A couple of months ago, I wrote a post about 11 common kitchen items that can help you get organized around the house. (If you missed that post, you can check it out at the link below.) That post seemed to resonate with a lot of you, and it’s easy to understand why! We could all stand to be more organized, but nobody really wants to go out and spend a fortune on storage containers and organizers. But I’m here to spread the word that you can get more organized today using items you probably already have at home!
Related: 11 Home Organization Hacks That Will Make You Feel Like Macgyver
Today I’ll be sharing 10 common household items that can do double-duty as handy organizing tools! Since the last post focused on organization hacks using kitchen items, today I’ll be shifting the focus to office supplies. After seeing just how much organizing potential is hidden in your home office, you’ll never look at it the same way again! :-)
10 Ways To Get Organized Using Common Office Supplies
1. Letter Sorter For Lids
Use a letter sorter to keep the lids of your food storage containers nice and tidy! Putting your lids in a letter sorter also makes it easier to see what you’ve got, so you can quickly find the lid you need. It’s a much better system than rummaging around in a drawer!
Related: 7 Clever Ways To Get More Organized By Thinking Like MacGyver
2. Magazine File for Bags
Keep your stack of grocery store paper bags organized by storing it in a magazine file. It’s much less chaotic than sticking them in a drawer or cupboard. This should free up valuable drawer or cupboard space that you can use for other things.
3. Magazine File For Plastic Wrap
Here’s another brilliant way to use a magazine file to organize your kitchen. Use a magazine file to store your plastic wrap, tin foil, and other similarly shaped boxes. Mount the magazine file on the inside of one of your cupboards to keep it handy, but out of sight!
4. Magazine File For Cans
This is the last tip about magazine files, I swear. ;-) Use a magazine file as a sorter for canned goods in your pantry! It’s like one of those fancy pantry can racks, but with a much smaller price tag. (Magazine files come in a lot of different size, so make sure you have one that’s wide enough to fit the cans you want to store.)
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5. Binder Clips For Cords
I can’t stand to see piles of tangled cords and cables around my house. It drives me crazy! So I’ve started using binder clips to keep all those cords and cables looking neat, and it has made a world of difference.
6. Pencil Cup For Curling Iron
Use a metal pencil cup as a place to store your curling iron. It will save you quite a bit of counter space, and it also makes a handy place to set your curling iron down while you’re using it.
7. 3-Ring Binder As Hooks
If you have a spare 3-ring binder you’re not using anymore, you can use it to hang things in your kitchen! Just mount it to your wall with screws or Command hanging strips, then use it to hang your aprons, pot holders, or dish towels.
8. Desk Organizer For Hair Accessories
Use a desk organizers to store your small hair accessories, such as hair ties, bobby pins, and clips. You’ll love having a central location to store all your hair items, and you might just avoid losing them as well! (Except for the bobby pins, of course. We all know it’s impossible to keep those from disappearing.) ;-)
9. Letter Sorter For Makeup
If your passion for palettes is causing chaos in your bathroom or on your vanity, a letter sorter can help! Just pull your makeup palettes out of the drawer and line them up on the letter sorter. This makes it easy to see all of your options, and choose just the right palette for the occasion.
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10. Accordion Folder For Auto Organization
Keep your auto insurance and registration papers organized with an accordion folder. Just store it in your glove box, and you’ll always know right where those important papers are.
I use 3 laundry baskets for dirty clothes: whites, good clothes and yucky(our everyday work clothes) this is easy and you can try it. I then have a clean basket for those that come out of the dryer. SIMPLE!!! We live on a farm so the yucky may be yuckier than yours!!! Lol
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My “extra” utensils are in large glass jars so they are visible, but not taking up drawer space. I can see them and can reach them but they are not taking up valuble real estate!!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use an old toothbrush to clean my razor and put it away after both are dried and my razor last forever!!! Try it!!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I really enjoyed this post. I’m going to use a few of these hacks. Thanks Jillee!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Jackie
Thanks Jackie!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’ve made pincushions with lids of various sizes, a little bit of batting, round circle of fabric 3 x larger than the lid, a bit of thread to run a basting stitch around the circle of fabric, start pulling it tight and add the batting or filler of your choice. Once tight, knot it , put some glue in side the lid and put the basting side of your ball of fabric and filler inside.let dry and presto pincushion! With little lids I can have my take along sewing safe and handy… used to put into a check book box that they came in the mail in… they don’t come that way anymore…. a beverage bottle lid fit inside just fine with little scissors, and a spool of thread and I was ready to go. Hand applique, or embroidery project was ready for work where ever I went.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Great idea Jean!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.a great hanger for all sorts of things is an old garden rake head… keys, wine glasses, kitchen utensils, pot holders and apron…
Please log in or create a free account to comment.How clever!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Can you tell me where you got the GOLD binder clips for the phone cord organization? They seem to be hard to find.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Here you go Elizabeth! http://amzn.to/2sk85aa
Please log in or create a free account to comment.razors, will work longer if you use and old tooth brush, and use it across the blades to get the hair and soap out and rinse……to keep blades from rusting use a little baby oil on the blades and wipe off the excess……..
