Any idea how to organize inside these deep kitchen lower cabinets?
linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)
7 years ago
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MDLN
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoRelated Discussions
Creative ways to organize a deep freeze?!
Comments (18)Is this ever a helpful thread. I have the same problem, backyardbum. I just got my chest freezer last year. It's about 9 cubic feet - enough to meet the needs of my husband and I. I mainly use it to store fruit and meat but it also handles the overflow from our two bottom freezers on our refrigerators. When I was freezing strawberries awhile back, I was surprised to find about 12 pint- sized bags I didn't know were still in there! We bought a 1/4 beef plus some chickens and pork Tenderloins that ended up burying the berries. I put all my small bags of fruit into those 2 1/2 gallon zip bags, sorted of course. I think I can fit about 12 vacuum sealed bags in each large bag. The vacuum bags hold about 1-2 cups of fruit each, depending on the size of he fruit. I tried to find some baskets I could also use to hold the meat but so far I haven't found any that work well. I think I will try the shopping bag idea that Got_bullmastiff recommended. My husband & I are thinking of getting a 1/2 beef this year so I really need to get organized before October rolls around....See Morehow do you organize a filing cabinet?
Comments (11)I'm oddball out here :) I have several 2 drawer good quality file cabs. Actually 2 are butted together, topped with a wood shelf and my stereo/CD boxes sit on top, and it is in my dining room. For many years I have used an large expandable accordian file thing that sits inside the file cab. That is where I file all my monthly bills (and each slot is labeled from AAA to VISA) and I just lift the whole thing out when it is time to do my taxes. Behind that are hanging folders with various categories related to my work/company correspondence, licenses etc. (I am a nurse.) The bottom drawer (hanging files) has everything related to my extensive landscape including categories for various shrubs, control of deer, etc. The second cab (hanging files)has one drawer for everything medical from bills, lab reports, surgery records to articles about my various orthopedic issues. The bottom drawer is everything my executrix would need - advance directives, copies of latest will/tax return, insurance policies, retirement savings accounts, car title, etc. All originals are kept in a fire proof safe in basement. Don't laugh, but I keep all receipts of major house contracts and purchases in an old hard suitcase in the bottom of my entry coat closet. Then I have a 2 drawer cab in back hallway off kitchen (on top sits newspapers/mags ready to be tied for weekly recycling.) Top drawer has all my various boxes of note cards and a box with dividers for 'birthday, blank, thinking of you, inspiration, etc.) The bottom drawer has everything related to equipment and auto; these are not hanging files, plus file folders of favorite recipes/menus/newspaper articles (food related). So easy to lift out onto kitchen table to review directions, troubleshooting, etc. Every couple of years (rainy day project)I go through some of these files and throw out what no longer applies - like household items I no longer have. At tax time, it is a good time to shred all those bills I don't need to keep. Since identify threft has become such a issue, I keep a shredder in the dining room and as mail comes it, I shred anything that might hurt me, put the envelopes and other junk in a grocery bag for tieing up for the recycle bin. After taking over a year to sort, shred, etc. 25 years of bills etc. stored in attic, I vowed never again would I get so lazy....I still have a laundry basket filled with boxes of old checks to sort through - one by one as anything that proves I paid/need to keep must be pulled for the future. I do advocate getting a fire proof safe. I used to keep a SDB at the bank but their fees got so expensive even they recommended I get my own at Staples....my biggest fear is a house fire and being unable to prove purchase receipts. Everyone has different needs. I would recommend taking one category at a time and deciding how you want to file them, what should be kept in a safe, what you no longer need to keep. Since you have a 4 drawer cab, put those file you are into frequently at the height most convenient to your height and can see names on the folders. The top and bottom are probably better for topics you don't need as often. I do like hanging folders and they do have ones that are 2 inches thick in addition to the regular size - great for thicker or multi files within one topic. But as you can see, not everything needs a hanging folder (and they can get costly.) Not every drawer needs the plastic labeled tags inserted into the edge of the hanging folder (best for items in lower drawers, I admit.) The whole task can be overwhelming so take it one step (drawer) at a time. The only colored folder (purple) I have is in my executrix drawer marked 'legal' - just makes it easy for me to identify and pull out for any new necessary papers.... Lastly, where you keep your cabinet plays an important role in how well you will use it and keep it up-to-date. I don't have an 'office' and use my small kitchen table and dining room table, so my cabs are easily accessible. Good luck and I hope this 'story' gives you some direction.......See MoreKitchen counters - how deep is too deep?
Comments (19)My standard counter depth is 28". I have never had a complaint from a customer as regards this arrangement not providing sufficient working depth on the countertops. This provides sufficient room for pipes, electrical runs and clearance behind standard depth cabinetry and it allows flush alignment of appliance fronts and base cabinet doors. In some cases we make extra allowance for deeper refrigerators. I almost always block forward upper cabinets 3" by setting up a double 2x4 rail. The rail furrs forward the cabinets and also provides a void behind for wiring runs for cove and under cabinet lighting. With this setup, if you used 15" uppers the distance from counter front to uppers would be 10 inches with the 3" build out. If you used 12" deep cabinetry the distance would be 13" evidently enough. For smaller customers we tend to focus on less upper cabinetry and look toward floor to ceiling pull out pantries and other such storage arrangements as are easier to access. I am myself a towering 5'7". Lets say that in high school soccer and track were a better choice for me than basketball....See MoreHELP! How do I organize a small kitchen?
Comments (30)I lived in a home with minimal storage for 20 years. You cannot keep things that you do not use You have to separate the things you use daily/weekly from occasional use items. You have to utilize every space well. Many spice racks and organizers are not space efficient - they actually eat space. (Tiered spice racks leave increasingly large amounts of empty space. I love stackable storage bins. Put all of your baking spices and small ingredients (Baking soda, powder, gelatin, colored sugars, extracts) together. When it is time to bake you can get that bin off the top shelf - use the things you need and put it back when you are done. I use them in my pantry, in my spice cabinet, in my freezer and refrigerator. You can list all the spices and things you have on the front of the bin so you know what is in each bin before pulling it out of the cabinet. My niece uses a lot more spices than I do and likes to keep her spices more visible She uses both a door rack and a magnetic rack for things she uses every day. I stack my pots or used the drawer under the range for pots. I store pans and lids vertically. I recently saw this Joseph Joseph organizer for flatware! I love the idea of stacking - gives you 2/3rds of a drawer back for other items. An over the stove shelf can give you a few more inches of storage space for often used items Under the sink is often not used efficiently either - I had one of these in my last house. It has been passed down to 3 of my nieces and nephews as they move out on their own and are trying to find storage space. The shelves adjust so the pipes can fit between the shelves. When I go to organize a space I will buy 3 or 4 times the number of bins/organizers that I need. Then as I am organizing I test different stuff in different size bins and figure out the most efficient use of space. Then I haul the unused items back to the store....See MoreAnnKH
7 years agoarlandria
7 years agoraee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
7 years agolinnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)
7 years agolazy_gardens
7 years agolazy_gardens
7 years agotalley_sue_nyc
7 years agolast modified: 7 years ago
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