Author: Chloe

How To Organize Kitchen Appliances

How To Organize Kitchen Appliances

 

Kitchen appliances tend to take up a lot of space so say ‘No’ to storing them on your countertops unless you use them daily like a coffee maker.

Instead here’s how to organize kitchen appliances in 2 easy steps:

 

 

Step 1 – Get sorting

Pull out all your appliances and put them into three piles – regular use, infrequent use, hardly ever used. Any that no longer work should not even make it into a pile, but should find the quickest route into the trash.

Appliances that are hardly ever used should be tossed or donated (consider Freecycle.org) especially if they are 1-trick ponies like waffle makers.

If you are struggling with this step, have a ‘Use it or donate it’ month, where it gains pride of place on your countertop and you make an effort to use it. If you don’t use it in the month, you know the answer – get it out of there. If you do use it, then great, it’s earned it’s right to take up cabinet space.

Step 2 – Find them a home

Designate a cabinet for appliances – lower cabinets are best for these typically heavy and bulky items and then you can keep upper eye level cabinets for food. Treat yourself to some slide out organizers to give easy access to the appliances stored at the back of the cabinet.

Regularly used appliances should be stored at the front of the cabinet with those used infrequently being at the back. Use twist ties to keep the cords in order before storing and keep small attachments in labeled zip loc bags.

Don’t forget the dead space above upper cabinets if you need more space for seldom used appliances. Store them in attractive baskets up there to keep the overall look of your kitchen uncluttered.

Alternatively keep appliances in a garage or basement or invest in a countertop appliance garage. These are interesting kitchen organization ideas that typically sit in the corner of your countertop and have a roll down door to keep appliances out of sight.

I’d love to hear how you go about organizing kitchen appliances. Please leave me a comment.

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Kitchen CountertopsHow To Organize Kitchen Countertops The Up, In & Out Way

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Photo credits: wheredidyoubuythat.com.

Rubbermaid Large Vertical Storage Shed Review

5 ways this shed can help you

Way 1: Storage problems?

If you have run out of outdoor storage space, perhaps filled up your deck box, or do not have any at all, the Rubbermaid Large Vertical Storage Shed can help. With 52 cubic feet available, it has room for patio furniture, a small lawn mower, and other garden tools. Being so tall, long handled tools are easy to store inside.

Declutter your garage by moving yard gear into the yard where it belongs.

If you have limited storage space indoors, you could use this shed to store sports equipment, seasonal items and old boxes for electrical appliances, as it will keep everything safe and dry.

Rubbermaid Large Vertical Storage Shed
Rubbermaid Vertical Storage Shed

==> Click HERE to let Rubbermaid solve your outdoor storage problems <==

 

 

Way 2: Not allowed a normal shed?

If wooden sheds are not allowed by your Neighborhood Associations rules, this Rubbermaid vertical shed makes the perfect alternative.

Way 3: Thinking of moving house soon?

This shed is easy to take apart and assemble elsewhere if you move home, so it is not an investment you will have to leave behind.

Way 4: Have a small garden?

If your garden is small, you will not want to use too much of it housing a shed. This vertical option is perfect as it’s footprint is quite small, but it can still store many things in its 6′ frame.

Way 5: Want a hassle free storage solution?

Made from a rugged resin, the shed is maintenance free – no need to treat it, no need to paint it. It is durable and will not rot or rust.

 

Product Features

  • 52 cubic feet of storage space – plenty for garden tools and other outdoor items
  • 77″ x 56″ x 32″ (H x W x D)
  • weighs 93 pounds
  • easy assembly of the 8 rugged interlocking panels
  • leak, dent and weather resistant sides and floor
  • maintenance free
  • 2 doors that can be locked with a padlock (not included)
  • grooves for 3 wooden shelves (not included)
  • floor grid to keep long handled garden tools in place

 

Great things about this Rubbermaid Large Vertical Storage Shed

It is quick and easy to snap together – there are no nuts or bolts needed. Consumers report needing 10-30 minutes to put it together. Compare this to a wooden shed which would take far longer. The parts are lightweight to work with and all well labelled with what they are, where they go and which way up they should be assembled. The instructions are clear and the whole shed can be put together by just one person, although it is easier with two.

It is a Rubbermaid storage container so is very durable and will last for years. You do need to make sure that all the pieces lock together securely though to ensure the integrity of the finished shed.

It takes up minimal floor space so fits well into a small backyard, which it will help make look neat and tidy.

It looks great, is waterproof and is not so big that it overpowers your backyard.

The double doors give easy access to the stored contents, but please note this is not a walk in shed. There is a floor grid to help keep tall tools upright.

It is large so there is plenty of storage space – think garden tools, pool equipment, things that you don’t have room for in the house.

