I’m sure most of us would like our homes to be more organized, but it can seem like a daunting task. Not only does organizing take time and effort, but it can be expensive as well! (Just ask anyone who has accidentally blown their budget to smithereens at The Container Store!) But you don’t need expensive storage containers to get more organized at home. In fact, you can probably do a lot with things you already own!
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Today I’ll be showing you 11 common household items that can do double-duty as handy organizing tools! In fact, I’ve discovered so many great double-duty ideas like this that today I’ll be focusing on kitchen items specifically. After seeing just how much organizing potential is hidden in your kitchen, you’ll never look at it the same way again! :-)
Related: 7 Clever Ways To Get More Organized By Thinking Like MacGyver
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11 Ways To Get Organized Using Common Kitchen Items
1. Muffin Tin
Use a muffin tin to help you organize collections of small items. Put one in your home office to hold paper clips, push pins, rubber bands, and other office supplies. You could also keep one in your crafting area to keep buttons, rhinestones, and other small items in order!
2. Hanging Fruit Basket
A hanging fruit basket might just be the perfect storage solution for your shower. Hang it up using a removable adhesive hook. It’s a great way to keep loofahs, washcloths, and bath toys handy.
Related: 21 Ways To Organize Your Life With Removable Hooks
3. Silverware Tray
Here’s another clever bathroom tip: use a silverware tray to organize your bathroom drawers! Plastic silverware trays are inexpensive, and they’re perfect for storing toothbrushes, toothpaste, and other everyday hygiene items. When they get dirty just throw them in the dishwasher!
4. Cooling Racks
You don’t need an expensive contraption to keep your spice collection organized. If you have a cheap cooling rack on hand, try this solution!
Bend the cooling rack to form a U-shape, then secure the sides in place using electrical tape. Hang your new spice rack from a cupboard door with a couple of adhesive hooks. Your spices will be more accessible than ever!
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5. Chip Clips
It seems like I’m always short on skirt hangers! If you have a couple of extra chip clips lying around, use them to transform your plain old hangers! Just grab your trusty hot glue gun, and glue one chip clip to both edges of the hanger. Use it to hang skirts, pants, and other clothes—and you didn’t have to spend a cent to do it!
6. Paper Towel Holder
Use a paper towel holder to help hold your ribbon collection during your holiday gift wrap-a-thons. Just look for one with a bar small enough to fit through the middle of your ribbon spools. Simple and useful!
7. Cookie Sheet
Use a small cookie sheet as a magnetic “bulletin board!” Use it to post notes and notices for the family, or to keep track of appointments.
8. Utensil Caddy
A metal or ceramic utensil caddy can play double duty as a holder for hair tools! I love this idea, because I’ve actually scorched my bathroom countertops in the past by laying hot tools down on them. (Whoops!) A simple utensil caddy made of a heat-resistant material makes the perfect place to set down your flat iron while you’re doing your hair. Again, simply throw it in the dishwasher when it needs a cleaning.
9. Wine Rack
An inexpensive wine rack can make a great storage solution for all sorts of things! Use a wine rack to store your yarn collection, reusable water bottles, hairsprays, towels, and more. Practical and pretty at the same time!
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10. Magnetic Knife Strip
Magnetic knife strips can help you organize just about anything that has metallic parts. Hang one in a play room to store toy cars, or hang one up in your entry way as a key hanger. My husband hung up a magnetic knife strip in our garage to keep track of all our screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers etc. Works like a charm!
11. Mason Jars
I’ll be the first one to admit that mason jars are WAY more than just a double-duty storage solution. (Seriously, what CAN’T you use a mason jar for?) But one way that we currently use mason jars at our studio is to store our paper cupcake liners! It keeps the chaos contained, but you’re still able to see all the colors and designs when you need to. Not to mention it just plain looks cute! :-)
I use a container that is designed for dried spaghetti noodles for my cupcake wrappers. I have them in the container sorted by holiday. Then for example when Valentines day is over -I do have to tip it upside down to put the valentines at the bottom but once back in the container St Pats or Spring/Easter is on top next followed by patriotic wrappers. The nice thing is I can see about how many wrappers I have for each holiday at a glance so I know if I need more.
I would love to see a list of the many ways you can use mason jars!
Great idea, thanks Kay!
Hi Jillee. love your site but hate the scrolling… that being said you have one of the best site I have found so far , you have a great mix of things and are not shy to admit you truths, thank you for that… Congrats on your recovery and may it be everlasting…Blessings
Thank you Rolande! Hopefully the scrolling will be fixed soon! So sorry for the hassle.
can someone tell me why the page scrolls down? I cannot get t to stop and it is hard to read while it is moving…
PS Had to keep moving it up to finish this.
So sorry – we’re working on this and should have it taken care of soon!
Love the spice rack! This is the very best idea for this I’ve seen, and is the one I will be using. Thank you!
For a dust pan, I use a piece of newspaper. Just rip a page in 1/2, wet 1 edge of it. Lay it on the floor, flattening down the wet edge. Sweep your pile over the edge and onto the paper. Fold up your trash and toss. You’ll never leave that little bit behind.
What a great tip! I hate that line you can never sweep up. Might as well use the vacuum from the get go. I will be using this tip and telling every one I know. Thank you!
I keep my spices in the freezer door of my refrigerator. I never see anyone with that application. They stay fresher longer and are ready to use, as I label the tops with a number and the spice, in alphabetical order. Is that okay?
Great idea!
For the cookie sheet one – you could use an old one that doesn’t look good anymore, but cover it in some fabric so it’s pretty to hang things on!
Why does your page constantly scroll down while I am trying to read it? It’s scrolling down as I am trying to type! It’s super annoying and I don’t enjoy coming to your page.
So sorry Shelly – we should have this problem fixed very soon!
Thank you for all the ideas, especially about the silverware trays- I will put one in my junk drawer for all the batteries, tacks and nails etc. I REALLY want to thank you for introducing me to a whole new world of healing, Essential Oils! I am just starting and have purchased a book that covers everything from A-Z to help me with all your recipes and more.
I’m so glad! Thanks Marcy :-)