Storage and Organizing

Versatile Totes

Organizing With Totes

Sometimes I go to a dollar store with the idea of picking up a new notebook or a spool
of ribbon for a craft and end up browsing the aisles to see what’s new. Other times, I go just to see what’s been added to the shelves since the last time I was there. Part of the fun of a dollar store is that you never know what you might find, kind of like a flea market only cheaper.

I love discovering an item that inspires dozens of different uses and this plastic tote certainly fits that description. If, like me, you have limited space in your kitchen, one of these totes makes a compact receptacle for small recyclable items such as pop cans and shampoo bottles. I hang mine on the door knob behind the kitchen door and empty it into the blue box outside, just as I empty the kitchen garbage, once a day or as needed. Give it a rinse under the kitchen tap, a quick wipe and it’s ready to go again.

My sister-in-law discovered that this 8 ½” high x 13 ½” long tote works well as a garbage receptacle in the mini van. It fits perfectly between the two front seats and is held in place by looping the handles over the seat belt clips.

Use it as a toddler’s toy tote, a waterproof beach bag or help to organize all of those mitts and scarves in the wintertime by assigning a different color to each child and placing them in the front closet.

I’ve used one for a magazine rack, a knitting bag and as a place to round up the dog’s toys when I reluctantly pull out the vacuum cleaner. In fact, anytime you want portable storage with a splash of color, you can’t go wrong with these totes.