Portable Closets

Posted on February 24, 2017 by Harriet

Never enough closet space? Portable closets to the rescue!

Portable closets, aka rolling wardrobes, are ideal for storing out-of-season or infrequently worn clothes and accessories. The old-style rolling wardrobe is basically just a garment rack with a zippered cover–it’s only designed for storage of hanging garments. But portable closets tend to include more features, such as shelves and pockets that allow you to also store folded clothing and other items.

Here are three types of space-efficient portable closets, all with fabric covers and smooth-rolling casters:

The Rolling Wardrobe Rack offers three storage sections: a top zippered shelving area for folded clothes, hats or handbags; a steel rod that provides 30 linear inches of hanging space; and a ventilated bottom shelf for shoe storage. The roll-up door makes it easy to access hanging garments and footwear; the top section has a triangular flap door.
The versatile Mobile Wardrobe Center provides multiple storage options–the exterior features eight mesh pockets (sized for four pairs of shoes), a removable hamper bag for laundry (attached by Velcro and with a shoulder strap for easy transport), a wooden bar for hanging ties and scarves, removable pockets for toiletries, and additional pockets for undergarments and socks. The zip-up door has a clear section at the top so you can easily view your hangered clothes.
The Clothes Armoire with Shelves has four compartments for keeping stacks of folded clothes and accessories organized, plus a closet bar that can hold up to 50 pounds of hanging garments. The bottom part is fully enclosed (unlike that of the Rolling Wardrobe Rack) to keep the contents protected.

Other types of portable closets can be found here.

Outerwear organizers with umbrella storage

Posted on February 17, 2017 by Harriet

Whether or not you have the luxury of an entry closet (aka coat closet), it’s a good idea to have an alternative for hanging rain-damp items and other gear that should be aired out.

A wall coat rack or series of individual coat hooks attached to the back of an entry door (or on the wall behind it) may be sufficient for keeping jackets, coats, hats and scarves off the floor. But that still leaves the problem of where to stash wet-weather necessities such as umbrellas, rain boots and shoes, which tend to get left in a jumble by the door.

Luckily there are several types of efficient outerwear organizers with umbrella storage. Here are three of my favorites:

The practical bamboo 4-Shelf Shoe Rack and Umbrella Stand has four spacious slatted shelves for holding footwear and purses, and a vertical side holder for storing umbrellas, canes and hiking sticks. The entire unit is a relatively compact 28.37 inches wide by 10.62 inches deep by 25-1/4 inches high.
The handsome wooden Hallway Tree offers storage for everything but shoes–it has eight double coat hooks (two on each of the four sides); two center shelves for holding purses and totes; an umbrella stand; and a small drawer for stashing keys, gloves and other accessories. It towers at 72 inches high and is 17 inches wide and deep.
The elegant birch wood Mission Style Coat Rack features a lower section for holding umbrellas, four double coat hooks for outerwear and hats, plus two drawers on top for stowing small items. Shoes can be tucked under the umbrella section. It measures a slender 16 by 16 inches and is 60 inches high.

To learn about other kinds of entryway storage systems, see my previous posts on this topic.

Toilet Tank Organizers

Posted on February 10, 2017 by Harriet

In a contest for the most over-looked storage space, the toilet tank would be a top contender.

Actually, the top of a toilet tank isn’t as over-looked as the sides. (No pun intended.) But both of these limited yet accessible areas can be used for storing toilet paper, facial tissue and other bathroom necessities. The trick is to utilize this precious storage space while camouflaging the supplies–or at least making them look tidy. To the rescue: toilet tank organizers! Here are three excellent examples:

The wicker Toilet Tank Topper is a lidded basket designed to fit neatly across the top of a standard toilet tank. It’s divided into three sections sized to hold two large rolls of toilet paper at either end and a square box of facial tissue in the center (there’s a slot in the middle of the attached lid). The end compartments can also be used for discreet storage of personal supplies.

The sleek Ecostyle Bamboo Toilet Paper Holder has a similar three-compartment design but features a removable lid, and is constructed of slatted bamboo lined with mesh material.
The Over the Tank Magazine Rack is a white wire basket that hangs securely over the top rim of a toilet tank thanks to a specially designed square hanging hook. The basket is 9 inches wide by 8 1/2 inches high by 3 inches deep to accommodate standard size magazines, catalogs or paperback books.

Pantry Shelf Organizers

Posted on February 3, 2017 by Harriet

All pantries have one structural element in common: shelves. And whether your pantry is a spacious walk-in or a single cupboard, there always seems to be a desire for more shelf space. But adding more shelves is rarely a feasible option.

Luckily it’s easy to make the most of your existing shelf space with the help of pantry shelf organizers. Here are three types of these super space maximizers:

Tiered organizers. Otherwise known as stair-step risers, these three-level pantry shelf organizers are designed to keep items in the back of a cabinet visible and accessible. One good example is the Expand-A-Shelf which features an expandable design that can fit within areas measuring anywhere from 14 inches to 27 inches wide. It’s also available in a larger version, the Mega-Expand-A-Shelf.
Slide-outs. Also known as pull-outs or roll-outs, most slide-outs require installation. Two that don’t are the copper Pull Out Pantry Organizer and the plastic Pull Out Cabinet Baskets.
Can racks. Made for storing canned foods and beverages, can racks perform double duty as both storage solutions and dispensers. Can rack shelves are angled so the next can in line gently rolls forward once you remove a can in the front. The three-shelf Canned Food Storage Rack even has adjustable dividers that keep rows separated so you can easily sort cans by size or type. (For more canned food storage suggestions, read my Can Storage post.)

Answer: Organizer for gloves and mittens

Posted on February 1, 2017 by Harriet

Q. My daughter and I have accumulated quite a collection of gloves and mittens. Any suggestions for how we can store them in a way that makes them easy to see?

A. An over-the-door shoe organizer with clear plastic pockets works well for storing gloves and mittens; each pocket can be used to store one pair. A good example is the Clear Vinyl Over the Door Shoe Organizer–it has 26 clear pockets that make it easy to both see and access the contents. It fits on doors measuring up to 1-3/8 inches thick.

This type of organizer actually works well for a wide variety of items, such as socks, toiletries, and crafts supplies.

Answer: Collapsible shopping cart

Posted on February 1, 2017 by Harriet

Q. I am looking for a a large shopping cart that folds up small to fit in my car. I want to use it for hauling groceries from car to kitchen. What do you recommend?

A. I think the VersaCart is one of the best reasonably priced collapsible shopping carts available. When folded up it measures just 8 inches wide by 43 inches high by 9 inches deep. It weighs only 9 pounds yet features a steel frame and 120-pound weight capacity, heavy duty nylon bag with a fitted lid and water-resistant coating, ergonomic handles, double wheels all around, and swiveling front wheels.

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Monthly Archives: February 2017