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Post by grungygeorgie on Jun 29, 2009 21:56:19 GMT -5
What is your opinion on those Rubbermaid storage tubs.I am begining
to hate them & feel like they make the problem of clutter just hidden
way and then stacked.I am ready to pitch mine.Last Thanksgiving
I kept staring at my tower of storage boxes as we ate our meal.
Just wondering what other people think about this issue helpful or not?
Any hints.I have them in my garage and still in the dining room.Thanks
for your consideration.GG
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Post by grungygeorgie on Jun 29, 2009 22:02:10 GMT -5
Sorry about misspelling/typo of calle & Rubbermaid,I just took my night meds and am getting
sleepy.Proper English & spelling important to me,my grammer,eh,not so great.Sorry OCD"ish"
as per usual.Hating the Rubbermaids.
Edited by eagle to change subject title to show that it can be done. Instructions below in eagle's first post.
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Post by Meme on Jun 29, 2009 22:17:46 GMT -5
At one time I had many of them but now just a few- depends on the storing- if that is your cupboards then ok- but I am not too big on storage on a long term basis- I learned that most things we store are things we think we will need some day and often we do not even remember what is in the container. I do think they can be handy for taking care of clothes or items re the the seasons. I have found that if I have to store it - then why do I need it?? They are not too pretty either-  |
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Post by fluffychild on Jun 29, 2009 22:30:17 GMT -5
I have just started using them. I am very selective on what I put in them. I am mainly using them in the garage - one will be paint supplies, one will be for electrical, one for Goodwill, one will be for a homeless shelter in town, and one for glass wipes. My garage is my purgatory for getting rid of things. When the box for Goodwill or the homeless shelter gets full, the items will be inventoried and gotten rid of. I am going slow on acquiring them and putting things in them.
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hopehope
Banned
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,815 
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Post by hopehope on Jun 29, 2009 22:47:20 GMT -5
I threw away all except little ones in k. for non-refrigeratable foods that will be mouse-bait.
had a big, slightly broken one. took organizer lady advice.
the thing about rubber is you think you have to preserve it. cardboard box you can off with no doubts.
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dutchessbug
New Member
Joined: September 2008
Posts: 50
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Post by dutchessbug on Jun 29, 2009 23:05:20 GMT -5
I used to have alot, but now i just have a few. My house doesn't have good storage so i have one for fabric, and a couple of smaller ones for bits and bobs. We also have a few for our business but they store stock and are pretty necessary until we get shelving or something.
It is really about finding the balance between useful storage and overwhelming mountains of boxes filled with stuff you cant remember.
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Post by sleepymom on Jun 30, 2009 0:03:26 GMT -5
I like them for storing seasonal stuff, like clothes & decorations. Otherwise, I`m trying to do without. Our house has plenty of storage & if we can`t fit everything in, we have too much stuff!
The one thing I am using them for is DH`s stuff in the basement. He has many, many cardboard boxes holding gaming paraphenalia of various sorts. He won`t authorize me to pitch any, and won`t take the time to go throw himself, meanwhile the boxes are moulding, and the priceless (?) contents are being destroyed by mice & mildew. I`ve been shaking out things, disposing of the worst bits, and chucking them into plastic bins, bit by bit. Just the mildew from the boxes is disgusting, so at least I`m getting rid of that and hopefully halting further distruction.
I had several bins in my bedroom that held "stuff" from past stash & dashes. As I`ve gone through those and find homes or chuck the contents, I`ve repurposed the bins for DH`s stuff, so trying not to have to purchase new ones.
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Post by eagle on Jun 30, 2009 6:41:34 GMT -5
Sorry about misspelling/typo of calle & Rubbermaid,I just took my night meds and am getting sleepy.Proper English & spelling important to me,my grammer,eh,not so great.Sorry OCD"ish" as per usual.Hating the Rubbermaids. Georgy, you can modfy/edit/correct the spelling of your post if you like. Here's how While you are reading the post, look to the top right of the post and see the word "Modify" next to an icon of a page with a pen on it. Click the icon or the word 'Modify' and you can change any part of your post that you would like, including the subject title. When you are done with your modifications, check the buttons on the bottom & choose 'Mofify Post' and it will save your changes. This does not change the subject title for anyone else's replies that they have already posted, but for all future replies, the subject will inluced changed spelling. |
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Post by Script on Jun 30, 2009 6:57:19 GMT -5
According to FlyLady: "You can't organize clutter."
I used to buy a LOT of various kinds of 'storage' containers.
Mostly for clutter that I could NOT figure out how to organize.
biggest example from my life: 25 years of sheet music photocopies from workshops. I started stuffing papers in a file cabinet. Then added some baskets. Then boxes. It was a truly hopeless project. I devoted many hours trying to work out a system. I eventually tossed everything: it took three garbage cycles to get it all in our recycling box. All that paper weighed a ton.
Now......when I got rid of it all, I felt that a WEIGHT had been lifted off my shoulder. I used to see the Music PROBLEM every single solitary time I went downstairs to watch TV (ie, almost daily)
Now I use the storage containers very sparingly:
*for xmas ornaments & decorations
*out-of-season hats, scarves, gloves (winter)
*card-making supplies (so that I can transport them to various places in the house, depending on where I want to work)
*camping kitchen (this has always been in a container of some sort)
*old business records (have to be kept for 7 years)
we haven't got a lot of cupboards.
I personally think that storage containers are a LOT like free-standing rental storage units: they provide a false sense of security: "Look, my place is neat and tidy and clutter-free". WRONG!~
ps: evidently there is a name for people who over-use containers: "clutter concealers".