There are slots for wooden shelves to be installed. These are not included but dimensions are given on the instructions so you can easily get them cut to size in your local DIY home store. The slots are sturdy so heavy items can be stored on shelves. You could also sink hooks into the shelves to create some hanging space for tools like saws.

 

Improvements that would be nice

The lack of accompanying shelves is a pain. You cannot even buy them separately, so if you want any, you will need to have them cut to size in a DIY store. They will then look slightly odd being made of wood, when the shed is made of vinyl, but functionally they will be great.

The shed doesn’t come with a lock, but you can use a standard padlock on the hasp. It is probably not secure enough to store anything too valuable though, as any determined thief will not have much problem with the plastic doors.

 

Pointers when assembling

Ensure you site the shed on a level and sturdy base. This could be a concrete slab or paving stones (6 x 16″ square pavers would be ideal). Grass or dirt areas should be avoided. This stops the shed from moving and loosening any of the locking mechanisms that keep the shed secure.

Choose a shady, sheltered area if possible to avoid the long term effects of direct sunlight and strong winds.

As it is a tall shed, it is also a good idea to secure it to the ground or a vertical wall using the pre-drilled holes to guard against wind.

Assemble the shed where it will be located to avoid twisting joints if moved.

==> Click HERE to let Rubbermaid solve your outdoor storage problems <==

 

Rubbermaid Large Vertical Shed Building Instructions

Click HERE.

 

Other large vertical sheds

The main competitor to this large Rubbermaid Vertical Storage Shed is the Suncast Vertical Tool Shed. It is ever so slightly larger at 60 cubic feet and is equally well thought of.

Suncast Vertical Tool Shed

==> Click HERE for more details <==

Rubbermaid Wire Shelving Part 4: Storage Shelves Accessory Kits

As well as the custom closet sets, you can also buy stand alone Rubbermaid wire shelving kits. These are actually add-ons to the main sets but if you buy the vertical tracks and the kits, you can mount them on their own.

 

 

There are two kits to choose from: standard Rubbermaid storage shelves and angled shoe shelves.

 

Add-On Rubbermaid Wire Shelving Kit

Rubbermaid Wire Shelving

==> Click HERE for more info on these stylish shelves <==

This kit contains two 26″ shelves along with 4 brackets, ideal for your closet, store room, laundry or garage. If you have spare space in your existing Configurations closet layout you do not need any other mounting hardware, but if you are buying these as stand alone shelves or are extending your current layout, you will need to buy extra vertical track.

The shelves can be arranged as 2 foot shelves one above the other or as one long 4 foot shelf. They are easy to install, durable, stylish and maintenance free.

 

Shoe Shelves Kit

Rubbermaid Shoe Shelves

==> Click HERE for help with your shoe storage problems <==

This shoe shelves kit contains two 26″ shelves along with 4 brackets. The shelves are angled so you have easy access to up to 8 pairs of shoes. They can be mounted as a single tier 4 foot shelf or in tiers as two 2 foot shelves.

These shoe shelves are a great addition to the basic closet kit. Buy a few sets for a complete shoe storage solution – mount them all floor to ceiling in your master closet. Or how about using them as top shelves in your closet – the tilt will give you easier access to your items stored up high?

The Rubbermaid quality is excellent and the construction is sturdy. The only slight problem with them is if you are hoping to store high, thin heels, they have a tendency to slip through the wires.

Note: For use not as part of a Rubbermaid Storage Configurations closet, you will need to buy the vertical track to mount on your wall.

 

We hope you are now keen to get started on organizing your closet having read our other articles from this Rubbermaid Wire Shelving series.

Rubbermaid Wire Shelving Part 3: Rubbermaid Closet Shelving Review

Rubbermaid closet shelving promises to be fully customizable, easy to install, adjustable and have a number of accessories to help you store such things as pants and shoes. All of this should make the best use of the space in your closet but does it really?

Rubbermaid Wire Shelving

Photo credit: Rubbermaid Products.

We’ve checked out what consumers have said about Rubbermaid wire shelving – good and bad.

==> Click HERE to let Rubbermaid solve your closet storage problems <==

 

 

 

The Pros

Fully customizable

You can completely customize your closet to maximize every square inch of space.

The clothing rods can be configured to allow for long hanging items such as dresses or can be doubled up to store shirts up top and skirts down below.

Easy to install

It is easy and quick to install. You basically fix the vertical tracks to your wall, then hang the rails and shelves on the track.

Adjustable

It fits closets of varying sizes from 3′ to 8′ and both walk in and reach in closets.

Reconfiguration is quick and easy and there are countless ways to arrange the system. It can change along with you, as you need more or different types of storage or your kids get older and bigger so their clothing styles change.

