How to Use Shoe Organizers Around the House

Those over-the-door shoe organizers have so many uses besides holding your shoes that you'll be tempted to buy one for every room in your house. The pockets are a great size for sorting items.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Steel yourself against Old Man Winter. A shoe organizer is absolutely perfect for storing hats, gloves, mittens, scarves, earmuffs, lip balm, winter socks and the sunglasses you'll need for cold and snowy weather. Hang one in your coat closet or in your mudroom for easy access by the whole family.

2. Take one along on a road trip. Buy one shoe organizer, cut it in half. Hang one half on the back of both front car seats for children sitting in the back to store their art supplies, hand-held game cartridges, MP3 players, small toys, games, snack packages and water bottles. They'll have their own spaces and can keep the back seat clean.

3. Store all gift-wrapping supplies. You know what it's like when you start to wrap a gift and can't find the tape or scissors, a bow or ribbon. If you designate an organizer pocket for each of these items and sort by color, you won't have to hunt around the house. Hang it in a spare bedroom or closet.

4. Organize your office and your kids' school supplies. If you have a home office, it can be supply central. Hang the shoe organizer on the back of the door and place all of your office supplies in the pockets. You can include highlighters, pens, pencils, tape, staples, staplers, notepads, erasers, various sizes of envelopes. The supplies will always be in the same place and easy to find.

5. Give your kids extra bathroom storage. Hang a shoe organizer on the back of your kids' bathroom door and designate pockets for each child. They can store their hairbrushes, combs, hair products, deodorants, perfumes, lotions and anything else they need to get ready for school in the morning. Clear pockets will make the contents easily visible.

6. Provide more spaces for stuffed animals. If you have smaller children who have an abundance of furry friends, put them in the pockets of the shoe organizers. Your kids can find whomever they're looking for without a problem. This also works well for smaller, miscellaneous toys, and it will help your children keep their rooms tidy.

7. Buy a shoe organizer for your utility room. By hanging one in your utility room, you can fill the pockets with your cleaning supplies where you can find them. Store your scrubbing brushes, sponges, spray bottles, rags, old toothbrushes and cleaning products in the pockets.