Sterilite Corporation's Blog

Oodles of Noodles

By Jesse Welch of Sterilite Corporation

There once was a person who decided to purchase a home with his wife. After nearly a year of searching, they decided on one with many quaint selling points. One of them was a pool, though the sellers admitted it was not functional at that time.

"Hahaa!" he proclaimed, "I can fix this thing." So began a story spanning three summers. A story of toiling in the sun, replacing all manner of pool parts, from liner to plumbing to filter, paying one massive water bill, staring at test strips, analyzing the results, talking to oneself, realizing there is nobody there, and self-consciously looking around to see if anyone saw the crazy guy.


I am that guy, and it is my pool – a pool that has become a spot for enjoyable weekends with friends and family, frequent barbecues, and as of last summer, our annual luau party (no, you can't come, I don't know you).

At the inaugural luau party, my wife and I realized the plethora of challenges that a pool party presents. Admittedly, I'm new to pool ownership, so some of these issues have been smoothed out as I gain experience with it. And seriously, I'm very relieved. At one point I considered just filling the thing with dirt and calling it a day.

At that first party we realized – of the many things needed for pool party success – floats, noodles and pool toys were an essential and obligatory party supply.

Noodles, as most people know, are foam, and can provide plenty of ammunition for pool hijinks. Spraying water at people by blowing into one end, submerging and then letting go to watch the glory of a noodle in flight, and just straight up smacking someone with it. They're fun. You may be wondering how many you need? You need a bunch. They wear out. Stand on them bouncing on the floor of the pool and they flatten. Leave them in the sun too long and they fade to an unappealing that-thing-must-be-really-old color.

Last year, we only had five of them, and you should have seen the look on the kids’ faces when they realized big bro was going to go noodle samurai on them and they didn't have one to defend themselves with. It's enough to make you cry, but no worries, you're in a pool, your face looks wet anyway.

So this year, we decided to get a total of fifteen. While I am confident no child will be left without proper defense for the near-guaranteed sibling assault, owning this many noodles posed a new problem. How do we store these things?

My first thought involved building a contraption from wood and attaching it to the wall, but it seemed like overkill. In the end, I found the perfect solution. I purchased a round laundry hamper and drilled a couple holes in the bottom for water to drain out, and voila! Noodle storage. After any party, or gathering, I just collect the noodles and toss into the laundry hamper. With the holes on the bottom, they get a chance to drain out before I stick them in the garage for long-term storage.



Owning a pool adds a lot of potential fun to your life, but what you inevitably get with that is a tremendous amount of effort, patience and an endless stream of things to spend money on. Using the hamper as my pool noodle storage has helped tame a potential headache before it could rear its noodle covered head, and I couldn't be happier.

Organized adoption space!

By Heather Kilduff of Sterilite Corporation

Approximately 5 – 7 million pets enter animal shelters nationwide every year. As a volunteer at a local shelter, Ahisma Haven Animal Rescue, I witness firsthand the need for such animal rescue groups. Many of these organizations are nonprofits and survive on donations and volunteerism alone.

To help keep costs a minimum at Ahisma Haven Animal Rescue, proper storage and organization help play a role in keeping supplies fresh, waste minimal and items like toys, brushes and other daily-use items from being lost or misplaced.

FOOD
Keeping pet food in this Ultra•Seal™ Dry Food Container ensures that it stays fresh and doesn’t go to waste. It’s important to the animals’ health and nutrition that the food be kept fresh. Plus, when most of the food is generously donated or sponsored, it’s even more important to prevent waste.


WATER
Keeping the animals hydrated is just as important as keeping them well fed. This 1 Gallon Pitcher makes filling all the water dishes simple and splash free. The secure lid and pop-top help to keep the water free from particles and debris.


LITTER
Storing fresh cat litter is a cinch with one of these Latching Utility Cans. Cat litter is known to release a dusty debris but the lid and latches help keep the area tidy and dust-free without risk of spillage.


LAUNDRY
Towels, blankets and pet beds are a few items that must be washed every few days to prevent odors and to keep the pets cozy and comfortable. A Wheeled Laundry Hamper is an effective way to keep the laundry concealed, contained and out of the way until laundry day. When the time does come to launder the linens, this hamper simply wheels to the laundry facities making the chore effortless.



LINEN STORAGE
Once the linens have been washed and folded, storing them in a blanket box will keep them fresh until they are in use again. I find that storing items like towels and blankets properly can extend the life of the linens, ultimately avoiding added cost to the shelter.

ODDS & END STORAGE
While items like brushes, collars, leashes and cat toys are small, they certainly can create disorganization. I find it best to store these odd and ends in baskets on available shelving, creating an organized storage system where items can be easily located.


