3 Smart Ways to Use This Surprising Organizer in Your Pantry

updated Sep 5, 2019
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Credit: Minette Hand

What if you could more easily find what you need in your kitchen, keep your cooking staples more organized, and expand your pantry’s storage space? And what if you could do all of those things on the cheap? Whether your pantry is overrun with clutter or you simply want to invest in a bit more kitchen storage, you would be wise to pick up this surprising multi-tasker: an over-the-door shoe organizer, which you can purchase for less than $10 on Amazon!

To get the most function out of your new favorite storage hack, we like the 24-compartment option with clear storage pockets — not only will you be able to stuff more items in it, but you’ll also be able to find what you need in a pinch, because everything is visible. If you’re more aesthetically concerned, you can choose an organizer that complements your pantry door. Honestly, you can’t go wrong with any of the over-the-door shoe organizers out there.

Convinced yet? Here are three of the ways we love using hanging shoe organizers in our kitchen pantries. (No official pantry to speak of? Hang the organizer on the door to your coat closet or the one leading to the basement!)

Credit: Joe Lingeman/Kitchn; Prop Stylist: Stephanie Yeh/Kitchn

1. Water-bottle and travel mug holder

Have you come up with the perfect storage solution for reusable water bottles and travel mugs yet? Of course you haven’t! Because these things are super tricky to store. For one, they take up more space than you realize. And it’s too easy to start a domino effect and knock them all over in one fell swoop. To get them in order and free up space for other items, try slotting them into a hanging organizer. Who knows, you may even be more likely to hydrate or make your own coffee at home!

Credit: Joe Lingeman

2. Cleaning supply storage

If you’re looking for more room for your cleaning sprays and dish soap but don’t want to take up valuable real estate in the pantry, a shoe organizer is a great option. Plus, no more blindly reaching into that dark space that is the cabinet under the sink.

Credit: Joe Lingeman/Kitchn; Prop Stylist: Stephanie Yeh/Kitchn

3. Catch-all for random pantry ingredients 

Grouping similar pantry items in a shoe organizer (like baking supplies, snacks, pasta, dry mixes, or even herbs and spices) is a simple way to keep your pantry well-organized, which means you won’t have to dig behind cans of vegetables to find the snack you’re craving or an ingredient you need for tonight’s dinner. And you’ll be able to store more stuff.