So What Do You Store "Stuff" In?

J

JohnG

Joined
Oct 6, 1998
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....And I don't mean individual knives or guns or watches, small things of high value--it's been covered, and we have good solutions. I'm looking for info on storing bigger stuff:the out of season clothes, tools,old work stuff, books, toys of various stripes, that kind of thing.

Any recommendations on bins, shelving, containers, milk crates, boxes, etc. for long term inside storage? Rubbermaid versus Sterilite, paper versus plastic, steel racks versus the lighter plastic ones, things of that sort.

I'm using, for example, some specialty cardboard boxes you can find in a comic book store for old magazines. They fit about 100+, I think, and have handles for easier transfer, versus say computer paper boxes where the magazines don't stack properly and can slide about. The specialty boxes are $4-5 a piece. Not cheap but very effective for that task.

Or the 30-33 gallon stackable Rubbermaid bins (I love how one model has the measurement in gallons, the next in liters, perfect to confuse the American consumer:)) which aren't cheap but seem better made, plastics-wise versus the Sterilites. Plus maybe a dessicant package for clothing.....?

Anybody have a favorite way to keep your stuff in order?
 
I like plastic Rubbermade boxes and bins in various sizes and the heavy-duty plastic shelving you can get at home centers. The really big sized bins are tempting, but consider if they will fit through your attic door or the trunk of your car, etc. and if they will be too cumbersome when loaded. Only get them as large as you really need them. Two small ones beats one big one in many circumstances. Also look for the flat kind that can slide under a bed (measure your bed clearance first). That's a good use of space and is handier than going into the attic for something.

For a nearly free, temporary solution you can get a lot of utility out of boxes that hold Xerox paper and shoe boxes and zip-lock bags.

If you are storing hundreds of old magazines, it sounds like you are a pack-rat like me. You may do yourself a favor by paring down instead of, or at the same time you upgrade your storage.
 
I think my wife and I have about 20+ of the Rubermaid Roughneck storage boxes(18gal). Very handy. We have stacked them all up in a closet and along a wall. Keeps things pretty compact and they are tough. I had a couple of the Sterilites(18gal), gave them to my Mom. The rubbermaids are way better IMHO. They seem to have a good warranty and claim to be shatter resistant down to 0 degrees F. I have put some pretty heavy metal objects in them (chains,BIG snachblock,etc) and they seem to hold up.
 
Costco recently switched to selling milk in boxes, 2 jugs 1 gal each to a box. They happen to be the right size for hanging folders. I've got about five of those going right now with data on various projects. Very handy.

Phil
 
For storing soft, compressible items, you can use the Hefty 2.5 gallon ziploc freezer bags. You can stuff a lot in them, then squeeze all the air out and seal them. I use them to store off-season clothes. I don't have many clothes, so I can fit everything into about eight bags. Then, I just put the bags into an old piece of luggage that is too large to use for traveling. Works OK for me, but I'm not very finicky about clothes...:)

For bulkier items, like tools and outdoor supplies, I have a ZAG rolling tool chest.
 
I use the 30-something? gallon ones. The are lockable to some degree.
They stack well. They hold a lot. They are not too expensive either.

For soft items, I use Zip-Loc bags of all sizes.
 
They're the right size. You can't overfill one. They're not too wide to carry through any door. They're sturdy and come with tops. Best of all, if you let the manager of the local Kinkos know that you need some, they're usually glad to save a few for you so they're free! It saves them from having to break them down and pay to have them hauled off.

I'm also a big fan of the Gorilla steel racks that Costco and other places sell. They're easy to put together and really sturdy. I have a couple in my garage.

jmx
 
Great ideas, guys, and thanks. Me thinks I ought to get to Costco--this is like the 6th time I've heard their name come up for all sorts of goodies.

Didn't know there were 2.5 g zip locks! I've been using the gallon sizes for many work related things. And yea, Rubbermaid sounds like it's worth the extra dollar or two---one of my Sterilites cracked today when I was moving it--only in the low 40s, less than a year old. And Kinkos owes me a few free boxes after years of faithful customer-hood, so thanks for reminding me.

And, yes, I am a pack rat, have been for way too long. Needing this much storage help should tell me I need to start filing some "stuff" in the dumpster or recycle bin in 2003 :)
 
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