Cabinet Organizers To The Rescue

Whether it’s getting your cupboards more organized, taking advantage of wasted cabinet corners, or easier access to your garbage, cabinet organizers are a great way to utilize space. Consumer Reports tested 27 different ones that can tackle those jobs. They cost anywhere from around $30 to more than $200. So are they worth getting?

First testers evaluated how easy they were to install. Some were easier than others. The refuse containers that you attach to your doors and the lazy Susans had much more involved assemblies.

Testers evaluated how easy the organizers are to use. A machine measured the force needed to open a garbage or cupboard drawer. The stopping mechanism didn’t always work on the $30 one by Rubbermaid. And be aware, sizes can be confusing. Two drawers can both measure 14 inches wide, but one doesn’t always hold as much as the other.

To size up years of wear and tear, Consumer Reports built an elaborate contraption that opens, closes, and spins 30,000 times. The $50 retractable trash can from ClosetMaid, model 3185-31, ran into problems. It failed after only 2,500 repetitions. A second one completed testing. But the bearings started groaning and making noise early on.

When all the tests were done, Consumer Reports found that you don’t have to pay a lot to get a good organizer. In all three categories, the best performers were also the least expensive. Top picks were:

The Real Organized pull-out shelf from Lowe’s for $30

The Simplehuman single pull-out trash can, model CW1124, for $60

And the plastic Hafele Lazy Susan for $40.

Most of the organizers come in various sizes that are clearly marked on the box. Before you go to the store, be sure to carefully measure your space. Consumer Reports found that if your measurements are off by even a fraction of an inch, the organizer might not fit, or once you get it installed, it might not work properly.

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