Organization Experts Swear By These Weird Things That Are So Damn Clever & Cheap

Keli Jakel, the owner of Organized By Keli, refers to these adhesive bins as the perfect hidden helpers. “I stick them on the back of cabinet doors, under my desk, or even on the wall by my TV to corral remotes and other small clutter I need easy access to but never seem to have a good spot for,” she adds. Two come in the set.

These zippered pouches are an amazingly versatile storage solution. Katie Neary, a professional organizer at Haven, suggests them for “puzzles, supplies, tools, toys, essentially anything that needs to be contained in categories.” The 18-pack includes 10-by-14-inch mesh pouches that are transparent enough to view what’s inside (other sizes can be found in the listing).

Stash cleaning supplies in a wheeled cart — this way, you can roll it around from room to room for ease. The idea comes directly from Whitney English, the author of Organize First, Decorate Second: How to Go from Clutter to Creativity. The cart boasts three storage tiers (plus hanging hooks) to keep everything organized.

Diane N. Quintana, a professional organizer and the owner of DNQ Solutions, turns to this bin set to “keep the refrigerator tidy” — this way, food doesn’t get lost in the back and ultimately spoil. Included are 10 organizers in three sizes to fit produce, snacks, cheese, and other items. They stack to save space, and there’s built-in drainage for freshness.

Christina Giaquinto, a professional organizer at Modular Closets, says, “It is so important to keep jewelry organized, because necklaces can get tangled, earrings can easily be misplaced, and more.” That’s why she suggests this hanging jewelry organizer. It has 80 clear pockets to keep track of your entire collection in one spot. She adds, “You will appreciate how the sturdy aluminum hanger allows you to mount the organizer in closets and on doors or walls, which saves even more space and prevents jewelry tangles!”

These storage bins are superior. They stack to take up mainly vertical room in a closet or on a shelf, plus Courtney Cummings, the founder of The Stylish Organizer, calls out that they “open from the front and top for easy access and maximum storage potential.” They come as a pair.

Katie Neary, a professional organizer at Haven, favors clear organizers like these on closet shelves. They’re “great to keep your small purses/clutches upright, organized and on display so you can quickly see all your choices when you're running out the door to an event,” she adds. The two organizers each have four dividers and they can also be used stacked (with the bottom one upside down).

The secret to stopping bins inside drawers from sliding all over the place? A small amount of this museum paste on the bottom (according to Courtney Cummings, the founder of The Stylish Organizer). “It is also easily removed if your needs change down the road,” she adds.

Extension cords, charging cables, and other power cords are ugly to look at. So Christina Lee, of Graceful Spaces Organizing, turns to this cord hider as a simple yet smart solution. It’s 39 inches long with an adhesive backing to stick it onto surfaces to guide (and conceal) the cords. It can be trimmed to fit and painted to match your walls, too.

No outlet nearby to plug in a lamp? For Ea Fuqua and Meg DeLong, the co-owners of The Tidy Home Nashville, this is no problem. They suggest you simply utilize a rechargeable bulb like this (which screws in just like a normal bulb) instead. It’s a “game-changer for styling cozy corners or vintage lamps where plugs are awkward,” they explain. Two come in the set, along with a remote for adjusting color, brightness, and other settings.

Made from high-quality metal, these S-shaped hooks wrap around your closet rod (there’s a metal piece ensuring they don’t fall off), and the other end can be used to hang items. Andrea Fefekos, a professional organizer at Shelf Care Organizing, specifically calls out their usefulness for “purses, belts, [and] bags.” A dozen come in the set.

A little life hack? That annoying sticker or label residue that’s impossible to get off can be removed using pure lemon essential oil. “A few drops on a cotton pad will lift goo from jars, thrift finds, and candle labels,” explains Ea Fuqua and Meg DeLong, the co-owners of The Tidy Home Nashville. And as a bonus: It smells amazing.

