December 3, 2010
What have you used an over-the-door shoe organizer for?
Creative and useful storage is invaluable (as long as it’s in the budget). Don’t you agree? Like the day I decided to use wicker baskets for holding kids’ books. It was a perfect decorative solution – I can reuse the baskets at a later date – but for now they serve as easy access for my littles and they look cute on the bookcase.
Onto the next storage problem…..my daughter’s doll clothes collection. The clothes were stashed in a cute basket in her bookcase, but the clothes were getting wrinkled, lost, and weren’t getting used. I was on the hunt for a cheap solution for storing her doll clothes in a way that she could access easily and put them away by herself. I found this at American Girl (18 spots and $48 – adorable, but yikes!):
That’s when I started looking for an over-the-door shoe organizer – I wanted it to be white (to coordinate with her room) and all fabric, no plastic. After about a month of looking, I happened upon this one at Meijer for $5.99 – it has 24 spots, all fabric and white. Perfect! (I can’t find it online so it must be in-stores only.)
So this has got me thinking of other uses for these nifty little organizers – have you used an over-the-shoe organizer for something other than shoes?
Jess Says
Meijer!! That means that you are within 5 states or so of me!!! I love Meijer. Used to cashier there right out of high school. LOL
Heather Says
i use my shoe organizer on the back of our bath room door. it holds every hair item needed – straightener, dryer, hair ties, clips, products, etc. and all bath care needs – lotions and whatnot. i love it. i stole the idea from my bff. she did that in her bathroom and it was like an epiphany!
Cheryl Says
I use them for bathroom storage, just like Heather said. I also use them for craft storage- you can put punches or paints in them and still be able to see what you have.
Anonymous Says
I use them in our coat closet to hold seasonal stuff. Right now its gloves, hats, scarves, etc. In the summer its where the girls swim goggles, sunscreen, hats live.
mouseprints Says
I use one on the back of our family room closet to hold art supplies; I use another on our laundry room door (which is by our back door) to hold all our winter paraphernalia (hats, gloves, scarves, etc.)
Clean Mama Says
ooh – these are so good! I’m loving the idea for winter gear! Thanks for sharing!
Eric & Karen Says
A friend didn’t have a changing table for her baby so she used one on the inside of her closet door to hold diapers, wipes, powder, small toys and so on.
I’ve seen people use them to organize Hot Wheel type cars, action figures, doll stuff, kid’s socks, underwear, shoes, hats, scarfs, mittens and so on.
Craft supplies, spices inside your pantry door, scrapbook supplies, sewing supplies, paper-office-mailing supplies.
I think the ideas are almost endless!
La Carter Says
I use shoe organizers for EVERYTHING! I have cut them in half to use under the kitchen and bathroom sink, I use them in the garage to hold cleaning supplies, I use them in the bathroom to hold hair thingies, brushes, curling irons and hair dryers, I use them in the laundry room to hold things found in pockets, I use them in the closet to hold, well, shoes. Like Karen said, ENDLESS possbilites.
Lindsey Says
I used one in our hall closet to hold all of the cleanser bottles that we use. It makes them super easy to find, and I can keep the ones I dont want my son to touch up high. I also have one in another closet that holds office and craft supplies.
Crystal Says
we use it for all of the beanie babies and small stuffed animals. I hate having them all over the place and my 5 yr know exactly where they go. 🙂
One Crafty Chick's Creations Says
ADVENT Calendar! I have one on my entry way and have each one numbered and have treats in them for the countdown to Christmas! I wil have pics on my blog this weekend..
Andrea Says
I use one to organize cords, cables, and other various computer items, extra mouses, USB cords etc. It’s amazing! 🙂
Steph Says
Thank you for asking this question…I now have some great ideas to try out in my own home! Love the craft storage idea and I’m going to see if one will fit over my bathroom door…Thanks!!
Anonymous Says
In our previous apartment there was limited storage space, so I used an old plastic shoe organizer I had to store shampoo, soap, etc. on the wall opposite the shower faucet. It was hidden behind the shower curtain, and it didn’t matter if it got wet because it was plastic. It worked great!!!
Tanya Says
My boys use them to store their Hot Wheels and dinosaurs.
Rachel Says
I got the idea from my sister, but you know your kitchen junk drawer? I no longer have one. All that stuff is in a shoe organizer in the hallway closet. Scissors, tape, dog leash, sunblock, etc. It makes life so much easier.
lady Says
I use mine on the inside of my bathroom closet. I put back-up toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, etc. I would love to have one in my coat closet for seasonal gear, but the layout is wrong (door opens in). But now I am going to look for one for the office to organize cables, etc.
Lene Says
When I was lucky enough to have a walk-in pantry I used on to hold all the little things that get lost in the pantry.
