals.
- #5: Adjustable lid racks.
- #6: Spice racks.
- #7: Clear plastic containers.
- #8: Vacuum-seal storage bags.
Here’s something I implemented in my home a few years ago. My H wants to not conform sometimes but I make adjustments. It’s all the food storage containers! I need them, I use them - a lot…but do I need dozens of them?
First step:
- I bought a set of glass storage containers in varying sizes from Costco. They can be frozen or go in the dishwasher.
- All storage containers are stored with lid attached. I HATE digging for lids. I have a large plastic bins for the non-glass ones and keep it in the back-ish of a cupboard. While I do just toss the containers in the bin, they MUST have their lid on. Then I store the glass ones with lids in front of the plastic bin because I reach for those most.
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For board games, I have seen the suggestion to remove the boards from their boxes and then put the game pieces and directions into Ziploc bags (or zippered up pencil bags of some type - just some uniform bag system) to reduce the amount of space they take up. There is a lot of, “air” stored in those board game boxes.
I really need to do my closet, and I really need to do as @thumper1 suggested and pull every item out. I think that is the best way to really see everything well.
My problem is that I’ve lost a good amount of weight but am slow to let go of too big clothes. I struggle with purging stuff that was expensive and I worry that I’m going to re-gain the weight I lost. I pulled out one of my favorite sweaters this morning and it was ridiculous too big. I should be excited but I was sad.
I think my first step will be at least getting it out of the closet and moving it to storage.
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Does anyone have any good tips for organizing a small bottom freezer? I feel like I’m constantly reorganizing it because my H puts things in the wrong place ; )
Put a date on every item you put in the freezer. Once it’s been there 60 days, toss it.
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It’s not a function of having stuff in the freezer too long, it’s a function of organizing what’s in there. I typically don’t freeze a lot but H likes microwaveable meals for his lunches and he’s an ice cream junkie. He also has a bunch of speciality ice cube things. They take up a ton of space but he does use them regularly.
I feel like I need more dividers and maybe something that I could use as a “shelf” for one of the sides.
I know they sell clear plastic freezer bins and I’m closet to buying a set ; )
@momofboiler1 I understand…but if you cull the contents of that freezer, it will be a lot less stuff…and easier to find.
What about color coded containers. Yours could be one color lid, and your husbands a different color. Then just put each color on one side.
Re: bins in cabinets…I find these actually encourage more stuff being kept than needed. Just organize what you have and use, and pitch the rest. I’m getting very good at doing that!
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I like the concept of color coded containers! The freezer is 80% his stuff but I could organize his stuff by color and make it a lot easier.
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I have a stand up extra storage freezer - different from yours I suppose but I mentally have “areas” mapped out - top shelf is dessert type items (ice cream, frozen baked goods), 2nd shelf proteins (meats, cheese, etc.), 3rd shelf sides, or convenience foods (frozen french fries, pierogis, etc.), bottom shelf breads and extras (extra loaves, tortillas, etc., butter sticks, etc.)
Your freezer set up could still have “regions” no matter the set up.
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I have a pantry and got sick of trying to find my spices so I bought a system for the inside of the pantry door for organizing them and now they are alphabetized and orderly. I like it because I found I had doubles of a lot because they were hard to keep track of. This is sort of what I ordered (but I customized it to fit my needs better):
I have seen version for inside of cabinets doors too.
Another thing that I did that is not a big deal but has saved me space and makes my life easier is I store all tupperware type containers with their lids on. I used to store the lids and containers separately but then I was always hunting for matching lids. I thought it would take up more space but it doesn’t. And I was able to toss any pieces that weren’t part of a set and tossed some sets all together.
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I have a diagram on my freezer door of what goes where and theoretically I cross things off so I know to get or make more. One shelf is mostly bones for stock! They take up too much room, but I do clear it out when there’s no room for more. My husband has been told to put things on the correct shelf, but he’s apt to just stuff it anywhere. I definitely don’t clear out the freezer often enough even though most things are dated.
The games we play are in their boxes in drawers that are under the kitchen window seat. That has worked out very well. We have a ton of games on shelves in the basement that no one plays and we should toss.
Add me to the list of folks with an H that doesn’t put stuff where it belongs :). I try to keep the bottom freezer sort of organized - but he will rummage through it all trying to find one thing or move things around when he has to add stuff to the freezer. Aaargh. That’s one thing I am not fond of with the bottom freezer - harder to “organize”.
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I got this handy stand for lids (and frying pans), and it really helped with keeping things neat and accessible:
I have little baskets (varying sizes) in the bathroom to hold all the sundries. We recently renovated the main bath and it now has a lot of storage, with different sized drawers and I am so looking forward to putting the stuff away in an organized fashion in the bathroom.
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I use something similar, but a bamboo/wooden very basic stand for cutting boards in my sink cabinet. I have another one of these in the little cabinet above my fridge -it’s hard to get to stuff in that cabinet, but I have serving plates/trays in that rack and it’s easy to reach up and get the plate I want.
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I just got one of those to hold my glass pot lids. I like it
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60 days seems like a short time for a lot of products. I def have meats, etc. in my freezer for more than 60 days. No food poisoning or loss of flavor yet!
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This thread has inspired me once again to find proper storage to replace the cardboard cartons we “temporary” used when we moved in over six years ago.
I’d looked from time to time but problems always were height and feet on the open wire shelf (I didn’t want to put a board down).
Just ran into this and I think it will work!
YouCopia UpSpace Organizer, 12" x 9", White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0979N4DJR/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_B2A6MCB7MKGHAS06QEM9
Next up: replacing these cartons in the laundry room:
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First, let me say I have a LOT of issues 
but I hate clutter and have too much stuff. I love to cook and bake but have a kitchen that is way too small - not enough work space or storage space. I have gotten pretty creative. Some favorite ideas:
- Lots of hooks! Mostly on the inside of cabinet doors. One has cutting boards, one has pot holders, one has silicone covers that I use instead of plastic wrap
- Lots of little bins/organizers. I have the ones for my lazy susan and junk drawer but I also have them in my (one and only) utensil/tool drawer
- I put an over the door shoe organizer on the back of my laundry room door that I use for EXACTLY the amount of water bottles and travel mugs we are allowed to have at once.
Other silly things are color coded baskets in the coat closet for each person’s hats and mittens and color coded hangers for coats.
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