Range of accessories

There are various accessories that coordinate with the system to extend the opportunities for your closet. Add extra organizational features such as wire baskets and slack racks at your leisure.

Makes the best use of space

This system makes the maximum use of available space by positioning hanging rods on the undersides of shelves, effectively doubling that area of your closet.

There is plenty of stacking space on shelves for sweaters, jeans and other folded items.

So it appears that the Rubbermaid storage claims are upheld by their customers. But we’ve also found some more advantages to Rubbermaid wire closet shelving.

Can cope with heavy loads

By mounting upright support tracks onto your wall studs, Rubbermaid wire shelving will support heavy loads.

Rubbermaid_Wire_Shelving_Load_Capacities

Hangers can glide along the whole rail

The hanging rails are part of Rubbermaid’s FreeSlide technology, meaning that hangers can glide from one end of the rail to the other without getting caught by mounting brackets.

Attractive finish

It makes your living space more comfortable and attractive. The satin epoxy finish is clean and shiny and much more attractive than white plastic and will protect your clothes for years. It is also maintenance free.

Use anywhere in your home

It can be used in other places besides a closet – think laundry, utility room or pantry.

 

The Cons

It was hard to come up with any cons to this system, as evidenced by the 4.7 stars out of 5 over 300 customers have given the system on Amazon. The few complaints have been due to the shelving arriving damaged rather than to do with the system itself.

 

Other wire shelving options

ClosetMaid is Rubbermaid’s main rival for affordable wire shelving closet organizers. Other than the Economy kit, the price per foot of stackable space is more expensive than Rubbermaid’s and the customization options are not thought to be as good.

 

==> Click HERE to let Rubbermaid solve your closet storage problems <==

 

This article is part of our Rubbermaid Wire Shelving series. For more information on this popular closet shelving, please check out:

Rubbermaid Wire Shelving Part 2: 8 Ways Rubbermaid Shelves Can Help You

If your closet looks like this …

Closet Before

… but you want it to look like this ….

After Rubbermaid Wire Shelving

… then Rubbermaid wire shelving can help in the following 8 ways.

Photo credit: Rubbermaid.com

 

==> Click HERE to let Rubbermaid solve your closet storage problems <==

 

You can also check out the rest of our Rubbermaid Wire Shelving series to find out any further information you may need.

 

 

Way 1
Storage problems?

Does your current closet have just a single clothes rail? If so I bet you are constantly thinking you don’t have enough storage space. But by optimizing and organizing your closet space with this Rubbermaid system, you can at least double its storage capacity.

Is the clothes rail sagging under the weight of all your clothes? Rubbermaid shelving systems are stronger than traditional wall systems. The shelves are sturdy and durable.

 

Way 2
Need extra storage once your basic closet is installed?

Take a look at the range of accessories and add ons available from Rubbermaid storage. From extra shelves, shoe shelves, wire baskets to tie and belt organizers, there is sure to be an easy and affordable solution to your problem.

 

Way 3
Can’t afford an expensive system

Forget the thousands of dollars you know a professionally designed closet would cost. You will be amazed at the awesome value for money Rubbermaid Configurations kits offer. Starting at around $60, you can have a fully functional custom closet solution.

 

Way 4
Is your messy closet bringing you down?

The closet is the first room you go into each and every morning. Make it look nice and arrange it for easy accessibility to simply your life, more convenience and to lower your stress levels.

 

Way 5
Are you thinking of moving house?

Professional closet installations can easily run to $3000 or more. If you are planning on moving home, this would be money down the drain. But with Rubbermaid shelving, you will only spend a fraction of this and can even take it with you when you move.

 

Way 6
Not quite sure how you want to arrange your closet?

Being completely customizable, Rubbermaid shelving kits allow you to organize your closet whichever way makes sense to you. This could be by color, by work or leisure or by his and hers clothing. But it ALSO offers you complete flexibility – you can have a Rubbermaid wire shelf in one place today and move it somewhere else tomorrow.

Once the vertical bars are installed across your closet wall, you just slot the shelves into place. Later if you need or just fancy a change, just unhook them and place them elsewhere. It couldn’t be simpler.

 

Way 7
Worried that Rubbermaid wire shelving will snag your clothes?

Don’t be. Designed especially for closets, Rubbermaid shelves are coated with a smooth, easy glide epoxy coating. They are maintenance free and will not peel, rust or chip so your clothes will be safe. The metallic finish is also much nicer than the cheap, white plastic look other shelving uses.

 

Way 8
Not great with DIY projects?

Don’t worry – Rubbermaid wire shelving installation is easy, much easier than traditional wall systems, and will take you about an hour.

 

==> Click HERE to let Rubbermaid solve your closet storage problems <==