In their effort to stay organized and to find good homes for abused and unwanted domestic animals, Ahisma Haven is certainly on the right track. If you’re looking for a pet, have a pet you can no longer keep, have questions about low cost spay/neuter, need help with stray or feral cats please email them at info@AhimsaHaven.org

Back-to-College Is Upon Us

By Heather Kilduff of Sterilite Corporation

It’s that time of year again when college students across the country are getting ready to move back to college. Many will cram their cars full and still end up leaving behind items too big or too numerous to fit.  But I have a few ideas to transport it all — and save the cramming for finals.

Create Space
Stackable File Crates are great for packing, moving and then storing all without the fuss of luggage. With the limited space available in dorm rooms, Underbed Storage Boxes are essential for maximizing storage space while still being able to access the items easily.


Expand your storage options
Too many clothes for the school issued dresser? Try using drawer carts to make college dorm living simple. Closet and dresser space can be limited so adding these easy-to-move carts can provide you the extra storage you need.  These space savers can hold anything from towels and socks to food and study supplies. The height is also ideal to have this cart double as a bedside table.


Desktop Organization
I truly believe that a successful education starts with organized study skills. Try equipping your desktop space with countertop drawers, mini crates, clip boxes, and pencil boxes. These items are ideal for keeping all your study tools organized and close at hand.


On-the-go Storage
With moving day just a few months away, be sure to pick up a Portable Footlocker. A Footlocker is another great way to pack, move, and then store all without bringing along your luggage. 


Now that you have all my get-organized-for-Back-to-College tips, go ahead and enjoy the rest of your summer … but be sure to work your butt off this semester – it’s sure to pay off!

Holding On To the Harvest

By Holly Kennedy of Sterilite Corporation

As the last of this summer’s strawberries were fading from the farmers’ markets, I rushed out to nab a couple of quarts to make one of my favorite summer treats – homemade strawberry ice cream. What better way to savor the tastes of summer a little longer than a cold, refreshing dessert?


Homemade ice cream is delicious and fairly easy if you have the right equipment. But it’s possible to make it even without an ice cream maker!

Like many Americans, I am allergic to dairy products, so I made my ice cream with canned coconut milk – the kind you’d find in the ethnic isle of your local grocery store. If you’d prefer to use traditional dairy products, you can refer to the original recipe using the link below.

Strawberry Ice Cream
Adapted from: Eggs on Sunday
2 cups whole-fat canned coconut milk (not light or coconut cream)
¾ cup sugar
1 pound strawberries, stems and hulls removed

Heat the coconut milk in a large pan over medium heat. Add the sugar and stir until dissolved.


Place the strawberries in the carafe of your blender and carefully add a couple of ladles-full of the milk mixture. Pulse a few times until the strawberries are chopped roughly. I prefer to have a few larger pieces of strawberries in my ice cream, but if you’d rather have a smoother ice cream, blend until smooth.

Add the strawberry mixture to the rest of the milk mixture and stir until well combined. Pour into an airtight food storage container and cover with a piece of plastic wrap. Push the plastic wrap down so it’s touching the surface of the ice cream base to prevent a skin from forming. Chill in the refrigerator overnight.


Now that the mixture is well chilled, break out your ice cream maker (did you remember to freeze the canister for at least 24 hours?). Get it all ready to go and turn machine on before adding your ice cream base. Carefully pour the base mixture into the machine and churn for 20 minutes until the ice cream is soft-serve consistency.


Transfer the ice cream into an airtight food storage container and freeze for several hours before serving.


I like to use the Ultra•Seal™ 8.3 cup Rectangle for my homemade ice creams. Most recipes make between one and two quarts so the size is perfect. Plus its rectangular shape means no sticky knuckles! This ice cream is a bit harder than traditional ice creams so let it warm up on the counter for a couple of minutes before trying to scoop.


This recipe would be great with other seasonal berries too. I tried making blueberry ice cream and it was pretty good. For those with a bigger sweet tooth, a bit more sugar perhaps, but it was fun to experiment regardless. If you try different berries or other flavorings, I’d love to hear about it!


Enjoy your taste of summer!

Are Your Cabinets Overrun With Clutter?

By Kellie Fournier of Sterilite Corporation

Until recently, I would cringe each time I opened my pantry cabinet. With my two-year-old thinking it’s a hiding spot and both my four-year-old and my husband looking for a snack, the cabinet was a disaster! So I decided it was time to reorganize, and believe me, it was not pretty! I put on a movie for my boys and got it done. This shouldn’t have taken more than an hour and half to complete, but with my distractions it took me nearly three hours.



