Less Mess, More Yes

College Survival Kit!

By Natalie Aguilar of Sterilite Corporation

Searching for a personal, useful and affordable gift for a recent high school graduate moving to college this fall? Well look no further! With a little help from Sterilite you can create the ultimate College Survival Kit with all of the essentials they’ll need for their freshman year of school.

Graduating high school and starting college can be overwhelming and getting used to a different place that isn’t your home can be frightening.  Therefore, giving a gift that adds a personal touch will mean so much to them! Whether this gift is for your child, sibling, or friend the Sterilite College Survival Kit is ideal for anyone starting college this fall!

Be creative! Any of our Ultra Laundry Baskets makes the perfect base for a personalized goodie basket. Not to mention they can use this basket for all of their laundry needs while living on campus. My personal favorite is the 1.25 Bu HipHold Laundry Basket. It comes in two great colors, and the contoured shape makes it comfortable to rest on your hip. This is perfect when going up and down multiple flights of stairs to the laundry room in your freshman dorm. 

Once you pick out a laundry basket, fill it with some of their favorite treats, a little piece of home, and some college essentials. Try to customize it with some of their personal favorites. For example, if they play sports you can fill the basket with headbands, a water bottle, or any equipment needed for the given sport. You can also try adding some fun picture frames, their favorite snacks, room decorations or a warm fuzzy blanket and fun pillows to make their room feel more like home.


In addition to personalized items, every incoming freshman needs the college essentials, especially if they are living on campus. To help, simply go to your local discount store or shopping center and pick out some everyday essentials that a college student would need!

Here are some ideas to help you out:
          • Notebooks
          • Pens/ Pencils
          • Instant Food
          • Candy/ Snacks
          • Tumblers
          • First Aid Kit
          • Clothing Hangers
          • Towels

Moving away to school can be hard, so having a little piece of home can be very comforting. That is why this personalized gift using our Laundry Basket is perfect for anyone moving into campus this year.

DIY Beverage Float

By Shannon Fahey of Sterilite Corporation

There is nothing more relaxing than a beautiful summer day at the pool! Whether it’s your backyard pool, a neighborhood pool or a friend’s pool, it is hard to beat. The beach is amazing but it can be such a hassle. You wake up early, get the kids ready, pack lunches, and load the car up with beach toys, only to sit in a long line of traffic. This can make for a stressful day. Also, beaches are just so crowded, especially on a hot summer day. It can be really hard to find a parking spot or even a place to sit on the beach. If you go to the pool, you don’t have that problem. You can lay back and have some you time!

As your kids are busy playing in the pool for hours, you can lay out in the sun and read a good book or jump into the pool to cool off. You could also grab a magazine and a float to lounge in while the kids are splashing around. However, for ultimate relaxation, you shouldn’t have to get out of the pool to grab a drink for you and the kids. What if drinks were right by your side?

Check out our awesome DIY Beverage Float to fix this problem. This way you will always stay hydrated and relaxed. Simply follow these easy steps below to create this fun item for your next pool day.

1) Use a plastic container such as Sterilite’s 16 Quart Storage Box for the base.
2) Find a fun colorful pool noodle. Then, cut the pool noodle into 4 pieces to fit the edges of the plastic container.
3) Cut half way through the noodle pieces and then attach them to the edges of the plastic container. Use a hot glue gun for extra stability.
4) Fill with ice, add your favorite drinks, and place the float into the pool!

It is as easy as that! Now you will have a perfect floating beverage holder with you in the pool for drink access at the tip of your fingers.

Happy Floating!