Many love these products, but are they really the best? 5 home organization products to evaluate

by Mark Bennett

December 26, 2023

Many love these products, but are they really the best? 5 home organization products to evaluate
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Who doesn't like having a tidy home? The efficient organization of space in the home is crucial to achieve this, but many are not willing to maintain order in these spaces on a daily/regular basis. To help out and maintain order over time, however, you can use a whole series of useful accessories, including containers, hooks, drawer dividers and more.

Many of these products have proved to be very popular and are touted on social media platforms far and wide. But, are they truly the best solutions? Well, here is a list of 5 products that do work well, but which also have some drawbacks: it is best to know about these before rushing off to buy these products. Keep reading to find out more:

Transparent pantry containers

Transparent pantry containers

Freepik

These are a staple for home organization efforts: clear/transparent containers. They are used almost everywhere, but the pantry is where they are most commonly found. Coming in all sizes and shapes and made of glass or plastic, these containers are typically used to store dry foodstuffs. Clear containers are especially popular with those who do not want to keep dry foodstuffs in their original packaging and, for example, put their pasta, flour or legumes (and more!) into these containers immediately after doing the shopping. Why? Well, doing so keeps the pantry looking uniform and tidy.

But how does this work in reality? The truth is that the orderly look is achieved only if you constantly keep the containers neat and tidy. And for some products (like untidy bunches of tea bags, for example), it is best not to be able to see them through a transparent container.

The verdict: transparent containers work, they can be beautiful, but for you should chose non-clear containers for those foodstuffs you use frequently. And another tip: avoid containers which are round or flared, because they take up much more space!

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Fabric drawer dividers

Fabric drawer dividers

Amazon

Underwear, belts, socks and similar: when we put these items into the drawers they become a shapeless mess. To help restore order, many use drawer dividers. Fabric dividers, however, can lose their shape over time. And although fabric dividers are washable, actually washing them can deform them. Furthermore, it can be challenging to find fabric drawer dividers that fit your drawers perfectly.

The verdict: take precise measurements when considering buying fabric drawer dividers. An easier and more long-lasting solution would be to use, for example, bamboo drawer dividers.

Cutlery drawer divider

Cutlery drawer divider

Adele, Joseph Joseph/Amazon

Many would perhaps disagree, but the verdict on cutlery drawer dividers is that they do work. That said, the drawers have to be deep enough to contain the divider, as well as the cutlery (which usually "pops up" a little when facilitate use). Without first checking for a proper fit, you could end up wasting money on an item which ends up simply jamming your drawers and which you have to toss out.

Hanging scarf holder

Hanging scarf holder

IKEA

Now we move on to ring scarf holders...  These can be hung up like hangers on the rails inside closets, and which are also useful for hanging up belts, necklaces, reading glasses and more. But in terms of scarves and foulards, they are a a bit of a double-edged sword.

The verdict: it's true these holders are useful for hanging up scarves and foulards, but, hung like this, these garments can end up hiding each other from view! So... ok, use them, but you may need to be patient.

Velvety hangers

Velvety hangers

Mostriciattolo/Amazon

Wire and plastic hangers are a pain to use, let's face it. Clothes slip off them too easily and the hangers themselves quickly get deformed or broken. This is where velvet-clad hangers come in (aka "velvety hangers"): the grip of the velvet is perfect and non-slip. And these hangers usually come in a shape that does not damage or deform garments. However, velvety hangers can leave velvet lint on the clothes. Further, they cannot be used to hang up wet clothes (as lint will be sure to be deposited).

The verdict: yes, use these types of hangers, but only high-quality ones that do not cause lint to form.

What accessories do you consider essential to keep your home tidy?

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