Clean your space
I grabbed myself a stool to sit on so I could easily grab the canned goods, snacks, condiments, and bread. There are three deep shelves in my lower cabinet so I started with the top shelf and worked my way down. I took everything out and placed it on the floor. I grabbed my Clorox wipes and wiped down the shelves creating a clean space with which to work.

Purge and group
I started by checking the use-by date on all my canned goods and condiments and tossed anything that exceeded the use-by date. (Here’s a tip: If you are getting rid of any canned vegetables or fruit and you don’t want to waste anything, put the cans’ contents and some water in a blender and use as a fertilizer for your garden or house plants.) Next, I started grouping the remaining items – soups, condiments, breads, bottles of juice, and snacks. This allowed me to see what I was working with and determine where I wanted everything to go.

Reorganize
Now the fun part – ok, so maybe not fun for everyone, but it was for me! I have found that baskets and dry food storage containers are the most helpful when it comes to keeping cabinets neatly organized, so I picked up four Large Ultra™ Baskets and a dry food storage container.

I used one of the baskets to store our bread (hamburger buns, hot dog buns, sandwich bread, etc.), and the others for condiments, soups and salsa. To make it easy for my husband to find things, I labeled each basket with its contents.


I used the dry food storage container for the boys’ fruit snacks. Because the container is clear, it’s easy to see when it’s time to restock. I’m still on the hunt for a narrow shelf to place into the cabinet to gain more vertical storage, but it still looks better than it did!

So, there you have it, my simple solution to my pantry cabinet disaster. I’m very pleased with the end result and now, both boys can hide in this cabinet at the same time!

Battle of the Backpack – Contain the Chaos

This week's post is written by Professional Organizer Monica Friel, president of Chaos to Order based in Chicago and Atlanta. They have been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show and Hoarding: Buried Alive, as well as in Better Homes and Gardens, just to name a few. You can find them on the web at www.chaostoorder.com

School's out and summer is in full swing. Desks and lockers were emptied on the last day of class and chances are they were emptied into an overflowing backpack that's waiting at home to be cleaned out. Sorting through backpacks exploding with papers, clothing and school supplies can be an overwhelming job for anyone, especially the kids. Here are some tips to get the backpacks emptied and find an organized place for what remains.

First, get a large flat surface like a desk or table and empty out all of the contents. Grab a trash can and a recycle bin and toss what you can – everything else gets grouped. Divide what remains into categories, here are some of the basics (don't forget to let your kids help):

• Special papers to save in a keepsake folder for the school year
• School supplies for next year
• Supplies to replenish desk drawers at home (pens, pencils, crayons, markers, etc.)
• Clothing (gym uniforms, extra sweatshirts, etc.)
• Books (library books to return, text books to swap with someone for next year)
• Food (not the moldy stuff, but some candy and snacks that might be salvageable)

Now it doesn’t look so overwhelming anymore! These plastic clip boxes from Sterilite are the perfect size to contain school supplies such as pencils, crayons, markers, scissors, etc. Store them in an out-of-the-way place for next year or bring them to where your kids will be working on arts and crafts while they're home for the summer. With containers like these, it's easy to know how to put things back into their proper place, and they look great sitting out on the shelf.

Don’t Forget the Card!

By Heather Kilduff of Sterilite Corporation

This is your official reminder: Father’s Day is this weekend!

I gave up years ago on trying to keep an eye on my calendar of holidays and birthdays, setting a reminder to grab a card, then failing to do so in time. After a few solid years of missing these occasions, I gave the greeting card organizer a shot.


I chose one of these ShowOffs™ Storage Containers to keep my cards organized by occasion. I created my own file tab sorting system by simply trimming a standard size file folder to fit the storage box. This makes it so easy to find the card I need when the time comes!


The container latches securely and comes complete with a handle, which makes it easy to bring to work or the post office making it easier to send cards on time.


With everything organized, I’m a new woman, and now when it comes to sending greeting cards, I’m organized, I’m punctual and I am able to choose from a wide assortment of cards I purchased ahead of time.

So why not get organized? And be sure to remember your father this weekend with a greeting card!

Planning a Bridal Shower This Summer? Here’s How To Be a Step Ahead Of It All!

By Heather Kilduff of Sterilite Corporation

June is here and with wedding season upon us, bridal showers start to fill up the calendar.  I tend to plan a lot of showers, be they bridal or baby. I enjoy being a part of the planning and preparation. Invitations, games, prizes, favors – you name it, I’ve got it covered. Here are some of my secrets to staying organized so the chaos doesn’t spoil the fun!

Invitations
I prefer to prepare well ahead when it comes to invitations. Once the design has been selected, plan on ordering at least 15 extras (including envelopes) just in case a guest or two was forgotten on the original list. To keep the invitations looking their best, I keep them in a FlipTop storage container. I keep postage, mailing labels and the list all in one box. This way I know where to find everything I need for those last minute additions to the party.


