Configuration for utility/cleaning closet
Comments (16)
blueskysunnyday
last yearRelated Discussions
Installing Closet and Bins in Utility
Comments (8)Claire, I kept thinking about what I might store and you presented several ideas. I'm embarressed to say I don't know where the spare light bulbs are (lived here for 2 years). I too thought I'd need a place for my purse, thanks for the confirmation. We had a "dead zone" with 9' ceilings...sounds perfect for paper goods. Most of what will go in my DH's closet are for things that we need for the interior of the house. He's got boxes for wiring, screws/nails, small tools like screwdrivers, hammers, pliers etc. It's surprising how much space all of it can take up. His workbench was in the basement in a previous house, and we (especially me) hated going down to pick out the right tool and then back to put it away. My organizing philosphy is to make things conveniently located, much more likelyhood the tools will get put away. Depending on what else we use the bins for, shoes may be a viable usage. Great idea for reciepts. Though most documents will likely be in the basement for longer term storage, the daily things like receipts can get me in trouble. I'll be so glad when all stores use your credit card to track purchases, so much eaiser. This project is fun especially knowing how much better organized the house will be. Talley_Sue, I wasn't planning on small stuff going in the closets, but inevitably it seems like they will be needed. I'll keep that in mind trying to find areas to collect small things. I had to LOL about the tools being OK in the cold, it was me that would be too cold. Company RARELY goes into this room. We plan to have the vacuum in this room instead of where we have always stored it before - in the front hall closet. So far my 8 bin allocations are for 1. Donations 2. Laundry 3. Returns 4. Grandchild toys 5. Things that our kids need to take when they come over 6. Purse, gloves, umbrellas 7. Things to be put away (basement) 8. Gift boxes/bags, tape etc. Thinking back to what's sitting around not put away, this accounts for most of it. I've never had a room so functional. I told my DH, I feel like this room will really change how well we can stay organized (and it wasn't too bad before)....See More**Need help configuring new CLOSET under eaves**
Comments (4)I would put shelves along the back wall for out of season storage. I would then have a rolling drawer/small dresser for in front of those part of those shelves. Drawers would be really hard to see into at 30". You will also be banging your head on the sloped ceiling. 50" isn't all that deep yet you will have to use space to step into the closet, so by having shelves you don't need to get into, you will bring the clothing you need to reach forward. I would also divide the space into at least a third with some type of wall so that you could put up double poles for hanging. Leave the one third part for long items. This closet is around 12" wide. That's a lot of space. What you decide for doors will factor into how to organze the items inside. Sliding doors seems to be about the only thing which would allow you to utilize the space without losing too much for walking. At 12 feet you could actually do two closets. One for hanging only and the other side for walking into with all of the drawers and shelves in a U shape. We have two storage areas with this type of configuration going down to 36". They are not practical for daily storage and getting in and out of. It works for our purposes, but I've wacked my head pretty hard a couple of times. My craft room has two sloped ceilings, but the back walls are 4.5 feet. Much better. Gloria...See MoreAnyone Got Suggestions For Organizing Cleaning Supply/Coat Closet
Comments (12)Another idea: get some of those Sterilite plastic drawers, and stack them on one side of the closet. That'll "partition off" one small section to be for cleaning supplies. And a drawer will help you access the deepness of the storage space, bcs it'll pull things forward. The one drawback to those is that they're sort of short; most bottles won't fit in them standing up. But there are taller versions. Or, try this "laundry tower" concept--a tall, skinny cabinet w/ compartments; it would interrupt the shelf and hanging bar, so maybe not the best. http://www.improvementscatalog.com/imp/290307?cm_mmc=GooglePLA--LaundryRoom--2014-_-437559&mr:trackingCode=0B124480-8F0B-E311-9612-001B21BCC0BC&mr:referralID=NA&mr:filter=98946355732&intlShippingCtx=US%7CUSD&code-macs=MP4XW091&mr:ad=43916408932&mr:device=c&mr:match=&SourceCode=MP4XW091&mr:adType=pla&mr:keyword=&redirect=y But this sort of cabinet, designed to go between washer and dryer, might be great (this one isn't available anymore, but this is the general idea). The drawers are tall enough for bottles, and it's skinny and short. http://www.lowes.com/pd_172508-46-WVP5000SQ_4294857913+8+4294965476_?productId=1043069 http://www.shopgetorganized.com/item/WICKER_BETWEEN_WASHER_DRYER_DRAWERS/24415?src=GOSHPZLA&utm_source=shopzilla&utm_medium=cse&utm_term=24415&close_prompt=1 My favorite idea is the kinds of unit w/ different heights of drawers--IF the largest drawer is tall enough. http://www.target.com/p/sterilite-5-drawer-storage-cart/-/A-13794467#prodSlot=medium_5_9&term=drawer Because some things are tall and some are short, and tall drawers are really bad for little things. http://www.amazon.com/SEI-Iron-Wicker-Five-Drawer/dp/B000X09XGE/ref=pd_sim_sbs_op_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0X75NQ44TWHDJY5ME354 Even a filing cabinet could work. http://www.target.com/p/hirsh-3-drawer-file-cabinet-steel/-/A-14796066#prodSlot=medium_2_23&term=drawer This one looks really good--that bottom drawer is as tall as a file drawer, so maybe it would hold cleaning bottles standing upright. http://www.sterilite.com/SelectProduct.html?id=677&view=0&picture=1&tab=Uses&ProductCategory=188&section=1 This one is nice and narrow--but I don't know how tall the drawers are; they look kind of short. http://www.sterilite.com/SelectProduct.html?id=405&view=0&picture=1&tab=Uses&ProductCategory=187&section=1 This one also, I'm not sure how tall the drawers are. http://www.sterilite.com/SelectProduct.html?id=406&view=0&picture=1&tab=Uses&ProductCategory=187&section=1 Then again, you could just store the tall bottles in a caddy on top. HOWEVER, and this might be true always anyway--you should probably store -only- one bottle of what you truly use. The extras should go somewhere else, like in the garage or under the sink, if at all possible. (Or if you're like me and live in an apt., don't buy extras--practice "just-in-time inventory.") If you got something like this, you could just take out one drawer to make the drawer below it taller (and you could access it more easily as well); I've done that w/ a shallow drawer unit. Because I *think* this one doesn't have bars across the front, just supports along the sides. http://www.amazon.com/4D-Concepts-Corner-Clear-Silver/dp/B0006TXDSG/ref=sr_1_2?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1413299007&sr=1-2&keywords=utility+drawers And you could set your "daily use" caddy on the top of such a drawer unit; it'd be handy to grab the caddy itself, or just the window cleaner/whatever. Because the caddy would work as an organizer that would keep your most-used items from falling over. And you might be able to put -all- the cleaning solutions in the caddy, which would ease the pressure on having a tall drawer. There are lots of carts for this space, but you have to pull the whole cart out instead of just a drawer. But it's an idea--you could put it on the open side of the closet, and pull it out to get to stuff. And hang shorter jackets above it....See MorePantry and utility closet...swap? Anyone have 24 in utility?
