— ShopSmart Reveals the Best Free and Low-Cost Organizers —

 YONKERS, NY — Walk into an organizing store and the promise of a place for everything can seem so appealing—until you look at the price tags. But do you really have to spend that much money just to store stuff? The March 2009 issue of ShopSmart, from the publisher of Consumer Reports, shares advice on how you can tame trouble spots around the house with low or even no-cost items.

“No one should have to spend $20 for a shoe box bin or $30 for a linen-lined basket to keep their house in order,” said Lisa Lee Freeman, editor-in-chief, ShopSmart. “Many solutions to clutter can often be found among items you already have around the house.”

The Neat & Cheap feature includes advice for parting with the items we all tend to accumulate and knowing which organizing tools to avoid purchasing.

ShopSmart’s Budget Friendly Organizing Tips

1. Shoe Boxes. Makeover old shoe boxes with wrapping paper, contact paper, fabric or leftover wallpaper to hold office and craft supplies, remotes and travel-size toiletries.
   Cost: FREE.
2. Acrylic Cubbies. These see-through compartments come in a variety of boxy shapes and can give a vanity or desk a fast makeover. Holding items like makeup, jewelry and office supplies, the flush edges allow for close placement and can be added on to as needs grow.
   Cost: $15 to $25 depending on the size.
3. Over-the-Door Shoe Bags. Great for more than just your shoes, they make things easy to reach and hold lots of items. Reign in closet clutter by storing gloves, hats and scarves, or use it in the bathroom for blow dryers, curling irons and toiletries.
   Cost: About $10 to $15.
4. Plastic Linens Bags. Stash items like non-wool sweaters and out-of-season clothes in these sturdy and see-through  bags that you get every time you buy a new set of sheets or a comforter—and  avoid the need to buy expensive sweater bags.
   Cost: FREE.
5. Lazy Susans. They are one of the most versatile organizing tools around as they are great in the laundry room for detergents, under the sink for cleaning supplies and on the crafts table for art supplies.
   Cost: From $5 for the small plastic ones up to $20 to $40 for fancier types with stainless-steel or bamboo finishes.
6. Baskets. Small square baskets make nice desk organizers and big baskets can house rolled towels in the bathroom, magazines or wood in the living room. They also make a great temporary storage area at the top or bottom of a staircase.
   Cost: FREE if you have them; at a store you’ll pay $10 to $40.
7. Trays. Trays give things a specific spot to land and define a specific area. Put items in a tray and they will look neater. Use them to corral vitamins in the kitchen, hold perfumes on a pretty vintage tray or place a sturdy one in the mudroom for shoes.
   Cost: FREE if you have them; melamine ones cost $20 and mirrored ones run about $30.
8. Hooks. Place hooks where you tend to drop your things, in a mudroom or entryway. Use staggered hooks on the inside of a closet for handbags. In the garage, mount hooks and suspend mesh bags for sports equipment in place of expensive shelving units.
   Cost: From a couple of dollars and up.
9. Metal Tins. Old tins that housed tea, candy or cookies can be turned into organizers. Unlike baskets or shoes boxes, tins will keep items dry, making them ideal for first-aid items and power-outage supplies such as batteries, candles and flashlights.
   Cost: FREE.
10. Plastic Wastebaskets. Sturdy, roomy and generally cheaper than bins, use small ones for kids’ and pets’ toys. Rolled items like blueprints, wrapping papers and drawings fit nicely as do baseball bats and hockey sticks. Spray paint a bunch to look like a set.
    Cost: Less than $10 and up.

About ShopSmart magazine:
Launched in Fall 2006 by Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, ShopSmart draws upon Consumer Reports’ celebrated tradition of accepting no advertisements and providing unbiased product reviews. The magazine features product reviews, shopping tips on how to get the most out of products and “best of the best” lists. ShopSmart is ideal for busy shoppers who place a premium on time. ShopSmart has a newsstand price of $4.99 and is available nationwide at major retailers including Barnes & Noble, Wal-Mart, Borders, Kroger, Safeway and Publix.  Subscriptions are now available at www.ShopSmartmag.org.