by Linsey Knerl

It’s spring cleaning time, and every where you turn, there are experts waiting to give you the solutions you need to get your clutter in order! So many of these options, however, don’t fit into the budget of the average person. We take the top 15 expert ideas for storage and organization and give them to you today--all for under $10 per tip!

Create New Ways to Store Things

All of these crafty ideas will have you turning everyday materials into innovative, new ways to store things. All of the following tips come from Jamie Novak, author of the newly released book Stop Throwing Money Away:

1. Add hooks: Buy a section of lattice from the garden center for around $5, and paint it with your choice of paint. Hang it from the wall or a back of a door, then use S Hooks from your local hardware store to hang dog leashes, scarves, stuffed toys, and small baskets to hold tiny items. 

2. Turn a cookie sheet into a magnet board: Grab a steel cookie sheet from around the house, and glue a thin piece of fabric around the entire sheet. Secure it to the wall using two strands of ribbon tied around the sheet, but loose enough to hang up on a hook on the wall. Glue magnets to the backs of old buttons and use them to organize notes, bills, and restaurant menus to the cookie sheet. The total project price is less than $4!

3. Use that wine box: Create your own umbrella stand for less than a few dollars from a used wine box with the insert. (You can find these free from the liquor store.) Remove the insert, and wrap the entire box with your choice of wrapping paper – but leave the top open! Place a garbage bag on the bottom of the box, and add some kitchen sponges on top of the bag to collect excess water from umbrellas. After you’ve replaced the original wine box insert, you can place your new umbrella stand in an entryway or mudroom for all your guests’ umbrellas!

Put Your Boxes to Better Use

Not as handy as these tips require? That’s OK! We found a selection of multi-purpose boxes that are ready to be used right away:

4. Stack file boxes: Charlene Andersonof Anderson-Shea, Inc. recommends bankers boxes--also known as file boxes, because they are super-sturdy and can be used for storing anything! Found at office supply stores for less than $10 for a pack of 6 (on sale), you can stack them easily for small storage spaces. (Don’t forget to label your boxes!)

5. Save tea tins: Are you a tea drinker? Elizabeth D. Cooley, President of Compass Organizing, wants you to consider saving the tins for in the bathroom to hold Q-tips and cotton balls. You may also want to store sweetener packets, tea bags and matches in the tins or as a sturdy gift box for packaging tiny presents!

6. Use a shoe holder—but not for shoes: One of our favorite organizers is a plastic shoe holder that goes over the door. Yes, you can use it to hold your shoes, but its value goes well beyond that! Ellen R. Delap of Professional-Organizer.com suggests slinging one over the back door for all the things you need on the way out (kids gloves and shoes, bug spray, or sunscreen.) Have a cluttered bathroom? Keep hair ties, brushes, and styling products in their place with this truly multipurpose solution. (They also work great to store Barbies, matchbox cars, and those hard to contain toys you get in fast food kid meals!)

7. Don’t forget about Ball jars: Grains and legumes are sold in boxes and bags of varying sizes, which don't make for easy or neat storage. Decant the contents of boxes and bags into quart-sized wide mouth Ball jars. These jars have airtight screw tops that preserve the shelf life of grains and beans, keep bugs out and stand neatly on a shelf. They can also be used in the garage. Nail the lids to the underside of a shelf near a workbench and fill the jars with screws, nails, washers, anchors, nuts and bolts and then screw the jars onto the lids for space saving storage. Thanks to Stacey Platt, author of What's a Disorganized Person to Do? for this super-affordable tip!

More Storage Tips

Tracy McCubbin of DClutterfly.com had too many tips to mention them all here. We picked our favorites to share with you:

8. Repurpose soap boxes: The boxes that soap gift sets come in are so pretty these days.  I love to use them on top of desks to keep business cards or all the cords that seem to come with electronics these days.  Total cost? Absolutely free!

9. Don’t throw out shoe boxes: Ordinary shoe boxes, lids especially, work great in sock & lingerie drawers.  I roll up tights and keep them separated in a shoebox inside the drawer.  This keeps you from having to dig through all your socks to find a pair of tights.  (The fancier the shoe, the prettier the box.)

10. Put Ziploc bags to better use: Nothing beats gallon Ziploc bags (or nameless brand) for storing computer/camera/cellphone cords and extra batteries.  Each piece of electronic equipment gets its own clearly labeled bag that all parts go into.  That way, when you need something you know exactly where to find it!

11. Use beautiful Bento Boxes for jewelry:  These are so pretty, and if your city has any Asian department stores, you can find them at reasonable prices.

12. Repurpose plant pots for kitchen utensils:  They are often less expensive than the pots designed for that use, and you get to be a little more creative.  (Just make sure it's not too tall for the utensils.)  

Quick and Dirty Tips for Sensible Storage:

These random quick-and-dirty tips seem to be a favorite of everyone we talked to!

13. Save those check boxes!: The next time you reorder your checks from the bank or online, save the box with matching lid that they come in. These are great for keeping junk drawers tidy and as an enclosed protective case for power cords, jewelry, and business cards on business trips!

14. Storage investments you can eat: The next time you’re shopping for food or edible gifts, look at the packaging that they come in. Some of the most expensive fruits, beverages, and candies come in tins, crates, and other containers that can be reused long after the contents are gone. Look for seasonally-themed gift boxes to go on deep clearance (80% off or more) after the holidays, and stock up for future storage that looks good during the most festive times of year.

15. Keep it cubed: Ice cube trays make excellent multi-purpose storage devices, allowing you to contain the tiniest trinkets, office supplies, and craft components in their place. Put them in shallow drawers or the workshop to contain the junk!

Don’t forget to visit QuickandDirtyTips.com to sign up for newsletters and alerts, or subscribe to this podcast through iTunes, Zune Marketplace or your favorite podcast aggregator – you’ll never miss a tip!   As always, you can send us your questions, comments, and tips to dealista@quickanddirtytips.com or call 206-426-1615. We’re also on Facebook under “The Dealista!”