Control the Lid Chaos with this DIY Solution

By Lauren Mason of Sterilite Corporation

Organizing your food storage containers can be a nightmare! You can never find the size you need, and once you do, you definitely cannot find the right cover. No matter where you store these containers, there is no easy solution to the mess.


I use Sterilite’s Ultra•Seal™ Food Storage Containers and one great feature about these is the color-coding system. It eliminates the challenge of identifying which lid goes to which base and all food storage containers of the same color nest perfectly inside one another to help save space. However, I still wanted a way to organize these containers better. I was talking with one of the engineers at Sterilite and he came up with the idea of building a lid rack in my cabinet. This DIY project is quick and easy and will allow you to separate lids in your cabinet by size and color. By following these simple step by step directions, finding the right lid will be a breeze with your new lid rack.


Materials:

• (1) ¾ in. x 2 ft. x 4 ft Handy Panel Birch Plywood
• (1) ¼ in. x 48 in. Wooden Dowel
• (10) #8 x 1 ½ in. Wood Screws
• 1 can of Miniwax Fast Drying Polyurethane Protective Finish
  

Steps:

1. Using a fined tooth skill saw, cut the Birch Plywood into four triangular pieces that will serve as the lid dividers. Depending on the size of your cabinet and the number of lids you will be storing, you can cut additional dividers if desired.
2. Cut a piece of the Birch Plywood to serve as the backboard of the lid holder. The size of this backboard will depend on the size of your cabinet.
3. Fasten the triangular dividers to the backboard with wood screws. Use two screws per divider, drilling one at the top and one at the bottom.
4. Drill two holes into the sides of the triangular dividers, making sure they are high enough from the ground so the latches don’t touch the bottom of the cabinet.
5. Cut the wooden dowel into 6 pieces, each 5 inches long. Secure the dowels into the holes, connecting the triangular dividers to one another.
6. Remove all dust from the lid rack with a damp cloth and finish with Miniwax Fast Drying Polyurethane. This is one of the most durable coatings for wood protection. Stir well and apply a thin coat using a high quality foam brush. Wait until dry and apply a second coat. After the second coat, wait 24 hours before using.
7. Optional: to make this device more secure, you can screw the backboard into the back of your cabinet.

Happy building!

Comments

[Dictionary101]

Neat idea. I may have to give it a shot. My storage container cupboards are a disaster. I saw something similar online last week, but it was upwards of $200. Thank you for the thrifty idea.

[Kim Timbrell]

I'm a organization person and I just love all your products.