Anonymous Says
I have one in our hall closet that I use for hats,gloves,scarves. I label a row for each child so they know which ones are theirs. I also have one on our linen closet door that I use for crafts for the kids.
Anonymous Says
I use one in the coat closet for things like flashlights, power strips, extension cords, scotch tape, and masking tape and batteries. Love it!!
Libby Says
I have the old plastic slide-in shoe (not pockets like yours) organizer that hangs from the closet rod. I use it to store extra toques, mitts, scarves all year (I don’t have any other place to put seasonal clothing). For everyday mitts, hats, scarves I use a large basket.
I like the ideas for the pocket ones…they can be found at Zellers, Canadian Superstores and maybe even Walmart. Or sew them up yourself!
Kim Elliott Says
I use mine to hold my yarn on my craft room door. It’s perfect for the large rolls or yarn and keeps them from getting dirty and tangled!
The Little Red Hen Says
I have used them at a girls camp as a mailbox. Every girl had a pocket and notes and treats could be left there for them. It was easy to put up and take down. It stores from year to year as well.
Coombs Family Says
I’ve also used one at girl’s camp, and to hold mittens, etc. and one in my pantry. But one that hasn’t been mentioned yet, I think, is on the inside of my game room closet. It holds all kinds of card games, Uno, etc. plus lost game pieces and die, etc. Keeps things nice & neat!
thefab4m's Says
the best thing ever for a pantry door!…especially if you have children…it is great for putting the snacks that you want them to have and at their level….i just limit the number of things that i put into it and viola!
Toni Says
Love it… simply perfect organizing!
**** April **** Says
I love them and use them for everything! I have two in my pantry. One is used for bottles, nipples, binkies, lids and baby supplies. The second one holds drink mixes like Carnation instant breakfast mixes as well as snacks like granola bars… straws, and up high the kid medicine.
In the coat closet I have two as well. One is hats, gloves and scarves. The other is flash lights, Sharpie markers, random toy parts, camping type supplies.
My oldest has one in his closet for random things… Scout gear, his GPS, etc.
Middle child uses his for shoes… he’s the only one that does!
Colleen Says
Oh my gosh, I love these things! I have them everywhere! Inside the linen closet and the extra shampoos, deoderants, toothpastes, etc go in there, shoes of course in the boys rooms, on the back of my daughters door for perfumes and haircare stuff, in the den where I put all of my Stampin’ Up punches, in the laundry room for stray socks and “found” items in the dryer, in the pantry for microwave popcorn, poptarts, cocoa packets, instant oatmeal, fruit snacks…
Lorri Says
We use one when we go on a cruise! Stuff 2 adults and 2 children into a tiny little cabin and you need something to hold all the stuff!
Then we came home and I put a shoe holder behind each child’s bedroom door. One holds Barbies, the other holds all sorts of junk, er, treasures.
cindamarie Says
I am a second-grade teacher in a very, VERY hot desert area. It is not unusual for temperatures here to reach over 115F during the months of August through October. I provide a bottle of water for each of my kids because I do not want them to get dehydrated. However, having them keep them on their desks was a big hassle — they kept falling over, they’d have to move them to open the top of their desk, etc. So I hung up a shoe holder, put each of their names on a pocket, and now that is where the water bottles go. I also use the shoe holders for supplies: I have one with glue bottles in the pockets, one with scissors in the pockets, as well as one with a pocket for each child to keep their unfinished work in. As a school teacher, I think the possibilities are endless!
Carolyn Says
Wow! I love all these ideas! I’ve only used them for shoes and as a junk drawer replacement when I didn’t have a drawer to use. I love the idea of cutting them in half and using them on cabinet doors!! 🙂
Shari @For the Little Doll In Your Life Says
We hung one in our daughters’ room to hold their Beanie Babies and other small stuffed animals.
jimmyzrock Says
I am an avid knitter and crocheter, so I use one to organize my yarn. The one I have is kinda see-through so I usually sort them by color and type.
Tanya Says
I have one hung in my bathroom to hold things like hair care supplies, contact lens supplies, cleaning supplies, etc. I then have one hung in the hall closet to hold accessories like gloves, sun glasses, cold weather beanie hats, etc. Just recently I found a new use. My significant other has A LOT of athletic wear. The type of material used for athletic shirts and shorts is not condusive to folding and placing in a drawer without moving around and creating a mess. I then tried hanging them, but there are just way too many to store that way and still have room for everything else. I now have several of these shoe organizers hanging on the wall and each pocket holds a shirt or a pair of shorts all categorized by brand and color. They are all visible and accessible. No more rummaging through a drawer to find what you’re looking for and it creates a wall of color, too.
Ida Says
My husband came up with this hack. We hang it on a door in kitchen to hold fruits and veggies like apple,oranges, peppers and onions etc
Pam Says
I use one on the back of my pantry door for kids snacks.