Good all purpose container size

8 years ago

I understand this is somewhat dependent on contents, but as I am going through things in the house, we have a bunch of big rubbermaid totes. Most of the time we have them stored up high and they are heavy and unwieldy. I am not short and am rather fit but I fear one of these days I am either going to hurt myself or break something. Has anyone else found a good all purpose size for storage containers? I prefer that they stack well to use space efficiently and that is why I am not considering a bunch of different sizes. Thank you.

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cupofkindnessgw

8 years ago

I no longer buy the huge 66 -72 quart totes, but have found smaller ones at Target around Christmas (green lid, red latch), that are "hinged" at the back so the lid stays put, and are fitted for hanging files inside with unobtrusive rails along the sides, and are about 16" wide, maybe 14" high and 12" deep. These totes stack, and they are roughly the size of a bankers box so they are not terribly bulky to carry or store. I have 14 of them organized in two stacks of 7 each, and they fit inside a closet with a standard ceiling. I could not find them on the Target website, I guess they are a seasonal item? But you get the idea, I hope! Like you suggested, going forward, we will buy only smaller sized totes that are lighter and easier to store.

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Comments (6)

grainlady_ks
8 years ago
We like the 15-gallon storage containers with the hinged lids on the top too, sometimes called salesman sample containers (cost anywhere from $5-$7). I've seen them on sale after Christmas (red/green) and also after Halloween (in orange/black), but they always have them in different colors at Lowe's, and elsewhere.

This storage container is what our home storage is based on because it's a size that's easy to use, move, stack, and store. Our shelves in the basement are designed for this particular container. We like the hinged lid so it doesn't get separated from the container, plus it's flat so they stack easily (just remember to put heavy items in the bottom container and lighter things in the ones that are stacked at the top).

When we moved 13-years ago, we color-coded the containers for different areas of the house and that made moving really simple. Then we moved again 4-years later and repeated the process with the same containers. When you emptied one container, you can stack them together for storage. A lot easier than having all those odd-size cardboard boxes you have to take to be recycled after moving.

-Grainlady
tishtoshnm Zone 6/NM thanked grainlady_ks
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tishtoshnm Zone 6/NM
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you, all. I had been going with the larger ones as the price was generally best on those but will be willing now to spend more and get something better suited to my needs. Agreed on clear containers. We had been labeling ours, but if they were labeled with a specific size of clothes or something for the kids, that obviously changed and after awhile there are quite a few designations crossed through. Clear will likely help prevent some of that. I did see hinged lid containers at Wal-Mart for roughly $6, so I will start working with those.

As an aside, I was looking at the containers for other things and it amazes me with the number of containers available, they still lacked ones in the size range I coveted.
talley_sue_nyc
8 years ago
I have two roughly standard sizes. Biggish ones for the basement storage, and medium ones for the shelves in the closets, etc.
cupofkindnessgw
8 years ago
I never thought of ordering storage containers from Amazon. That's a great option!
tishtoshnm Zone 6/NM
Original Author
8 years ago
Unfortunately, I have often found Amazon more expensive than the local stores for storage containers. I do like being able to have the dimensions for containers that are available online though.

Good all purpose container size

cupofkindnessgw

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grainlady_ks

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Good all purpose container size

cupofkindnessgw

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grainlady_ks

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