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Organize Your Whole House with One Trip to the Dollar Store

January 24, 2013 by madincrafts 49 Comments

There are any number of excuses I can make for why I haven’t taken the time to organize our house: not enough time to do it all, don’t know where to start, organizational supplies are too expensive, etc. It’s easy to get discouraged and quit before I am even started. But the truth is the supplies to get an entire house in order don’t have to cost a small fortune. Most of them can be found right at the local dollar store. I wanted to prove to myself that you can organize your whole house using items from the dollar store.

To prove this to myself, and to you, I took a trip to my local Dollar Tree. ONE trip, no going back for forgotten items or things they didn’t have in stock. I brought along my iPod and took photos of all the supplies they carry that can be used to get a house in order.

The uses for some of the supplies are obvious; you use the drawer organizers to organize drawers and the laundry bags to hold dirty (or clean) laundry. But you can use items found at the Dollar Store for many organizational purposes. How many, you ask? Well, how about one hundred?

I have compiled 100 ways you can organize your whole house using items from the dollar store. One trip, 100 solutions. Let’s do this!

EDIT: Some of you have told me you either don’t have a Dollar Tree near you or can’t find these specific items, so I am including some Amazon links to similar products in each section. These are all affiliate links, if you make a purchase (of anything on Amazon, not just these items) after clicking through, I will earn a small commission. Ads and affiliate links are the way I am able to keep this website running and to offer you free tutorials all year long. Thank you so much for supporting me and Mad in Crafts!

Dollar Store Organization Using Bins

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Dollar Store Organization Ideas Using Plastic Buckets

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Organize Your Whole House Using Baskets

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Dollar Tree Organization Using 3-Ring Binders

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Dollar Tree Organization Hacks Using Cardboard Boxes

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Organize Your Whole House Using Clothespins

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Dollar Tree Organization Ideas Using Suit Storage Bags

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Organize Your Whole House Using Over the Door Storage

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Dollar Store Organization with Laundry Bags

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Dollar Store Organization Ideas with Desk Organizers

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Dollar Tree Organization with Hooks

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Dollar Tree Organization Hacks with File Folders

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Dollar Tree Organization Ideas with Ice Cube Trays

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Organize Your Whole House with Jars

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Dollar Store Organization That Uses Small Lidded Containers

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Dollar Store Organization Ideas That Use Trash Cans

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Dollar Tree Organization That Uses Shower Caddies

Gift Wrap Organizer

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Dollar Tree Organization Hacks That Use Shower Curtain Rings

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Dollar Tree Organizing with Silverware Trays

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Organize Your Whole House with Plastic Cups

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Organization Hacks with Pill Organizers

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FOR MORE GREAT ORGANIZATION AND STORAGE IDEAS, CHECK OUT THESE LINKS!

50+ Free Cleaning and Organizing Printables at The Country Chic Cottage
DIY Removable Storage Labels at Dollar Store Crafts
Organize Your Stuff Online at Just Paint It!

HERE ARE THOSE SAME 100 TRICKS ORGANIZED BY ROOM:

CRAFTS

Organize Your Scrapbook Supplies
Bobbin Storage
Button Storage
Easy Ribbon Dispenser
Gift Wrap Storage
Thread Organization
Gift Wrap Organization
Craft Paint Organization
Scrap Ribbon Storage
Tidy Bakers Twine Organization
Organize Craft Supplies
Organize Future Craft Projects
Yarn Organization
Organize Your Craft Supplies
Small Craft Organization
Baker’s Twine Dispenser
Gift Wrap Organizer

LAUNDRY ROOM

Laundry Room Organization
Laundry Room Organization with printables

MISCELLANEOUS

Moving Day Organization
Organized Video Games, Handheld Systems, and Chargers
Off-Season Clothing Storage
Outgrown Kids Clothes Storage
Multiple Storage Ideas
Car Organization 1
Car Organization 2
Organize Your Tool Box
Spare Change Organizers
Recycling Organizatio n
Christmas Ornament Storage
Rag Dispenser
Key and Sunglasses Storage

