Buy Plastic Bins
For this guide I spoke to professional organizer Beth Penn, owner of Bneato Bar and author of The Little Book of Tidying: Decluttering Your Home and Your Life. I also dug into several technical papers and articles to learn about the durability of different plastics.
buy plastic bins
Flaws but not dealbreakers: In our drop tests, the HDX cracked and lost a small chunk of plastic. The lid stayed on, though, unlike with the Brute Totes. Though the container would probably need to be replaced after a major fall, your stuff would stay inside.
Holds a lot: We considered bins that would neatly and securely hold a variety of items and stack without wobbling. Organizer Beth Penn told us to look for the squarest bins possible to maximize the space inside.
Bins made with durable materials and can stack in your garage, closet or tuck under the bed for efficient space-saving. These storage bins make life easier for storing and moving, great for seasonal items, outdoor equipment, pet supplies and more.
Clear plastic bins and boxes allows you to see inside so it's easy to access the items you want. Make the most of your storage possibilities with a wide variety of affordable, convenient and space saving options from Big Lots!
Plastic storage bins can be small, like the type you use for storing food or trinkets. And they can be quite large, like the kind you use to keep Christmas decorations, sporting goods and seasonal clothing in your garage. They can be solid to keep air, moisture and animals out of your things. They can also be more like baskets, which makes it easier to see what is in them and prevents moisture and smells from getting trapped.
Regardless of size or composition, most plastic storage bins have one thing in common: they are hard to recycle. Plastic storage bins cannot go in your curbside recycling bin. For one thing, large ones will not fit. It is also highly unlikely that your curbside recycling program is set up to recycle these items. They are typically much more interested in things like plastic water bottles, cottage cheese tubs, laundry soap bottles and milk cartons.
Many county governments have alternative places to take plastic items for recycling. See if yours is one of them, and if they will accept plastic storage containers. Newton (MA) and Santa Cruz are just a few of the places that list plastic storage containers among the difficult to recycle items they will accept.
Case in point: TerraCycle, which recycles everything from plastic pens to plastic water filters and pitchers. They make plastic storage bins from the different recycled materials they gather. Find their products at stores such as Target or Walmart, or buy them on the TerraCycle website.
The great thing about plastic storage bins is they are quite easy to reuse. If your plastic storage bins are still in good shape, and you simply do not have a use for them anymore, there are many places you can take them for reuse. Thrift stores should have no problem selling them to their customers and might even appreciate them for their own use.
Local charities, child care centers, senior centers and schools may be able to use plastic storage containers of all sizes. Call around to places you are familiar with, or place them on a website such as Freecycle or an online material exchange in your area.
If you have ever thought about starting a worm bin, a large plastic container with a lid is an ideal home for your worms. It will not mold or break down over time like a wood bin. And since you already own the bins, it will be much less expensive than purchasing a brand new one. The Oregon State University Extension Service has free instructions for building a worm bin from old plastic containers.
Another great way to put plastic storage bins to use it holding the recyclable materials you cannot place in your curbside recycling bin. I keep a tall storage bin in my garage for storing film plastic. When it fills up, I take it to our local recycling center. I also have a smaller container for collecting baby food pouches and the other items I send to TerraCycle.
Clothing made of leather and fur will also do better in cloth bags than plastic bags. If you want to store comforters, wool blankets and other household items in containers to keep them dust-free, look for storage containers made of natural materials and not plastic. Clothing and textile storage bags are available at places like The Container Store and department stores.
Plastic moving containers can be rented for the duration of your move, typically between $50 and $200 a week depending on the number of containers you need. These plastic totes are stackable, so you can use as many as you need to pack your household goods.
Some moving companies rent plastic containers. Many moving companies will deliver plastic containers to your old home and then retrieve them from your new one, saving you the hassle of breaking down and recycling cardboard boxes.
Cardboard boxes are sold by most moving companies and storage facilities, and are more widely available than plastic moving boxes. Cardboard boxes are typically more affordable, considering they are often available for free on sites such as Craigslist.