Comments (3)Ok, suspicions confirmed! Thanks, desertsteph! Lascatz, how do you fit all that in 12 inches? Pegboard? I thought a lot about where to put the pantry. It is currently where the fridge and pantry are pictured with 12 inch deep fixed shelves and much wasted space. I really want to avoid all tall cabinets on the short wall against the bathroom as it makes the space feel closed in (fridge is currently there). It was hard to decide between having the Advantium next to the fridge or the pantry, and in the end I wanted the pantry by the fridge and to steal the 6 inches for an 18 inch drawer stack vs 12 inch. I agree a straight line isn't ideal, but the space is small, and that's the only option that works without major structural changes or filling up that short wall floor to ceiling. Or we could lose the Advantium, but DH is pretty excited to get one and it's the only thing he's asked be included other than a double sink! So any additional ideas for making a 24 inch cabinet into utility/cleaning storage? Looks like I can work on converting the utility closet to a pantry while I'm waiting for the remodel to begin, kind of excited about that as it feels like it's starting!...See MoreBuehl
last year
taliaferro
last yearlast modified: last yearMy cleaning/utility closet below. I had an outlet installed in the closet for my Dyson - but there really wasn’t enough room.
blueskysunnyday
last yearblueskysunnyday
last yeartaliaferro
last year
caroline94535
last yearlast modified: last yearI ”invented” a closet out of an awkward corner behind my front door.
A wonderful woman here consolidated my photos and wrote an entertaining story of the process.
It is long post; but it was a huge process. perhaps since of my solutions will help you.
If you read the article you will ”see” there’s another full-width wooden shelf above the one shown here.
blueskysunnyday
last yearcaroline94535
last yearlast modified: last yearFrom the far left edge of the shelves to the left upright wall is about 8 inches.
caroline94535
last yearFrom the far left edge of the shelves to the actual edge of the brooms is about 5 and 1/2 inches.
My phone will only let me post one photo at a time.
caroline94535
last yearlast modified: last yearI took everything off this shelf so you can see the gap for the brooms. They are easy to get out and put away.
There was a small learning curve, but even DH has no problem with them.
caroline94535
last yearlast modified: last year
There have been some changes since the first configuration.My health has taken a downhill tumble in the past couple of years.
Behind the vacuum you will see an oxygen tank. It’s for emergency use but is very easy to get out. I can pull the vac straight out and to the right. Then wheel out the tank, put the vac back in place, and go on my way.
I somehow designed just the right spot for it five years bfore I needed it.
I have started feeding a few feral cats since the no-kill shelters quit accepting them when COVID hit.
The shop vac had to go back downstairs to make room for the pet food bin. It holds 20-25 lbs. of cat food. To the right of it is seven smaller oxygen bottles and a holster to ”wear” them.
I added nails on the back wall to hang Swiffer dusters, fly swatters, and other dusters from.
The second shelf up has a 3-gallon bucket of sunflower seeds for the birds.
DH does 95% of the wild bird feeding now. When the tray feeder on the porch gets low, I can refill it from here without having to go across the house, out the mudroom, down the steeper steps, across the patio, and into the garage.
My purse lives on this shelf too. My wallet and all ID/Medical cards, sunglasses, keys, phone charger, checkbook, clean masks, a couple days worth of all medications, etc., are always in my purse - a preparedness lesson I learned long ago while in the Air Force.
I can ”grab and go.”
I just used the food processor and did have return it to the plastic bag. its wearing my gardening hat. I need to make it a ”tea cozy” type cover.
Can you tell my DH has a Swiffer addiction? Personally, I think a broom and a slightly damp mop is just as good, but since he does most of the floor cleaning, he gets to pick his tools.
The rolled up paper looking out of place on the first solid shelf is the blueprints for our planned covered porch. We are waiting for the contractor to get us on his schedule.
blueskysunnyday
last yearcaroline94535
last yearlast modified: last yearAnnKH
last year
herbflavor