I was always wondering if buying a plastic storage bin is worth it. It took me a lot of research and reading a bunch of articles on their impact in terms of cost and environment.
But when I was first starting, there we NO article addressing this topic.
That’s part of why I’m sharing what I have learned so that you won’t spend the same hours studying each article after article.
Are plastic storage containers worth the cost?
Most plastic storage containers are priced between $9 – $15 per piece. Those are not the small ones but large plastic containers.
If you check most prices online, they are typically double the amount since the bundle sells them. It won’t hurt your budget if you want to select only a single piece.
Plus, their use doesn’t stop during the transport & moving phase. It can also be part of your permanent home collection. This way, you can stretch out the cost of the product up to a lifetime.
Related Article: Best Plastic Storage Bin for Shelves (7 Important Facts)
What plastic storage bin should you avoid?
Image 1.1 Plastic Storage Bin
1. Avoid containers that don’t give you an airtight lid.
The container should be strong enough to prevent any accidental opening from external factors — you don’t want your clothes to be blown away by the wind.
2. Avoid plastic storage bins that aren’t stackable
They are built to become a space-saver. Usually, the bottom lid will fit precisely on the lid. This prevents the different containers from suddenly moving and is why they can be seen in many logistics functions.
You should also check whether the box lid should be sturdy enough to hold the weight of an entire box above. If it can’t hold the heaviness, no matter how much it perfectly stacks, you won’t be able to use it.
3. Avoid plastic storage bins without handles
The handles should be sturdy enough to resist the slightest damage and won’t crack at the slightest touch.
However, you don’t want to hold the handle when carrying the weight of the plastic storage bins.
These handles are not built to carry the entire weight of the box, so don’t place your hands on them.
It is why most containers come with a graspable under-surface on the sides of the box or a rollable function to make it easy to push the container without breaking the box’s integrity.
Some boxes might not come with wheels at the bottom, but you could shove them quickly with their non-skid design.
Beginner Mistakes: Things to consider in a plastic storage container
I get it. I made my fair share of mistakes when buying my first plastic storage bin, so here are some things you should consider before opening your wallet.
1. Why do you need to measure each item, clothing & object?
You don’t want to accidentally buy a storage container that is either too small or too big than what you need.
It is why you need to measure what size you would need. You can do this by stacking clothes how you typically organize them once you have the storage box. Then get a measuring tape and check the required dimensions for the box.
Next, compare this with the plastic storage bin online and check their total capacity. You can usually find the dimensions sizes in their product description.
Doing this prevents you from wasting money by buying another extra box just to fit in the leftover contents.
2. Is a transparent container better?
If you want to see the contents inside the plastic storage box easily, go for a transparent one. But if you want the contents not to be easily seen, then pick an opaque one.
Transparent containers are most accessible, and most brands have this type of see-through plastic. On the other end, opaque containers might be slightly harder to find.
Image 1.2 Clear Transparency for Plastic Storage Bin
Most people prefer a transparent container since you don’t need to open the inside to check its contents. It is helpful if you are in a hurry to go to work and don’t want to open each drawer to find your clothes.
3. Why you need to weigh your items first
Most people frequently don’t consider how heavy a plastic storage container can be once you finish placing all your items in.
Take, for example, camera and lighting equipment. Placing them in a plastic storage bin is a great way to move items during outdoor shooting. But it would be heavy for one person to carry it out of the car and into the filming venue.
Contrast this with a plastic storage bin that is full of cotton. It will be much lighter to transfer than the filming equipment.
It is why you need to check first the total weight the plastic storage box can handle on its own. Even if you aren’t planning to stack it, transporting products might be challenging if you first organize the items into separate weight loads.
Surprising Ways to Use Plastic Storage Containers:
There is more to it than just storing items. Plastic storage containers have a lot of exciting uses, such as:
1. Shoe Storage Container
It might be an obvious tip so let’s get it out of the way. You can use the plastic storage bin to organize your shoes in one place.
Ideally, it would be best if you placed them near your door to be easily accessible. You would also want one that is small in size since the plan is to stack drawers above each other to resemble a DIY shoe stand.
2. DIY Hamster House
We know that this is probably not what you were expecting, but you can use an old unused plastic storage box, clean it and convert it into a hamster cage.
Cut hold on one side of the box to serve as the entrance for the hamster to go through.
Having a DIY set allows you to decorate the inside of the plastic box, making it appear more like a home instead of making them feel trapped in a cage. The lid of the containers allows you to easily place the items you want through the lid opening instead of squeezing items inside the entrance, unlike a cage.
Here’s a video we included showing how you can make your own DIY hamster house.
You can start designing the interior of their home by adding a layer of paper bedding, then place a hamster wheel and other rocks & herbs for your items to walk through and start exploring their new base.
3. DIY Garden Pond
One great hack to avoid spending hundreds of dollars is to use a durable plastic storage box as a DIY garden pond.
From the picture, you need first dig a hole in your garden to match the box size perfectly. Then begin placing in clean water and round stones. You don’t want just any stones but ones that are flat and round so that they will complement your backyard garden aesthetic.
Lastly, place some flat stones on the perimeter of the bin. Diagonally across it are where the leftover rocks will be located. And just like that, you won’t have to hire an expensive contractor to liven up your garden.
4. Yarn Box
Instead of placing them into an open cabinet that may accumulate dust, a plastic storage box can serve as a way to separate your yarn according to each color. You want to select a see-through option so the paint can easily be arranged for each container.
What to look for in a plastic storage container?
Besides what we shared earlier on the common beginner mistakes to avoid, we’ll concentrate on what you want to look for in a plastic storage bin.
1. Ideal for shipping & transport
If it is near the start of the college semester, you might encounter problems and find that the plastic box might not be ideal to use when packing your items for university.
You would want to look for one you won’t be throwing out during the first year of college.
One disadvantage of plastic storage boxes is that they are not foldable and easy to dispose of, unlike cardboard boxes. It is why you should pick the size that you think would fit your college dorm. The last thing you want is to struggle to find the right spot for it.
2. Impact on the environment
If you buy a box, it will only have a couple of years before you end up not using it. This might be due to preference, or you want to go for something new.
However, a problem that plastic storage containers contribute is that they take years to decay and go back into the ground.
What this means is it will remain in its plastic state. IT is why you should ideally only buy a box and not throw it off unless it’s beyond use.
Section 7: Bottom Line
To summarize, choose a plastic storage box by determining what you would be putting in. You don’t want to overload the capacity as this may be hard to transport. You would also go for a stackable one to help save space and organize them all into one corner.
These are just some tips spread across tiny parts of the article. If you have any questions, feel free to send us a message. We would love any suggestions or feedback you’d want us to hear.
