Less Mess, More Yes

Back to College Ready!

By Cassie Beigel of Sterilite Corporation

While enjoying summer days on the beach under the sun, the last thing someone wants to think about is heading back to college for the start of the fall semester. Unfortunately, bags don’t pack themselves and getting prepared to move into a college dorm room needs to happen at some point during the summer fun. Going back to school can be overwhelming and it’s difficult to remember all the things one needs to pack for a new dorm room. Dorm rooms typically aren’t the biggest which is why it’s important not to overpack and be clever with fitting all necessary belongings in that one room. Maximizing storage is essential when there is limited space!

The Sterilite Wide 3 Drawer Cart is a perfect storage solution that doubles as a great nightstand to keep next to the bed in a dorm room. The cart’s three wide drawers can hold anything from textbooks to clothes to bedside necessities. Instead of carrying a heavy nightstand from the car to the new dorm room on move-in day, this cart has casters on the bottom making it easy to transport and move wherever needed.

Community showers can be a new concept to many when moving into college for the first time. The luxury of being able to keep all bathroom and shower products stored in the bathroom doesn’t exist when living in a dorm. The Sterilite Bath Caddy is perfect for holding shampoo, toothpaste, body wash, and all other essentials to and from the bathroom. Keep this caddy somewhere in the room where it can be quickly grabbed on the way to the bathroom to take a shower or brush teeth before class.

Of course if someone lives in a dorm, they’re going to need something that makes bringing laundry back and forth from the building’s laundry room as effortless as possible. The Sterilite 1.75 Bushel Ultra™ Wheeled Laundry Basket was practically made for a dorm room! Its wheels and handle make it extremely simple to transport clothes and take away from the dread of laundry day. This basket can even be used as a hamper for storing dirty clothes.

These three items will make living in a dorm a lot more manageable. Good luck and happy moving!

Final Days of Summer

By Tori Lind of Sterilite Corporation

Who said summer has to stop after Labor Day? Here in Massachusetts, the weather is still pretty hot and it looks like the sunshine is planning to stay, at least for a few more weeks! My family is planning to take advantage of the warm weather and spent another weekend out on the lake. Below are my favorite, go-to storage items that are perfect for the boat.


The 20 Quart Gasket Box is perfect for keeping items sand and water protected. Not to mention, it’s super easy to transport. In this box I keep:

• Plastic utensils
• Plastic cups
• Paper plates
• Paper towels
• Trash bags
• Wipe

I love this box because it’s very slim so I can keep it on the boat all season long and then I can restock items as needed. It’s also super easy for family and friends to find things, thanks to the clear base and lid!

The FlipTop is a great small storage solution for any miscellaneous items! I try to stay stocked up on the following:

• Band Aids
• Advil
• Sunscreen
• Bug Stray
• Lip Balm
• Tissues

This is the perfect size container for the boat and can hold various other items including cell phones and small wallets!

It wouldn’t be a successful day out on the water without a yummy lunch. I love using the Ultra Seal 4.0 Cup and Ultra Seal 5.8 Cup. Both of these items are lightweight which is a win for me since I always end up carrying the cooler! We offer different sizes and colors of food storage containers so be sure to check them out to make sure you get a size that works for you.

Happy boating and enjoy the last few sunny days!

Ready, Set, Road Trip!

Written By Natalie Aguilar, Photos By Tori Lind of Sterilite Corporation

It is easy to get caught up in the stress of work, school, family and just life in general. However, we have to remember to give ourselves a break once in a while and let our minds and bodies unwind and recharge. This summer, make it a priority to do something fun with your family, whether it’s a day trip or a week long vacation! Continuing reading for a few of my favorite road trip hacks.


On The Go Snacks
If you are anything like my family, you NEED to pack snacks. Heck, I have to pack snacks for a 15-minute drive to Target. One of my biggest pet peeves is when all the snacks are mixed into one bag and you have to dig to find something that perks your interest. That’s why I am always telling friends and family about the Sterilite Stack & Carry Layer Handle Box & Tray! This item is perfect for keeping everything organized and sealed, especially with you kids in the car. The person sitting in the back can find a snack, latch it up and pass it to the next person. Can it get any easier?!

Bonus: when you get to your destination, any uneaten snacks can be stored efficiently in the pantry or refrigerator for later!


First Aid Kit
Accidents happen, and although we try to avoid them as much as we possibly can, there’s no telling the future and what can occur. So, what’s the best thing you can do? Stay prepared! That’s why I always keep a first aid kit in my car. I drive a small SUV and hate having bulky things that I don’t use every day take up space. That’s why I use the Sterilite Flip Top to store all my supplies. Some items to stock up on are band aids, gauze, ibuprofen, motion sickness medicine, bug spray, and sunscreen.

Bonus: most hotel rooms and vacation homes don’t have a first aid kit so if anything ever happened you will be prepared!