Comments

Marian says
April 4, 2014 at 4:15 pm
This is just absolutely brilliant! Thanks for the tips 🙂
Reply
- Lyz says
  April 26, 2014 at 2:58 pm
  What dollar store are you purchasing from? Your selection there far trumps our Dollar Tree stores here.
  Reply
  - madincrafts says
    April 27, 2014 at 10:10 pm
    I do have a pretty big DT near me, but mostly it depends on the time of year. January (organization season) and August (back to school season) are especially good for these kinds of supplies.
    Reply
- Sarah says
  January 2, 2015 at 12:22 am
  This seems like a good idea in theory but your post is simply a collection of ideas. Therefore, you are just posting things that won’t actually work. I have the over the door organizer you mention and it is not even close to being big enough to store wrapping paper, shoes, or baby wipes, etc. Not really sure how this post is helpful since you obviously haven’t used these items but just trying to do generic posts. I have several other items on this list and the same issues apply to those sugfestions as well. You have to remember many of tgese itrms are smaller so it doesn’t mean it will work for any project.
  Reply
  - madincrafts says
    January 2, 2015 at 2:51 pm
    I am sorry that you haven't had success with the ideas in this round up. Some of the posts linked in this post are mine, meaning I came up with the idea, tried them myself and shared them on my blog. Hopefully you can find ideas that work for you elsewhere.
    Reply
    - David says
      January 4, 2015 at 4:06 am
      Personally I think her comment was a liitle rude. Who cares of her stuff is “smaller”… whatever. Everything on this page is a good idea. Some products may work better than others. I just started a new blog about dollar tree shopping and that’s how I can came across this post from google as I was looking for some articles to link to that had some tips for shopping at dollar stores. I’m going to add a link to this page sooner or later (already added it to my list – just don’t know when it’s going up yet lol). This post reminded me I need some new laundry hampers so I’m gonna add that to my next dollar tree shopping list and see if they have some on my next trip.
      Reply
    - Lisa says
      January 15, 2015 at 8:22 pm
      I really appreciate your kind response to the comment by Sarah. I have been married over 30 years and have ten kids and I still found a lot of useful tips. Not everything works for everybody every time. You went to a lot of trouble with this great post and I’m sure a lot of people got tons of ideas. Thanks for your hard work and for the help! (And for the good attitude to a rude-ish post)
      Reply
  - deborah says
    February 27, 2015 at 3:10 am
    Our Dollar General Store has all of these things in it also and these are super awesome ideas. They have all different sizes of baskets from very small to large so I see no problem in finding the right size of container. They even have plastic drawers. They also have a $1.00 isle of bath, body and household things. For $20.00 a month I can buy what consumables we need in the bathroom, kitchen and laundry room. That’s including trash bags, gallon size baggies, aluminum foil, toilet paper and paper towels.
    Reply
  - Denise says
    March 12, 2016 at 6:52 pm
    In theory, If something that I bought was not the right size for the project that I intended to use it for, I would think that I would go somewhere else and purchase one that was the correct size for the project at hand. I believe that this post is a combination of different Ideas that different people have provided. No where has the author of this post stated that she has come with these or that she was the first person to use these methods. I do think that this is a very helpful and creative post. Even if it is just pulling storage ideas from other sites, it saves me the hours of searching in 100 different places for storage ideas. Thank you for your post, It was very insightful.
    Reply
  - Debbie Ayscue says
    September 1, 2016 at 3:32 am
    Scotty, perhaps you are right about made in China products in Dollar Tree stores. But until ‘Made in America’ items can save me and my family more money, then I will do what I have to do. My not buying these products is not going to stop the mass production and selling of said products. Maybe if there was a huge ban on products from China, it would be different, but lets face it, not happening! If anything they may soon stop buying from us! So, Dollar Tree here I come! We have to save every way we can at our house. And lyz, if your local Dollar Tree is small and not so stocked as others, you can purchase anything at dollartree.com and have it delivered to your door for free.
    Reply
  - Debbie Ayscue says
    September 1, 2016 at 3:37 am
    Sarah, lets hear your great ideas! Perhaps you can write an article and research for hours and try out all your great ideas and let us all know what DOES work. If so please send me the blog so I can review and critique your ideas..
    Reply
Lm says
June 22, 2014 at 11:11 am