Table centerpieces
Adding that special touch to each table is a must. Flowers or candles are nice – whatever your choice, it will need to be transported to the venue the day of the shower. I like to use the bottom of a storage box. The size depends on how many you have and how tall they are. Transporting your centerpieces in a storage box will save you hassle the day of the shower. (Tip: try stuffing newspaper in between each centerpiece to protect them against breaking or spilling.)


Games
Oh the games we all know and love! I usually prepare these a few weeks in advance too. I like to keep game cards, pens, tape, and any other necessities in one box. I prefer to use a Clip Box to keep everything neatly organized. The latches keep it securely closed and it’s easy for me to pack up and carry around.


So there you have it – my bridal shower organization tools! Go ahead and give them a try, because you can never be too organized!

The Key to Weight Loss is … Organization?

By Adam Saball of Sterilite Corporation

With summer just around the corner, many of us are aiming to lose a few of the pounds brought on by winter’s over indulging. The problem is most of us live fast-paced lifestyles that often lead to poor dietary choices making it harder to lose the weight. Overcoming this obstacle doesn’t have to be difficult. By organizing your meals for the week ahead of time, you can eliminate the poor lunch-hour decisions and get started on the body you want for the summer.

Did you know in order to lose one pound of fat you need to burn 3,500 more calories than you consume? This means to lose one pound a week, you need to consume 500 less calories than you burn per day. The average take-out meal exceeds 1,000 calories alone. By replacing one meal with a pre-made home cooked meal, you can eliminate 500 calories with minimal effort. Planning meals is much easier than you may think. Allow me to use myself as an example.

Sunday is my day of preparation. I plan what I will have for breakfast and lunch during my work-week, leaving dinner as my wildcard (if dinner is the meal you struggle with nutritionally, by all means plan it out too).  For breakfast, I make a smoothie using these ingredients:

•    A glass of Simply Orange Mango juice
•    2 bananas
•    ½ cup mixed berries
•    1 scoop of vanilla whey protein
•    1 cup of Quaker Oats oatmeal

After my trip to the grocery store on Sunday afternoon, I put all my berries in one Ultra•Seal™ food storage container, and put them in the freezer. I keep my protein powder and oatmeal in two separate Ultra•Seal™ Dry Food Storage containers on top of the refrigerator. Each morning, I put everything into the blender and after a few seconds, breakfast is served and ready for my drive to work. Taking into consideration the time spent in line, the smoothie is much quicker than grabbing a bagel on the go (not to mention healthier!).

For lunch, I typically eat an Italian seasoned chicken breast with avocado and mixed vegetables. Each Sunday, I take a few minutes and grill the chicken, usually five breasts at a time. When they are finished, I let them cool and store them in another Ultra•Seal™ food storage container. It’s quick for me to take one from the refrigerator each morning while gathering my lunch. If chicken is not your favorite meat, try another. If meat in general is not your thing, make whichever foods you enjoy. When organizing your meals ahead of time, it’s important to eat the healthy foods you like.

By spending a half hour each week organizing your meals, you can cut out a large number of calories you would normally consume. The result will be those slimming changes we strive for.  Ultimately, we all have the power to make the small changes in our diets, so what do you have to lose? Give it a shot! Personally, I’m always looking for new recipes to keep my breakfasts and lunches exciting. If you have a particular meal you enjoy, please share!

May Is For Moving

By Michelle Wood of Sterilite Corporation

In college, you might as well have renamed May to Moving Month. Thank goodness my days of moving in and out of dorm rooms and into Boston summer sublets are over. Nevertheless, May is still a big month for moving, and when you own a pick-up truck, you’re bound to get a few phone calls asking for a favor!

This time, the moving request was a unique one. My mother-in-law needed help moving from one adorable beach cottage to another, and she wanted to bring her established garden with her. She had no intentions of leaving all her beautiful flowers and herbs for the next tenant to mow over, so it became my job to dig-up and replant. My green-thumb reputation had gained me the best moving-day job ever!  While the rest of the family moved the countless Sterilite totes she had packed with clothes, china, books, office supplies, etc., I was gently digging around roots and pulling up enormous lavender and rosemary plants.

Storage totes often come to mind when moving day is on your calendar, but my particular job that day called for a unique use of those totes. They instantly became the perfect container for root balls and saplings. Because the containers are waterproof, I was able to give the plants a drink as they awaited transport to their new home. The handles on the totes made loading and relocating easy. After a quick rise and dry, the totes where ready to be placed back into long-term storage. Needless to say, the totes were more valuable to moving day then the pick-up truck was.