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I used a solid magazine rack in a very tight spot as a waste basket for paper and other light trash. I also used magnetic tape that has a self adhesive side and a magnetic side to get all my bobby pins etc.to stay in one place!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.How clever!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I was advised not to put any papers in my car‘s glove compartment related to the vehicle. Because if your car is stolen, the thieves have all of your car papers and can easily sell your car pretending to be the owner. They can also use the papers for identity thieft!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.That is true for the title, but you’ll need to have your registration in case you get pulled over! :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I love all the ideas you share with us. Keep up the good work
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I like to use mechanical pencils and when the little tube of lead is empty I use it to store my sewing needles. It is the perfect size and solves the problem I have of my needles getting lost inside my pin cushion. Also, I bring my crafts wherever I go and it provides a safe way to transport my needles.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.That’s a great idea, Debbie!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.That’s a good idea. Another way to store sewing needles is in an empty pill bottle.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use a pencil cup for my razor. If you put the head up, it stays dryer and remains sharp longer.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use a Mentos plastic lidded container in my purse. It’s the perfect size for several plackers & a few Aleve.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.When I empty my black pepper cans, I take the tops off, clean them up, put a strong magnet on the back and put them on my fridge. I use them for pencils and pens so I know where one is instead of having to search everywhere when needing one. Works great for the Grandkids when they are doing homework and need a pencil. I like the kitchy look of the original cans, but you can always paint or cover them with material to your taste.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi Jill!
Just wanted to know how many lids and how many cans these items hold
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The magazine file will hold at least a dozen cans, and the letter sorter will hold six lids – twelve if you can double them up! :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My organization starts with the 80/20 rule. You use 20% of your stuff 80% of the time. This works in the kitchen, clothes, cleaning, garage storage etc.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I also use a pair of bookends for my cutting boards. I glued them together on the bottom. Works great!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use the desk organizer to hold earrings and also keep my makeup brushes in it!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Great ideas, want to get the magazine holder for the things you did. Thanks. I have used the clips for my yarn to thread it through from a bowl, works great.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Just “donated” all my magazine sorters when we moved from our house of 30 years — now I’ll be off to the dollar store to get more. The mail sorter for lids is absolute genius too. Definitely in the category of “why didn’t I think of that????”
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Great ideas. We re-use my leftover Altoid tins at our house. My mom loves them for makeshift jewelry boxes for sending in packages or putting small amounts of money in – for Christmas or birthday presents. Years ago my mom found these gadgets that are usually used in the kitchen that spin, and put one on one of my shelves in my room .
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Altoid tins are so handy – great idea!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.perfect for ear pods
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I keep a little mint tin in my hadbag for coins (about the size of an Altoid Small I think?) – big enough to hold a little bit of change, not so big that it weighs a ton when full, and I don’t have to spend five minutes scrambling around in the bottom of my handbag looking for that coin I’m sure was there yesterday… Everywhere I use it people comment that it’s a great idea :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’m moving so these posts are great, Thanks, I’m going through 15 years of papers and other crap and could fill a dumpster all by myself Yikes!!!! I have saved lots of your posts for after the move, and hope to be good and follow your ideas. Mary
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Good luck! Moving can be quite the challenge!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Don’t forget you can paint lots of these office items too. I’d recommend using a spray enamel it doesn’t chip off. That way when putting some of the accessories in your bathroom or kitchen, you can change the colors to fit the scheme.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Great tip!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I keep my bobby pins in a tic tac container! It’s the perfect size!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Same idea here, Jenni – Altoids tins win the day at our place, both the flat and upright versions. We use them for bobby pins, toothpicks, loose change, Craig’s collar stays, beads & needles, and any other little things.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Though, because of Jillee, we’ll now be saving them to make our own “Altoids”. When I told my hubby it was possible, his jaw dropped. And we already have peppermint, licorice, and clove candy oils, so we’re set! (Thank you Jillee!!)
I’m so glad you like the homemade altoids Amy! :-)
Magnets work great too. I have a small tupperware container in a drawer without the lid, and a couple of strong magnets in there. I just throw the bobby pins in the container & they stick to the magnet and then they stick together.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have naturally curly hair. Recycle my prescription bottles for my Bobby pins.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Easy for traveling, too!