You might think that the area underneath your bathroom or kitchen sink can’t work for storage (because of all of that bulky pipework). But that’s not the case: These two-tier organizers are meant for this space, and they’re recommended specifically by Katie Neary, a professional organizer at Haven. Each one has slide-out drawers and movable dividers to accommodate items like cleaning supplies, extra linens, and more.

Erin Gaskins, the owner of Room Redefined, shares that she carries a roll of hook-and-loop tape like this on all organizing projects. “[It] works great for harnessing extra length of cords in your house to keep it neat and tucked away, or wrapping around longer extension cords or other tools like leaf blowers,” she adds. This 5-foot roll costs less than $10, making it a budget-friendly solution.

Andrea Fefekos, a professional organizer at Shelf Care Organizing, shares a hack related to a supply caddy like this one. Get “a caddy for the bathroom [and] one for the kitchen,” she suggests, and “keep room-specific cleaning products” in each one — this way, you have everything needed in a single convenient place.

“The organizational hack I consistently share with clients is to never go up or down the stairs empty-handed,” shares Jennifer Granger Tipton, the owner of Breathable Spaces. This stair basket is the perfect item to gather items that need to be moved to the other floor (so you can carry them all at once).

These adhesive caster wheels may seem weird at first, but Courtney Cummings, the founder of The Stylish Organizer, calls them a game-changer. “They stick easily and allow for free rolling movement of an otherwise heavy object,” like a small appliance on your countertop, she explains.

Use these dual spice racks to stash spices — of course — but also condiments, cans, and other food items. Each one has a magnetic design for hanging. And Lauren Saltman, a professional organizer and the owner of Living. Simplified., swears by this type of product for giving you easy access to your favorites. Two come in a pack, and each one can hold six pounds.

A hack from Erin Gaskins, the owner of Room Redefined? Keep a mesh bag like this (three come in the set) in each laundry basket in your house, then have everyone place clothes they don’t want machine dried in it. “No more shrunk clothes and no more blaming the person doing the laundry,” she confirms.

Unsightly outlet situation? Courtney Cummings, the founder of The Stylish Organizer, suggests this totally flat outlet cover to conceal it — and it has a 3-foot extension cord to keep your electronics still plugged in. “They also work wonders for outlets located behind furniture,” she adds. “You still have access to the outlet, but your furniture can be pushed closer against the wall.” An adhesive cord concealer comes included.

A collapsible laundry basket like this is great for laundry — it holds a lot and folds down flat when not in use. However, Andrea Fefekos, a professional organizer at Shelf Care Organizing, also uses it to hold “stuffed toys, couch blankets, summer shoes,” and other items that need a home. This basket comes in a two-pack.

Katie Neary, a professional organizer at Haven, turns to this three-tier organizer “to avoid water bottles falling all over on a shelf.” Each tier has three grooved compartments to hold any tumbler or water bottle up to 40 ounces in size — stack the tiers to save space or position them side by side.

When it comes to organization, Courtney Cummings, the founder of The Stylish Organizer, calls shoes a universal pain point. Her solution? This shoe organizer that holds up to 16 pairs in its divided sections. It has a clear lid to keep out dust and debris while still allowing you to find what you need quickly.

If you’ve grown tired of seeing your remote control, electronic cables, and other stuff piled on your coffee table, Courtney Cummings, the founder of The Stylish Organizer, has a clever solution. These three decorative books are hollow on the inside to “hide those small items and reduce the visual clutter in your space.”

Katie Neary, a professional organizer at Haven, indicates these hat organizers are “one of the only products I've seen that actually contain and organize hats.” And that’s because they have handy pull-out drawers for easy access. Plus, the two bins stack to save space.

Out of garage wall space for storage? Courtney Cummings, the founder of The Stylish Organizer, turns to this freestanding holder for “brooms, shovels, rakes, baseball bats, hockey sticks, umbrellas, or anything with a handle” since they “take up very little space and keep everything organized.” There are 35 total slots, and the all-metal construction is durable to the max.

Pam Hoepner, a professional organizer and the owner of Life, Creatively Organized, calls tension rods like these a “favorite organizing tool” with many uses. For example, “one can be attached horizontally under a sink to hold items like spray bottles, cleaning tools, etc.” This set comes with two rods, making each one less than $5.

