Techniques

• If you are buying a large plastic tub that will be used for the same item, label the box with a permanent marker. Examples are boxes that will hold Christmas ornaments or decor, loose nuts and bolts in the garage or seasonal clothing items you need to store during the offseason for the lack of closet space.

  Some plastic containers come with a built-in label slot. Simply slide an index card or other paper in the slot to identify the items within the container.

  Plastic shoe storage boxes are very popular for the shoe fanatic. These help keep the bottom of your closet area organized and keeps you from having to search for the missing mate to a pair of shoes. You can take a quick photograph of your shoes by using an instant camera with self-developing film and tape the picture to the end of the shoebox for easy identification.

  Labeling your plastic containers with sticky labels is a great way to quickly locate an item. You can find removable labels on the grocery aisle with the aluminum foil and plastic wraps or in an office supply store.