Frugal Drawer Organizers?

[Libby]

Anyone have tips for frugal drawer organizers? I'm tried of things rolling around each time I open and close the drawers. I've gone to a big box home decor/organizing store and the options floored me. Only downfall, the prices! THAT much for a plastic tray w/dividers?!

So I'm now out on a mission to find something that not only works for the drawers but for the budget as well. I've contemplated the dollar store for baskets and they don't have to be pretty b/c no one sees it but me - but then, am I not worth seeing something pretty each time I go into the drawer?

I'm in search of square or rectangular trays. I thought the drawer dividers from Ikea would work since I had some leftover but they're too tall *shakes fist* and currently I have (now ratty and flimsy) tissue boxes in there (cut up and folded into the right shapes)

So tell me, how do you organize your drawers and what did you use?

[NicJean]

For things like spring-type tongs, I fold them tight and slip into toilet paper rolls or paper towel rolls.

Also - in a store, desk organizers are different prices whether in a kitchen section or office section.

I have found trays at thrift stores for cheap, but also I like to use the Crisco plastic tubs (rectangular) that the 'sticks' come in. I've used veggie containers - like mushrooms come in, or berries - but the paper ones dissolve if you get them wet . . .

[wjcalderon]

I use those little plastic baskets from the dollar store.
They're relatively cheap, durable, and while not exactly pretty, they aren't too ugly!

[ml2620]

In this party season what about one of the plastic containers that the nice plastic cutlery comes in? Or card boxes?

[Contrary Housewife]

I seem to remember that there were kitchen organizers at one of the dollar stores (Dollar tree maybe) that, while not exactly stylish, weren't too bad looking. Just plain.

I would love to have organizers for my drawers, but I have yet to find any that fit. Mine are all very narrow. I'd like a new sink drain basket too, and haven't found one of those that fits either. I'm still using the ratty old one I bought when I went to college!

[Libby]

I must confess...I did break down and purchased a couple of dollar store type just to get the main items together - I have OCD about getting this drawer organized. I have yet to decide the other drawers fate.

Please keep the ideas coming

[LynnLC]

I use those little plastic baskets from the dollar store.
They're relatively cheap, durable, and while not exactly pretty, they aren't too ugly!

Yes and I used to use egg cartons for little things...earrings, paper clips etc.

[monkeywrangler71]

Look around the house, I use a variety of empty packages, plastic bins, boxes, etc. to organize drawers. Plastic things that are meant for food (tupperware, etc.) - most people have a cupboard full of them - depending on how deep the drawers are, you may have some that fit. The decorative boxes from the dollar store fit in my drawer. I've also used plastic containers from take out, salad mix/spinach, frozen entrees.

You can also customize your drawer with wooden dividers. Better for utensils than junk drawers.
Organizing / Custom drawer organizers

And if you keep your tupperware in drawers, this is kind of a cool idea for lids:
Organizing / CD racks + tupperware lids = genius organization

[Trishagirl]

How about cutting down some cardboard from cereal boxes and use as dividers for all the stuff in the junk drawers. Just a thought. You could cut different size strips for the dividers. I also use cigar boxes you can find them at goodwill store.

[frugalfranny]

Some great ideas.........

I, too, bought a couple of the dollar store plastic things and use them.

I also have cut down a shoe box (sturdier cardboard) to use in some cases.

I will watch for a silverware holder at thrift shops.......they work great. Will have anywhere from three to five slots in them.

[Luv2BeFrugal]

My Gramma always cut kleenex boxes to fit the drawer size...you could cover with contact paper to make them all a uniform color/design. And you can tape/glue several together for multiple dividers...

[Spirit Deer]

Square containers waste less space than round ones.

The square plastic boxes mushrooms come in work great.

A paper half gallon milk carton with a long side cut out would be a good organizer.

I organized a large drawer in a buffet to hold plastic lids and small plastic containers. Two of those jugs cat litter comes in fit perfectly placed end to end, front to back in the drawer. I cut those down to exactly the same height as the drawer. Those two go in the center of the drawer and act as a divider. One holds the lids for those square T-ware containers, which I have tons of to use for freezer storage. The other holds all the little lids that used to get lost at the bottom of the drawer. On the left side of those containers are the medium lids. To the right, all the tiny plastic containers are organized. This system is one of the best things I've ever done for kitchen organization. It used to take FOREVER to find lids and little containers when everything was just shoved into that drawer. Since I added the divider/organizers finding stuff is a breeze and never takes more than a few seconds.

I have three plastic flatware trays in one of our drawers. One is in its original configuration and used for flatware. The other two have been cut down to fit around it, to make more slots for other items. By putting the cut side against the side of the drawer, it forms a new side so the part of the tray that's been cut away doesn't matter. The cut trays were cut so that all three trays hold each other in place and nothing shifts around.

Rectangular jugs like laundry detergent comes in, or gallon jugs of lime juice, make dandy dividers when they're shortened to fit inside the drawers.

I've also found it pays to periodically go through my kitchen drawers and get rid of things I don't use. It makes what I keep easier to find.

I rolled up my silicon baking mats and put the roll into a Pringle's can for storage in a drawer. Ditto for the chopsticks.

[nuisance26]

~A simple cardboard X is the easiest thing to do: diy wednesdays: drawer divider | Design*Sponge
It's extremely easy to make your own boxes and trays from larger cardboard items you have around your house. Here are some tutorials:
A Little Hut - Patricia Zapata: recycle project no. 14 - drawer organizer
Bella Dia: Repurpose: empty food boxes + scissors = drawer organizers
Spice Drawer Organizer Tutorial…
Real World Organizing: Drawer Dividers|so you wannabee a Domestik Goddess?
lovelydesign: perfect boxes + drawer dividers
Drawer Organizer Box | How To | Cut Out + Keep

[stinkbug]

I find silverware divided trays at the thrift store for about 1.00. If they are just the ones with rectangular slots, they work well for many other things...pencils, scissors, etc. in my kitchen junk drawer and they fit the drawer without having to have loose dividers.

[Ceashels]

I have some cloth foldable "boxes" from Ikea that I invested in and love. They are in different sizes and I fit them into my assorted drawers for my little things like socks, bras, hosiery, etc. I like that they don't have any rough edges to snag anything.

I've also used tissue boxes and assorted food boxes that I cut down. You can cover them with fabric or wrapping paper to help cover the edges. I wouldn't use tape on the insides though as clothing will catch on the adhesive after a while.