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Post by eagle on Jun 30, 2009 7:13:25 GMT -5
Grungygeorie, I don't know if we actually have any Rubbermaid brands, but we do have some of those large plastic storage tubs with covers. Over the course of the past 20 or so years, I have used a few different types of them and I will share my experience, with some commentary about the different types and their features that I liked or disliked. FootLocker-type plastic bins with wheels (or without), which are opaque (cannot see what is inside without opening) - Large - can hold a lot
- Sturdy - can handle a lot of weight without becoming damaged
- Some come with built-in wheels on one end, making them easier to move when heavy
- Lid is hinged and cannot be lost
- Some come with a good latch that holds the lid closed very well
- Some even have a locking mechanism where you can add a padlock (but remember it's still plastic)
- Plastic is not impervious to rats/mice chewing a hole in it (I had this happen)
- Didn't like for longterm storage because the rats chewed a hole through it and got inside, made a horrible mess
- More expensive that a cardboard box
Large tubs with snap-on lids, which are opaque (cannot see through) in specific colors - Different colors are a useful organizational tool (ie; Red for Christmas, Green for garden, etc.)
- Rigid, but not as rigid as a Foot-Locker type, so hard to lift when heavy
- Lids pop off fairly easily when lifting if overfull or too heavy
- Lids can be lost as they are not hinged
Clear rigid tubs with interlocking lids, which are see-through - Sturdy rigid sides
- Sturdy flat top when interlocking lids closed
- Stackable because of the flat interlocking lids
- See through makes it easier to know what's inside, but labels are still a good idea
- Good sturdy hand grips on the long edges make these easy to carry when not too full
- These were my favorite box for moving, because they are sturdier than carboard and do not crush like carboard & the rigidity of the exterior keeps the contents safer than cardboard
- They are more expensive than cardboard boxes
- Garden and other supplies remain dry while stored in garage or basement (unless the basement were to flood above the lid)
The main drawback to any of them is ease in which we forget what we have when we store it away. Out of sight out of mind. But a benefit is that things that need to be stored for periods of time, such as seasonal things, can be stored dust-free and water safe in areas of the home that are normally pretty dusty or even areas that may flood (like basements sometimes do.) I do believe they have their place. Good uses for them, in my opinion, include: Storing garden supplies over winter (in areas where gardening is not possible in the winter due to snow, ice, etc.) Storing seasonal decor, such as holiday items. Storing recreational items such as camping gear, boating gear, fishing gear (waders and such), bike helmets, etc (in areas where biking cannot be a year-round activity). Moving. As I said, above, the clear ones with the interlocking lids are great for moving, if a bit expensive compared to cardboard boxes. Storing winter linens over the summer & vise-versa in the closet. That's my feedback. I'm sure others have had experiences I have not, so I'm looking forward to reading more replies. |
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Post by grungygeorgie on Jun 30, 2009 7:48:09 GMT -5
Thanks kids! Your input is a big help,my scrambled brain is doing some
"rethinking" concerning the subject.Yes,I use them to throw clutter in
& forget.Also,I have spent a lot of money on them.Seem to have a
fetish for them like I do laundry baskets.I think it "counts"as having
laundry done if there are laundry baskets all over the house filled w/
clean,but,all be it,wrinkled clothing. I must have 20 laundry baskets
in all shapes & sizes.Maybe I will go out in garage today & reconsider
the container situation.Great thoughts,I plan to reread.Hugs,gg
P.S.-Eagle,thanks for tech help!Your the best,I am a bit PC challenged!
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Post by AnnieOkie on Jun 30, 2009 8:46:23 GMT -5
I'm guilty in the past of buying storage tubs and filling them during crisis cleans (holiday gatherings and such) without ever sorting through them. Years later, I still have some to go through!! They are a good idea, but I think they can cause problems for some. The only one I regret not having anymore: A large foot-locker type that I used to keep my camping stuff in. When I got divorced, ex-husband dumped out the contents and took the container!  (He never went camping with us, but that's another issue.) I've still never invested in another one. |
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Post by 60isolderthanithot on Jun 30, 2009 8:55:46 GMT -5
I've often wished for better storage but didn't really notice that if I couldn't SEE a thing, I'd forget I had it and would buy another. Life got simpler not just when I began to throw things out or sell them, but when I put them into the open. I felt self-conscious about the amount of stuff I stored, it ate up living space, but when everything really collapsed, those boxes were full of things I could sell. I've been living off my junk for two years now. It's an odd twist.
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Post by 60isolderthanithot on Jun 30, 2009 10:03:52 GMT -5
Then again, it's RESTFUL to see stacks of neat tubs instead of raucous shelves dangerously overcrowded with STUFF!
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Post by slothzilla on Jun 30, 2009 10:23:41 GMT -5
I keep dogfood in one, keeps the rodents and bugs out. A few years ago, I had one rodent try to chew his way into it...it must've driven him crazy, because he seemed to chew on it everyday for at least a month.
I bought another couple of containers recently, the kind that goes under your bed. I have a comforter that I was planning on storing in one, but unfortunately it won't quite fit in it. All my old blankets and sheets are dirty right now, and are in my mini-warehouse space. My plan is to store them in the containers under the bed once they're washed. (I don't want to wait to long to do that, otherwise I'll just wind up buying new ones, need to get out of that habit!)
Wish I could find a good container to store that comforter in...I suppose I could get a bigger, 'boxier' rubbermaid container, but it wouldn't fit under the bed, and I'm not sure where I'd put it (hmmmm, maybe in the mini warehouse....that makes sense, I guess.)
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