Courtney Cummings, the founder of The Stylish Organizer, encourages making your furniture do double duty — it should function as intended but also boast secret storage. This flower-shaped ottoman fits the bill; the lid comes off, revealing storage for extra blankets, pillows, and more. Choose from six shades in the listing.

Lauren Saltman, a professional organizer and the owner of Living. Simplified., says that an organizer set like this — with five various storage trays — will have you saying “goodbye to your junk drawer.” It’s the most stylish way to group and organize whatever items you keep in there. And the bamboo design is plenty durable for use in a bathroom or kitchen.

Don’t underestimate the power of swapping out your mismatched hangers for these velvet ones. “Uniform color hangers help your closet feel less cluttered,” notes Lauren Saltman, a professional organizer and the owner of Living. Simplified. And additionally, their slim design provides more hanging space. Fifty come in a pack.

Get your shower products off the floor and onto this three-tier caddy. It’s one that Katie Neary, a professional organizer at Haven, favors because it “stays in place due to the suction at the bottom.” Made from aluminum, this pick won’t rust when it inevitably gets wet.

Co-owners of The Tidy Home Nashville Ea Fuqua and Meg DeLong share an organization hack utilizing this 0.75-liter square jar. “Write down every little area that’s bugging you: the junk drawer, a messy shelf, the entryway basket, on slips of paper and drop them in a jar,” they explain. “When you have 20 minutes, pull one out and tackle just that spot.” It’s a genius, low-stress approach to these problem points.

Keli Jakel, the owner of Organized By Keli, keeps these reusable bags hanging in her coat closet at all times; she fills them with items for various people, like “one for donations, one for my grown kids (since mail and random items always seem to pile up for them), and one for my mom.” With this system, these items are contained and easy to grab.

Ea Fuqua and Meg DeLong, co-owners of The Tidy Home Nashville, swear by keeping a trash can in every room to stop “random wrappers, tissues, and tags from migrating to counters and nightstands.” These two automatic ones open and close hands-free for even more convenience.

Diane N. Quintana, the founder of DNQ Solutions, has a solution for a messy kitchen drawer. “This expandable drawer organizer keeps kitchen tools out of sight and organized,” she raves. It has an adjustable divider and open design for longer tools like spatulas and tongs. Nonslip feet on the bottom keep it from shifting when you use the drawer, and the white part can slide over the gray for a perfect fit.

Diane N. Quintana, a professional organizer and the owner of DNQ Solutions, suggests making the most of the space you have available. She says, “A tiered corner rack makes great use of otherwise awkward space in a cabinet. This makes those bottles or spices easier to find.” This sturdy iron three-tiered shelf lets you fit plenty into a cabinet or the corner of a counter.

“If your power tools end up all around the garage (and the house), create a designated home for them to live,” notes Courtney Cummings, the founder of The Stylish Organizer. And this power tool organizer has various slots and shelves to organize your collection. It “has a small footprint, but can carry a heavy load,” adds Cummings — in fact, it can hold 150 pounds.

Pam Hoepner, a professional organizer and the owner of Life, Creatively Organized, uses rectangular magazine holders like these for way more than just magazines. “They can be attached to the inside of a kitchen cabinet door [...] to hold plasticware lids or aluminum foil, parchment rolls, and plastic wrap,” she shares. Or you could use them to organize paperwork, among other things.

“It doesn’t matter how organized and decluttered a room is; if there are visible wires everywhere, it will look messy,” remarks Courtney Cummings, founder of The Stylish Organizer, which is why she says she hates wires. Her solution? This cable management box that looks stylish but also has enough room “to hide even the really thick or extra-long wires from modems, TVs, gaming consoles, you name it,” she exclaims.

Between these three organizers, there are a whopping 64 individual cell compartments. “Perfect for keeping your socks and underwear organized,” shares Lauren Saltman, a professional organizer and the owner of Living. Simplified. Use them in a dresser drawer or place them on a closet shelf.