I hope you all have an amazing summer and find some time for a road trip with the family and utilize these hacks!

Desk For Success

By Michaela Coyle of Sterilite Corporation

Now that work from home is the new normal, we need to do our best to create the most productive work space. If you are like me and do not typically work from home, it is likely that you do not have a home office or even a desk in your house to work from. Personally, I am using my kitchen table as a makeshift desk, but it can be a bit overwhelming when the office space needs to be turned back into a kitchen eatery for family dinner every night.

To make the transition a bit easier, I am using the Sterilite Bath Caddy with an alternative use other than to transport shower supplies. Simply, fill the caddy with all of the essential office items you need to use throughout the work day, and easily remove it from the table when your work day is over! The Bath Caddy is divided into 5 separate compartments. The small compartments in the middle are perfect for pens, pencils, and highlighters while the other side is great for sticky notes, paper clips, and scissors. The two larger compartments on each side provide plenty of room for items such as a lap top charger, stapler, tape dispenser, notebook and any other essentials you need to make your workday successful.

With a little help from Sterilite, you now have a functional work space and a quick way to clean up and go back to the next day!

Attention All Soccer Moms!

By Shannon Fahey of Sterilite Corporation

Fall is such a beautiful time of year. The weather begins to cool down so you can bring out your sweaters, jeans and scarves again. The leaves start to change colors into beautiful reds, oranges, and yellows. And fall sports are in full swing! 

If your kids play a fall sport than you know how exciting this time of year can be! However, you also know that it can be a bit stressful too. Whether it is soccer, football, field hockey or volleyball, there is always an activity after school - either a practice or a game. Therefore, you are probably spending a lot of time driving to and from the field. Remember that carpools are a lifesaver! Switch off with the other parents on who drops off and picks up.

As the kids get older, there becomes more and more practices and games. Especially if you have more than one kid playing sports. It is no longer just a practice during the week and a game on the weekend. This means there are more opportunities where your kids comes home and take off their cleats, shin guards and socks and leave them out to stink up the house! Soccer equipment smells more than you could ever imagine. It is just as bad as football and hockey equipment. You can smell those things from a mile away. However, what if you could find a way to combat the smell of soccer equipment this fall?! With a little help from Sterilite, now you can. The whole family will thank you!


Attention all soccer moms! (And any and all sports parents in general). Here is some firsthand advice on how to deal with your kids smelly equipment after a sporting event. As soon as the kids get in the door, it is important to tackle the problem right away. Once they take off all their equipment and you send them up for a shower, throw their socks and uniform straight in the wash. Otherwise, these too will stink up the house. If you are not doing laundry that day, let the clothes air out on the back deck or driveway for a bit before throwing them in the hamper. This will help alleviate the smell.

Now it is time to address the main source of the smell. Normally, you just put away their cleats and shin guards with the rest of the shoes in the mudroom. However, this does not solve the problem. The next time they go to soccer, their equipment still stinks and so does your entire mudroom. Well, Sterilite has the answer to your sports equipment dilemma - our line of Fresh Scent Boxes!


The next time the kids come home from a long day of sports, take advantage of Sterilite’s 15 Quart Fresh Scent Boxes. Set up one box or multiple boxes, depending on how many little athletes are in the house. You can even label the Fresh Scent Boxes with each child's name. Simply place a dryer sheet in the top ventilation compartment, and have your kids keep their cleats and shin guards in there when not in use. This way, you never have to scramble before a sporting event trying to find their equipment, and it will help eliminate the smell! What more could you want?! 

Organizational Guide to Wedding Season

By Natalie Aguilar of Sterilite Corporation

Calling all Hairdressers and Makeup Artists! Wedding season is upon us, one of the busiest seasons of the year. Running around getting stuff done on the big day can be hectic, with the bride wanting picture-perfect hair and the bridesmaids getting their flawless makeup done. However, there is also a lot that can go wrong, which is why it is always good to stay alert and be prepared! When dealing with the chaos, here is a helpful pro tip to keep you organized and on your toes on the big day! Try using our Divided Case for your accessories and necessities! It will create a more strategic and organized approach to tackling this special event.

For all of my hairdressers out there, you can use the Divided Case for storing your bobby pins, hair elastics, combs, clips, and everything else you will need to prepare! Things can get out of hand pretty quickly on the big day, especially if unplanned. Whether you are looking for your hairspray for some finishing touches or for your hairpins to secure those loose curls, it’s important to always stay organized.


For all my makeup artists, use the Divided Case for storing your favorite makeup brushes, beauty blenders, lipsticks, and eyeshadows! This case is ideal for transporting all of your makeup supplies to and from the wedding!


And don’t worry, we know accidents happen - our safety latch will help prevent all of your goods from getting misplaced or muddled on this chaotic day!

