How to Build a Mail Slot Holder

Leave your kitchen counters clear by placing mail in an organizer.

Dealing with the influx of mail and other paperwork of a typical household may be an overwhelming task. Before you have the time to deal with the mail, it can clutter any surface, which adds to frustration. Building a mail slot holder out of household supplies can reduce the clutter and keep your mail organized until you’re ready to deal with it.

Things You'll Need

• Cardboard box
• Scissors
• Measuring tape
• Fabric or contact paper
• Spray adhesive
• Glue gun and glue
• Ribbon

Instructions

1. Cut off the top flaps of a cardboard box. Save the flaps.

2. Cover the box with contact paper or fabric. If you choose contact paper, measure the area you want to cover and cut out a piece of contact paper that exact size. Peel the back off of the contact paper and place it onto the measured piece of cardboard. If you choose fabric, cover the box with spray adhesive after measuring the pieces of fabric, then place the fabric onto the box.

3. Measure the width and height of the box’s opening. Cut out two pieces of the discarded flaps to match this measurement. These flaps serve as markers to indicate separate slots in the mail holder.

4. Cover the measured flaps with either contact paper or fabric.

5. Measure the length of the box, then divide it into thirds. Place the flaps 1/3 and 2/3 of the length. For instance, if the box is 21 inches, place one flap at the 7-inch mark and one at the 14-inch mark.

6. Glue the flaps to the box with a glue gun. Make sure they are straight before gluing. You may use adhesive spray, but a glue gun gives the slots a stronger hold.

7. Cut a length of ribbon about 3 feet long. Decide how long you want your ribbon, depending on how low you want the mail holder to hang.

8. Glue one edge of the ribbon to each of the top back corners of the mail holder.

9. Hang the mail holder with the ribbon on a fixture or nail already installed in your home, or hammer a new nail in your preferred location.

Tips & Warnings

• While you may use a glue gun to attach the fabric to the box, spray adhesive won’t leave any noticeable bumps like the glue from a glue gun might.

• Label the slots to suit your needs. For instance, “bills,” “important papers” and “outgoing mail” help further organize your paperwork.

References

• MSNBC Today Money: Tips for Organizing Your Snail Mail
• Noodlehead: Mail Organizer Tutorial