Spring Cleaning? 5 Ways Plastics Help Make it Simpler

Toronto, ON, April 25, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Let’s face it: between figuring out what to toss and how to organize that cluttered closet, spring-cleaning can feel so daunting that you just might wish winter would never end.

Here are five ways plastics can help make spring-cleaning and organizing simpler … and help you keep things spiffy all year long.

1. What’s that in the fridge?

Spring flowers may smell wonderful … but not that forgotten old food in your fridge that wasn’t stored properly.

An easy way to avoid that mess: store food and leftovers in airtight plastic storage containers and zipper bags. Multiple sizes of storage containers and zipper bags allow you to choose the best packaging for the amount and type of food you’re storing. Plastics can extend the life of your food by helping protect it from unwanted air exposure, and if you do forget about something in the fridge, your mess is already contained.

You should wind up with less food waste in your kitchen … and more money in your pocket.


2. What’s in my closet?

Can’t see past the mounds of stuff in your closets? Create some breathing room without an expensive closet renovation. Look for shoebox-sized plastic storage containers—they’re ideal for storing shoes and accessories, kids’ toys, first aid, and other small items that need their very own space. They’re stackable and typically made with transparent plastics so you easily can see the stored items.


3. What’s in my junk drawer?

You find them strewn everywhere—a bobby pin here, a screw there, plus paperclips, rubber bands, crayons, pens … These little things can quickly create a cluttered mess of your drawers.

It’s easy to create cost-effective storage systems in your drawers, with items organized by size and type. Durable, customizable plastic storage sets, mini bins, and containers help you create a place for everything—whether it’s hair accessories in the bathroom, small tools in the garage, or office supplies in your desk. One trick that people who fish figured out a long time ago: use various sized plastic tackle boxes with adjustable compartments to organize lots of stuff (instead of just fishing lures). Who knows? Maybe you won’t need that junk drawer any more.


4. Where is the space for all this stuff?

From the bathroom to the garage, you likely have underused spaces in your home.

Unused room under the bed? Wheeled, rectangular plastic containers can transform that space into storage for linens and blankets.

Shower shelf too small? Plastic mesh pocket organizers hang on the shower rod for your shampoo, conditioner, and other essentials.

Door-hanging plastic shoe organizers aren’t just for shoes: use them as extra storage for everything from cleaning products in the laundry room to beauty products in the bathroom.

And hanging storage shelves from the ceiling of your garage lets you use that wasted space for seasonal items such as beach toys and holiday decorations—storing things in marked plastic containers helps make them easy to locate.


5. Am I throwing away recyclables?

Think outside the kitchen, and you’ll likely find lots of recyclables throughout the home—shampoo and conditioner bottles in the bathroom, detergent jugs in the laundry room, gardening containers in the garage. But are you recycling all of them?

As part of your spring-cleaning routine, optimize your home for recycling by placing sturdy plastic bins in key areas of your home, and remind your family or roommates to recycle plastics and other materials. Recycling reduces your garbage runs and gives your everyday plastics a second chance to live on as new products, such as kitchen tools, clothing, patio furniture, and more.

When done well, spring-cleaning and organizing helps you fight clutter and waste less all year long, creating more time to do the things you really love. All it takes is a few resourceful ideas coupled with some modern and affordable plastic storage.

Today's intelligent plastics are vital to the modern world. These materials enhance our lifestyles, our economy and the environment.  For more information visit www.intelligentplastics.ca.

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• CPIA Cover Photo APR25

Darlene Gray
                    Canadian Plastics Industry Association
                    905.678.7748 ext 239
                    dgray@plastics.ca