Organizing your work space can be very difficult at times, but it is one of the most important components to reducing stress. By planning ahead you are able to tackle any task, whether its hair and beauty related or not!

Enhancing Your Dorm Experience - Part 1

By Chris Higley of Sterilite Corporation

This is Part One of a two part mini-series aimed at improving your life in a dorm, mainly through utilizing storage effectively and stylishly. This particular quick read focuses on organizing and storing your stuff. Plus, it gives you above-and-beyond ideas to keep your room fresh and smelling nice. 

Settling into a dorm room includes setting up belongings to suit your personal style and creating a comfortable living environment. In the midst of classes and other activities, life can get hectic and things will get messy. 

I can tell you these things from firsthand experience as I’m heading into my senior year at Bentley University, a four-year university in Waltham, MA. By trudging through my own learning curve, I have picked up tricks and life hacks for making dorm life easier. Whether you are an incoming freshman or already have at least a year under your belt, these tips can make your transition to living at school easier. Without further ado, here are a few ways to attain a greater peace of mind at your school living space. 

Organizing Your Way into Less Stress and Easier Living
One way to make your life easier for each of the challenges that face any college student living on campus is to use storage containers to transport and keep your stuff organized. Creating an organized dorm room can also reduce stress and improve the feeling of the dorm room for you and your visitors. 

A Fresh Way to Keep Your Sporty Supplies

Many students at college tend to be active, whether they are involved in academic activities, clubs or intramural sports. Taking advantage of opportunities outside of the classroom is fun and healthy. A drawback can be athletic equipment spread out around a dorm room creating a sense of near-chaos that can cause extra stress. If you’re anything like me, you want to reduce stress where you can.

There is convenience and peace of mind that the typical storage boxes bring you; and then there’s the next level up. Sterilite’s 32 Quart Fresh Scent Storage Box, which can fit under even a low set bed, is able to neutralize odors and provides a light, fresh scent with a compartment for your favorite dryer sheets. This comes in handy especially when storing frequently worn athletic shoes or cleats, baseball mitts and so on. Moreover, the securing latch supports a seal-like quality helping to conceal any unwanted odors. 

Having a fresh smelling dorm room can do wonders for your comfort, peace of mind and general living quality. Also, because most schools discourage flame in the room and room sprays can be a hassle; Reed Diffusers are a low-maintenance, long-lasting and affordable way to enhance the aroma of your whole room.

Pro-Tip for Stylishly Organized Storage
To conceal under-bed storage when your comforter doesn’t quite reach the ground, you can use a stylish blanket or fitting tapestry to make the storage space beneath the bed less conspicuous while adding your personal touch on the room. 

Storage itself can also look stylish enough, with stacking drawers or crates. Sterilite File Crates, like the ones shown in the picture, are a fun way to store and display your stuff that shows off your trendy side. You can put water bottles, books, laundry detergent or even your soccer ball in each of these crates. Did I mention they are easy to stack? This allows you to set them up however you want and further personalize this cool room feature.

Another helpful way to store items, like clothes and shoes, is with the different stacking drawers. Some great ones to use are Sterilite’s 6 Quart Stacking Drawer, the 16 Quart Stacking Drawer and 27 Quart Stacking Drawer. Again, the simple stacking feature allows for a customized stack, however you want to set up the drawers. A stack of a few drawers can fit under your dorm room bed, depending of course on how high your bed is. The clear front of each drawer makes it easy to remember what stuff is where and to easily find what you need. When everything has its place and you know where all your stuff is, life in the dorm room gets a lot simpler and more relaxing. 

I hope these tips will help to enhance your dorm experience. Stay organized, study smart and have fun! Keep an eye out for the next issue of this helpful series that will pop up before the end of the summer!

Strawberry Picking Sweetness!

By Lauren Mason of Sterilite Corporation

Summer is in full swing- The days are longer, the temperatures are rising, and strawberries are ripe! Now that school is out, the kids will have a lot of spare time on their hands looking for fun activities to partake in. One of my personal favorite summer activities is going strawberry picking. There is something about walking up and down the rows of bushes, seeing all the ripe, red strawberries while kids run around to pick the best ones. It is a perfect way to get some fresh strawberries for yourself, and keep the kids away from the TV for an afternoon.

Sometimes, the little baskets that the farm gives out just aren’t enough to hold all the berries you want. This is where Sterilite’s 5 Quart Pail comes in handy! The sturdy wire handle enables you to carry as many strawberries as you want without any worry. The textured finish is perfect for decorating, so you can let the kids draw on the outside in preparation for the trip. And afterwards, it is very simple to clean off. Even permanent markers can be washed off of the pail with nail polish remover!

