Living Green

Re: Reusing Produce Boxes

Ushuaia — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 03:34:26 GMT

This boy has the same idea, using a plastic bag and a rubber band:

Re: Reusing Produce Boxes

littlepitcher — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:51:53 GMT

Wish I could remember where I saw it. I get too many e-papers and refuse to relinquish a single one.

I believe she used a rubber band around the neck of the bag to attach it to the vacuum, then duct-taped the neck shut after she popped the bag off the hose. She then taped around the bag to keep it from expanding.

The small store-bought Space Bags work better than the large ones,and the kind with the turn valve instead of the cap are best. I found out the bad, hard way not to use them for archival storage after they yellowed one of my Thomaston Mills tablecloths I was saving for my niece's heirloom stash.

Re: Reusing Produce Boxes

Joyous — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:25:03 GMT

Could you link that? I tried a DIY space bag and it didn't work so great. I'd like to see how she's doing that.

Re: Reusing Produce Boxes

littlepitcher — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 16:47:17 GMT

Tomato boxes are a nearly ideal size for manila envelopes and file folders. You can even stack them, put a board across the top, and have an instant desk, as long as you don't try to load it down with a desktop computer and peripherals. If the mater boxes are clean, they are great for storage of linens and fabric. Smaller grocery stores will save them, or let you know what time to come and pick them up.

Reminds me that another site had a woman who uses heavy-duty trash bags for space bags. Bundles and tapes the opening, sucks 'em out with a vacuum hose.

Re: Reusing Produce Boxes

Pat — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 13:46:58 GMT

Brandy:
I just would not find a commercial product that would fit and be so versatile in use.

No, you probably wouldn't. I don't need more storage in the living room, so it wasn't an issue for me.

Re: Reusing Produce Boxes

Brandy — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 13:30:04 GMT

Pat:
I used it for quite awhile, then bought one of those cheap, small tables to replace it.

We lack storage space for books here so the best part of totes or boxes as tables is that we can store books in them and cover them. No one realises my little table is a storage box and it's the perfect size to sit against a window and actually looks god aainst that tan bamboo shade. I just would not find a commercial product that would fit and be so versatile in use.

Re: Reusing Produce Boxes

Pat — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 12:58:38 GMT

Brandy:
I covered the boxes with a sheet that is no longer good for it's use but made an excellent tablecloth in the shades we are working with for the living room. The cloth is now on the plastic tote.

I forgot about the cardboard box I used for a side table in the living room, covered with a cloth. I used it for quite awhile, then bought one of those cheap, small tables to replace it.

Re: Reusing Produce Boxes

Brandy — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 12:48:27 GMT

Pat:

I have a side table/shelf in the bedroom that's a sturdy divided cardboard box, covered with contact paper. I've used it ever since we moved here, eight years ago.

Cardboard is amazingly sturdy.

I had a chair side table made of two stacked boxes until recently when I swapped them for a plastic tote. I covered the boxes with a sheet that is no longer good for it's use but made an excellent tablecloth in the shades we are working with for the living room. The cloth is now on the plastic tote.

Re: Reusing Produce Boxes

Pat — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 12:41:14 GMT

kb999999:
I lined some with contact paper/some without, then placed like-items inside and stored back on the shelves. Also, I have been using this idea in my pantry to hold bags of pasta, beans, rice, seasonings, ect ... it is so much easier to locate items now and no more messes to keep cleaning up after.

I recently found a box that fits in one section of my pantry to hold beans, peas, barley and the like. It sure makes it easier to store and find those bags of things.

I have a side table/shelf in the bedroom that's a sturdy divided cardboard box, covered with contact paper. I've used it ever since we moved here, eight years ago.

Cardboard is amazingly sturdy.

Re: Reusing Produce Boxes

Edey — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 04:56:19 GMT

I like that idea of the can roller boxes. You get alot more can storage that way. Edey

Re: Reusing Produce Boxes

Brandy — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 02:40:28 GMT

I found a site with pictures and directions for some in pantry cardboard organisation...

The Pantry Panel

Re: Reusing Produce Boxes

Brandy — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 01:31:04 GMT

kb999999:
I lined some with contact paper/some without, then placed like-items inside and stored back on the shelves. Also, I have been using this idea in my pantry to hold bags of pasta, beans, rice, seasonings, ect ... it is so much easier to locate items now and no more messes to keep cleaning up after.

I have made use of boxes for organising in cabinets and closets.

Re: Reusing Produce Boxes

Brandy — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 01:29:40 GMT

Edey:
I can't picture how large those boxes might be.

These are not flats but boxes with sides where the flaps come up to close it.

Re: Reusing Produce Boxes

kb999999 — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 22:56:12 GMT

Hi ... Your comment about 'simply line with paper' made me remember how I took care of the linen closet problems. My hand towels, dish towels, wash clothes, and smaller table linens just didn't stack well on the shelves, would become messy with use and sometimes, I couldn't get the door open because something fell to the floor. My hubby works at the hospital, so I searched through their cardboard-recycle room and found some great sturdy boxes. I lined some with contact paper/some without, then placed like-items inside and stored back on the shelves. Also, I have been using this idea in my pantry to hold bags of pasta, beans, rice, seasonings, ect ... it is so much easier to locate items now and no more messes to keep cleaning up after.

Re: Reusing Produce Boxes

Edey — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 22:40:55 GMT

I can't picture how large those boxes might be. I use the flats that bottled water comes in for my pantry shelves to keep things together. The steel mesh shelves that I have aren't good for keeping things from falling over but using those flats worked good, like trays. They aren't pretty but are useful and organized. Edey