There are cardboard moving boxes made especially for lamps, mattresses (though some movers will simply wrap your mattresses in plastic), sporting equipment, record albums, TVs, other electronics, mirrors or pictures and more.
Heavy-duty plastic moving boxes can carry a lot of weight. If you are repurposing plastic storage bins that you use around the house (Sterilite brand is one example), these may be more susceptible to breaking if you overload them.
Plastic containers are not damaged by water, so your electronics, photos and other valuables may be safer in plastic, for instance, if it rains on moving day. A plastic tote will not burst from the bottom as an overpacked cardboard box might.
Another advantage is that insects such as silverfish, termites, roaches, beetles and others like cardboard boxes. You could inadvertently bring some critters with you from your old house to your new. Such insects do not eat plastic containers.
What is more convenient than under bed storage containers? These wheeled plastic containers are a fantastic way to store items and maximize space. The space under your bed is usually empty and unused or crammed with junk, but not anymore!
Its made from polypropylene and features a set of wheels so this plastic container is as durable as it is portable. While suitable for usage throughout various areas of the home, we find this product to be particularly well-suited to usage in bathrooms and kitchens.
The see-through body of these plastic containers makes for easy identification of the contents within. A handle and secure latch system are incorporated into its design. This provides ease of mind as well as ease of transportation.
These pantry storage bins by GOODTIME Store on Amazon can be used for a variety of purposes both in and out of the kitchen. Made from sturdy plastic material in clean white color, these storage bins are super stable and easy to lift and transport. Its open top design makes it the perfect solution for a quick grab and go. This design also allows you to easily preview the items stored, without rummaging.
The Citylife 5.3 QT storage bins are the ideal solution for organizing pantry snacks, toys, art supplies, office stationery, and more. Thanks to its translucent design, these boxes can help keep your items neatly in plain sight. Complete with two ergonomic latches and a secure handle, these boxes are easily portable and can be used for storing items on-the-go.
Boasting enhanced durability and dust-free capabilities, these clear plastic containers from the Peaknip store on Amazon are ideal for your home, garage, office, and classroom organization needs. Showcasing an air-tight tight seal and clear adhesive labels, these storage units can also be stacked on top of one another when not in use.
Bright and cheerful coloration aside, these BPA-free plastic containers feature an attractive woven design. They can be used to store everything from makeup products to handheld construction and crafting tools.
Find or buy a plastic bin with a tight-fitting lid about 24 inches tall or taller (it needs a lid to keep the soil moist and to keep critters out). We picked up a 30-gallon plastic storage bin for about $10. We chose a neutral color in hopes that would help it blend in with our backyard, but a dark option may work better for you.
YAY!!! I have been wanting to do this for a while now. I looked at some store bought bins, but knew it could be a diy. Seems like such a watse to throw out good kitchen scraps. Thanks for the destructions.
I have just recently started to dabble in the world of composting too, much to the excitement of my mother, who is an avid composter. I have a pile in the back corner of our yard (which is welll hidden) but my mom does the bins like you have going. She has two though, so she can have them at different stages.I have my younger brother bringing me fruit peels and such from Tropical Smoothie (where he works) to make my pile grow faster (in addition to my house scraps). I probably would get a smaller container for my house scraps though, it would reduce the chance of any unsightly smells. I need to get some worms for it, that would be less work haha.Man you know you are old when composting interests you haha!Good luck to you!
So, I'm constantly decluttering, and will keep on doing it, but we added another person to our house by having a kid and now I feel like I'm drowning in stuff. I want to have "medium" storage in the basement (if attic is long term) and am going to buy shelves and plastic storage bins and boxes. But the price adds up quickly! Who's got the best/cheapest plastic storage bins? Bonus if it's clear.
These airtight Rubbermaid Brilliance food storage containers are the best pantry organization bins for storing dry ingredients, like nuts, rice, flour and seeds. They feature extra-durable clear plastic that rivals the best glass storage containers. Plus, they maximize vertical space by stacking on top of each other. This set comes with four containers, including one large, two medium and one small. Take it to the next level by sticking on these chic pantry labels. Amazon shoppers love how these food storage containers organize baking goods while instantly freeing up pantry space. 041b061a72