You could do a lot with metal baskets like these around your home, but Andrea Fefekos, a professional organizer at Shelf Care Organizing, recommends them in a closet for shoes — flats, boots, you name it. The set comes with six baskets, each with a glossy black finish.

High-reach cabinets can be better utilized by placing items on turntable organizers like these (this set comes with four of them in two sizes). The idea comes straight from Andrea Fefekos, a professional organizer at Shelf Care Organizing, who adds that you can store oils and vinegars, baking goods, and other items on them.

Christina Lee, of Graceful Spaces Organizing, turns to an adhesive paper towel holder like this whenever possible “to clear counter space.” It can stick under a cabinet or on a wall, and the stainless steel bar (with a modern black finish) can hold of paper towel roll of any size and from any brand.

Katie Neary, a professional organizer at Haven, shares that these 25 bins are “great for junk drawers, desk drawers, bathroom drawers,” or really any other drawers that need some decluttering assistance. They come in a bunch of sizes to hold different items.

Not only do these storage drawers look super nice (with their ribbed design and rounded handles), but they also offer versatile storage. Lauren Saltman, a professional organizer and the owner of Living. Simplified., says a pick like this is perfect for “under a sink for cleaning supplies or toiletries, [...] to hold cosmetics,” and more.

“Garages are another universal frustration when it comes to visually appealing and functional storage,” expresses Courtney Cummings, the founder of The Stylish Organizer. Luckily, this wall-mounted organizer boasts three tracks and six adjustable double-layered hooks to hold various power tools, gardening accessories, shovels, and more. Cummings adds that they’re easy to install.

Get all of your food in order with these stackable bins. “They're extra deep so it helps to maximize deep shelves in a pantry or fridge and because they plastic, you can easily clean any food spills,” expresses Katie Neary, a professional organizer at Haven. They come in a set of four.

Marcia Sloman, a professional organizer and the owner of Under Control Organizing, keeps one of these pet hair removers in every room in her own house. “Pet hair, dander, people hair and dust are a breeze to clean up [with it],” she shares, adding that just a “few swipes on bedding, furniture, fabric, clothing and carpet keep nasty dust balls from accumulating.”

For getting your garage in order, Lauren Saltman, a professional organizer and the owner of Living. Simplified., says that you should use a metal pegboard like this paired with hooks and bins. This system clears “up floor space and improves access.” The pegboard is straightforward to install and holds up to 50 pounds of items.

Keep a sleek organizer like this by your front or garage door. The concept is “great for incoming mail or [other notices],” shares Lauren Saltman, a professional organizer and the owner of Living. Simplified. And this particular one also has built-in hooks for your keys. White and gold versions can also be found in the listing.

Whitney English, the author of Organize First, Decorate Second: How to Go from Clutter to Creativity, calls these cable ties “cheap, easy to use, and great for wrangling all the cords everywhere.” Sixty are included, each with an adjustable design and hook-and-loop style closure.

“Cords are a massive [eyesore],” explains Marie Jackson, owner and professional organizer at Organized Marie. To conceal them, she recommends using cable ties to wrap them up, then storing them in these stackable bins that have holes that also make it easy to feed cords in and out as needed. The set includes three bins — two are smaller and one is a medium size.

Lesser-used linens and pillows can be stored in these vinyl bags, shares Whitney English, the author of Organize First, Decorate Second: How to Go from Clutter to Creativity. The set includes a dozen bags, each equipped with a metal zipper for maximum sturdiness.

These food storage containers feature airtight (and leakproof) lids, which make them “great for any items you want to keep fresh long term like pasta, rice, lentils or flour,” adds Katie Neary, a professional organizer at Haven. The set comes with 12 containers in various sizes to totally overhaul your pantry.

Sometimes the key to getting your home in order is to set up a labeling system. For this, Katie Neary, a professional organizer at Haven, turns to this Bluetooth label maker that’s app-controllable with endless fonts, sizes, and images to utilize. “It allows you to get really creative and labeling your home creates a great accountability system for you,” she shares.