Of course, the real prize of strawberry picking isn’t in the picking itself, but in the yummy strawberry treats that are made afterwards. The only problem I ever come across is deciding how to eat them! There are so many great ways to prepare strawberries, regardless of the fact that they are delicious on their own. One of my favorite desserts has always been strawberry trifle.

Ingredients:
• 2 pounds of freshly picked strawberries
• 2 packages JELL-O vanilla pudding mix
• 4 cups milk (to make the pudding)
• 3 cups cool whip
• Angel Food Cake

Instructions:
1) Start by making the vanilla pudding according to the directions on the package.  Then put in the fridge to allow it to set.
2) Wash and slice the strawberries.
3) Break up the Angel Food Cake into bite size pieces.
4) Using Sterilite’s Ultra Seal 4.7 Quart Bowl, layer in all of the ingredients.
5) Begin by covering the bottom of the bowl with the Angel Food Cake
6) Next, spoon in an even layer of the pudding
7) Top that off with a layer of Cool Whip
8) Add a layer of strawberries
9) Repeat steps 5-8 until the bowl is full!

Another option is the classic strawberry short cake! This is a fan-favorite that can be enjoyed at any time of the year, but having freshly picked strawberries makes it even better.

So go, grab the kids and head on out to the closest strawberry farm!

Planning A Perfect Picnic!

By Lauren Mason of Sterilite Corporation

The warm and sunny summer days are approaching and there is no better place to be than outside enjoying the great weather. It can be easy to fall into a weekend slump of lying on the couch and watching TV in the AC after a long work week.  However, lounging outside in the sun can be even more relaxing and you might even get a bit of a tan. With a beautiful weekend coming up and nothing else going on a, picnic seemed like the perfect idea to me.

Tips for a Spectacular Picnic:
It doesn’t take a genius to plan a great picnic. It just takes a little organization and some out of the box thinking. Here are some tips on how to make sure you can have a terrific picnic.

1) Don’t just grab a blanket – Instead, use a fitted bed sheet as your base. Put coolers and bags at each corner to hold up the edges of the sheet. This will create a wall to keep out bugs and dirt. You’ll thank me when there is no train of ants going through your food and invading your picnic.

2) Say goodbye to ice packs – Try freezing water bottles to put inside your cooler instead of using icepacks. This will give you extra space to pack more food.  The frozen water bottles will keep your cooler cold and you will have plenty of water to drink and stay hydrated after the ice melts.

3) DIY Snackables – This is one of my personal favorites. Use a mason jar and an empty fruit cup to create personalized on-the-go snacks. The fruit cup fits perfectly in the lid of the mason jar and depending on the snack, the cup can go on the inside or the outside. Some favorites are chips and salsa, veggies and hummus, and yogurt with fruit and granola.

This should be a good start for your picnic preparation. Now comes the fun part: What to eat! Obviously there are infinite options to choose from. It is typically best to stick with finger food. The simpler the better in my opinion! Here are some of my picnic food favorites:
        - Strawberry Lemonade
        - BLT Pasta Salad
        - Sandwich Kabobs

The pasta salad fits perfectly inside Sterilite’s Ultra Seal 6.2 Cup Round, and the Ultra Seal 5.7 Cup Square is ideal for sandwiches. I also used the Ultra Seal 2.2 Quart Pitcher for the lemonade (my personal favorite drink). The Ultra Seal line does an incredible job at keeping food fresh and secure. The tightly fitted lids are awesome for transporting your lunch to the picnic.

I hope you enjoy a beautiful day of snacking and laughing at your picnic! It is a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

A Sweet Kick-off to Summer!

By Lauren Mason of Sterilite Corporation

Memorial Day weekend is the official kick-off to summer and cookouts! Whether you’re going to the beach or hosting a backyard barbecue, this homemade mango lemonade is sure to be a crowd pleaser.

Mango Lemonade Cooler
Take a look at this tropical twist on a summer staple. This mango lemonade recipe is quick, easy and guaranteed to keep you cool.

Ingredients:
• 4 tablespoons agave nectar
• 2 mangos (pre-sliced, pre-packaged mangos will also work)
• 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 cup fresh strawberries
• 3 cups water

Instructions:
1) Melt the agave by placing it in a microwave safe bowl with 1 cup of water. We recommend using Sterilite’s 20 Ounce Bowl. Heat in the microwave on high for 1 minute, or until the mixture has melted. Let cool.
2) Peel and puree the mangos. If you slice the mango lengthwise and widthwise while still in the peel, it makes it easier to remove the pieces (see image below).
3) In Sterilite’s 1 Gallon Round Pitcher, combine the agave mixture, mango puree, strawberries, lemon juice and 2 cups of water.
4) Stir thoroughly until mixed
5) Serve over ice

This drink is the ideal concoction to deliver the cool refreshing sweetness you need after a day of soaking up the sun. Relax, unwind and enjoy a Mango Lemonade Cooler this holiday weekend!