Plastic Storage Bins

I hate--no, that's too mean of a word--I despise those plastic storage tote things.  You know what they are.

 

These satanic things.  Why do I hate--sorry, despise--these things?  Here's a list:

1. They're bulky.  I don't care how much stuff you can put in them, these things take up valuable space when you store them.  They especially take up valuable space when you have to put something bulky in them.  Since the bottom is narrower than the top, you can't really use that space where it angles out with those bulky things.
2. They're ugly.  Just look at it!  It's a big eyesore!  Name one house that you've been to that has these for organization (and visible) and you though "What a pretty house!"  No.  Just, no.
3. They give a bad impression.  Every time I watch Hoarders, I see these things.  Automatically, I link these to hoarding (even before the show came out).  I have a big fear of becoming a hoarder and living in a house where it's an obstacle course just to sit on the couch.
4. I've had a bad past with plastic storage totes.  I would randomly put stuff in them and hide them away.  I'd wind up forgetting about them and wind up with a mess when I finally decided to organize them out.  I'd rather stay away from this.

Now these storage bins aren't all that bad.  There is a good side to them and pretty much the only way how I see them as useful.  They're great for seasonal stuff.  Put all of the ornaments for the tree in them, some wreaths, maybe even a tree, perfect for the lights though.  However, they must be stored right as well.  They can't be splayed out in a living room, garage, or anywhere at that.  Unless you have them stowed away in the attic, or neatly on a shelf in the garage, or anywhere out of sight (even from yourself), then they don't belong.

 

My mother actually uses these quite well.  My step-dad is in the Army and his uniforms take up a lot of room.  He puts them in a storage tote, and puts the tote easily accessible in his closet.  I find this acceptable because it's only one because my mom limited him to the one.  My mom also puts her seasonal clothes in a tote and takes them out to the barn so they can't be seen in the house.  She also has a storage tote for her shoes.  It's actually a pretty neat one that has wheels and is short enough that she can store it under the bed and pull it out when she needs it (out of sight even from yourself...unless you're actually looking for it.) 

This is somewhat what it looks like.

 

I think I learned from her about my feelings of these totes.

 

So let's refresh.

Reasons I despise totes:

• They're bulky
• They're ugly
• They give a bad impression
• Bad past

Acceptable uses:

• Only ONE is being used in plain sight
• They're not in the house
• They're not easily visible

Now you know why I'm not a fan of plastic storage bins!