I also use the collapsible fabric bins to store my flats and flip flops on a closet shelf. I use the smaller ones to separate items in my lingerie and undie drawers.
Reply
Linda from Arizona says
August 14, 2014 at 2:29 pm
I used the pop up hampers to cover my garden plants to protect them from sun and wind and critters.
Reply
- madincrafts says
  August 14, 2014 at 11:28 pm
  That is a really smart idea!
  Reply
Laura says
August 26, 2014 at 6:42 pm
what dollarstore do you go to? Amazing items.
Reply
- madincrafts says
  September 5, 2014 at 11:33 am
  All these pictures were taken from one local Dollar Tree.
  Reply
Laurie Kearnes says
August 26, 2014 at 6:54 pm
What an awesome post! You think like I do! I will be pinning this for others to see, and I know I’ll be perusing it for hours to make my plans. Great job – thanks for the inspiration and the ideas.
Reply
Scotty says
August 27, 2014 at 4:11 pm
You are very creative and I DO buy SOME things from dollar stores. But, please, keep in mind that nearly everything in dollar stores are Made in China products and have cost the USA many, many manufacturing jobs.
Reply
Carmen Fincher says
October 18, 2014 at 8:01 pm
GREAT IDEAS! This can only add the many different ways to organize at a very affordable price. Thank you very much.
Reply
Beth says
December 2, 2014 at 1:11 pm
I am always complaining how many stuff I have all over my bathroom and how I don’t have money to buy cabinets or something like this. But now I don’t have excuse! I see that with a little money I can organize all the mess in my bathroom. Thanks a lot for sharing so many amazing ideas!
Reply
Eileen Gwynn says
December 30, 2014 at 10:39 pm
Wow, my mind is just blown!!!! I’ve looked at a ton of organization ideas today, and this is the best by far! Wow!
Reply
Sandy says
January 23, 2015 at 3:13 am
You had lots of great ideas in this post. I use pop up hampers when I go camping for toy storage. And I use pill sorters to hold jewelry when I’m traveling, to keep my necklaces from tangling. And file folders are very handy for keeping my scrapbook paper in order (and organized by color, because I’m OCD like that!).
Reply
Pattie says
February 1, 2015 at 5:23 pm
I really enjoyed reading your ideals. I am just getting ready to redo some areas at home and will be doing some of what I read. Your post could not have come at better time for me. Thank you so much.
Reply
Chrissy says
February 4, 2015 at 7:57 pm
This is my favorite post today! I’ve never thought to check out the Dollar Store for organization items…you can be sure I’ll be checking it out this week! Plus it just goes to show you don’t have to purchase a lot of over-priced items to organize. Love it! Thank you!
Reply
P.Estephan says
March 27, 2015 at 9:56 am
I admit that there are so many useful things int he dollar store. Now I am planning to make a little nook for my daughter in the living room. A little place where she could put her toys while she is in the living room. I should buy a few plastic containers and to declutter the whole room and of course to clean it up, so to be safe for my daughter. Thank you for the interesting ideas!
Reply
Viola Renwick says
July 9, 2015 at 2:25 pm
The dollar store is really underestimated place! I always find amazing things there especially connected with cleaning space, decluttering, organization. Thanks for the interesting ideas!
Reply
หมูปิ้ง says
July 20, 2015 at 6:13 pm
Good information. Lucky me I came across your blog by accident
(stumbleupon). I have saved as a favorite for later!
Reply
Kristan says
August 20, 2015 at 2:45 pm
What a great post! In fact I plan to share this with my some of my clients and on my facebook page. Thank you for sharing and great pics and the time you put in to craft the post is wonderful. Have a great day. I am a new follower. magentainspired.com
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Jeanette says
October 23, 2015 at 4:40 pm
Some very clever ideas. But as far as cost Dollar Tree is not always the cheapest. For example I have a shopko in my area and the canning jars they sell by Anchor Hocking are marked down to 5.99 for the pint size. for a carton of 12. Much less than $1. for one at Dollar Tree. Also for any office supplies and college type storage; wait until they are clearanced and you can get many great things for super cheap. So don’t take it as fact that a dollar store will be the cheapest in cost to go to. Their prices aren’t always that and then the quality is very low and are not as durable and paying say a dollar more somewhere else. Shop around, but of course keep these wonderful tips in mind 🙂
Reply
Rooni Tunes says
November 28, 2015 at 10:59 am
Thank you for identifying so many creative storage ideas! I appreciate all the time you took to take pictures and identify different ways to store a variety of things in all sizes. Excellent food for thought. I’m going to bookmark this page and these ideas to refer back to. And making a list of organizing strategies and containers room-by-room — very handy, too! Thanks again!
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Kathy Henry says
January 26, 2016 at 7:42 pm
I just loved all your ideas.
Thanks
Kathy Henry
Reply