what do you use 5 gal totes for?

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what do you use 5 gal totes for?

(12 posts) (10 voices)

Started 7 months ago by lifekeepshappening
Latest reply from Laetitia in Australia
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storage

lifekeepshappening
Member

I have about a dozen 5 gallon rubbermaid totes that are now empty (previously used for collectibles storage). I have nothing to store in my attic or garage, and the few things in my basement tend to be too large to fit in a 5 gallon tote (camp gear, tools, holiday decor). Their roundedness and opaqueness and smallness make them seem a less useful choice than cardboard boxes and clear totes. However, I have lots and they're purple (pretty!) and they stack nicely... lol... so I'm hesitating about discarding them in case I simply haven't found the right use for them yet :)

What do you store in yours?

Posted 7 months ago #
Rosa
Member

We have a row of those in lieu of drawers in the basement tool area, used for wrenches, screwdrivers, electrical tools (wire strippers, etc), plumbing tools, stuff like that - the previous organization style was "all in one big bin" and the totes replaced that. There's one in the pantry for things that have to go to toxic waste - dead batteries, CFL lightbulbs, etc.

Posted 7 months ago #
hlg
Member

Honestly? I'd donate them.

Posted 7 months ago #
Another Deb
Member

I have a couple in the garage for recycling. One is in the trunk of my car to corral the groceries.

Under each bathroom sink I keep a tote that holds the cleaning supplies. In case they leak, the spill is contained and I can slide them out like drawers when I am looking for something.

I also keep potting soil mixed in a tote for my houseplants. Bird seed is kept in another.

Posted 7 months ago #
Astreja
Member

They might be good for holding smaller, less-used tools and metal items that are subject to getting rusty when left in the basement or garage. I have a few larger totes in my basement and keep my power tools in them; most of my small hand tools fit in a couple of plastic toolboxes.

I also have a small, deep tote that's just the right size to hold car supplies in the trunk (Windshield washer fluid, brake fluid, oil, a couple of funnels, and some wiping rags). I don't bother with the lid, though, just the bottom part.

Posted 7 months ago #
JuliaJayne
Member

We use few of them for hauling yard waste.

Last time I took a load of stuff to the charity shop, they were thrilled that I didn't want a 5-gallon tote. I'm sure they'd love a dozen.

Posted 7 months ago #
ArtGal
Member

We put nieces and nephews in them (no lids of course, duh :) and push them down our long hallway like little cars...the kids haul them back and think it is an absolute blast!!! It is the only thing that they ask to do when they come to our house...beats buying cheap, plastic toys with only ONE use! :)

I also wash the dog in one...she can't escape (too high) and uses less water than the tub. Then I store all her pet stuff in it when done.

Posted 7 months ago #
pkilmain
Member

We use one for a litter box. The higher sides contain the litter that the little devils think they need to fling about! We use another to collect catalog and other clay paper items for recycling. We used to use one for glass recycling, but we no longer have that option. Oh, but we can now recycle all numbers of plastics, and they need not be sorted. I can repurpose that tote. We also have several designated for camping. One has dishes, pans, and other stuff that goes on every trip. Another has food, and during the summer it has anything we might eat on a trip. We empty it come fall and eat the remaining foodstuffs. We supply it with staples again in the spring. DH also has one he uses for fishing - it holds ice and fish (hopefully) on the return trip. We only have a small cooler, so this supplements it nicely.

Posted 7 months ago #
suzjazz
Member

We have way too many of these in the basement. Although I recently emptied a few of them, there are still at least 10 that contain, among other things:

My son's old Mac Classic computer which he forbids me to get rid of
BF's French wine, single malt Scotch and microbrewery beer collections
My Grandma's ugly china which I keep meaning to sell on Craig's List
My hundreds of CD's (of my own band) shrink-wrapped and waiting to be taken to my next show
My hundreds of cassette tapes which I periodically weed out but can't seem to part with because some of them have my performances with famous people on them
Assorted objects with sentimental value
BF's grandmother's patchwork quilt
My mother's antique quilt collection (we have no use for any of these quilts)
My son's baseball card collection and Magic card collection which he forbids me to get rid of
Holiday decorations
My income tax receipts from the past 7 years (can't get rid of those! might get audited!)

There's more but I think you've read enough.

Posted 7 months ago #
Rosa
Member

Suzjazz, we have a neighbor who runs a little music recording studio. She told me it would be really easy for her to digitize cassettes for me (I have some cassettes of elderly relatives speaking that I have held on to.)

Posted 7 months ago #
pkilmain
Member

Ah, suzjazz, if you don't want them, those antique quilts could bring you some $$$ if they're in good condition.

Posted 7 months ago #
Laetitia in Australia
Member

suzjazz - does the son live with you? If not, can you give him an ultimatum to take his stuff away?

Posted 7 months ago #

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