Our Go-to Storage When We Run Out of Drawers

Sterilite 3-Drawer Cart #2830

Murphy’s first law of storage space states that, “A homeowner will always need one more drawer than is available.” [It doesn’t: I made that up, but it sounds pretty plausible, doesn’t it?] The good folks at Sterilite are, apparently, great fans of Murphy and the Ms is (in her turn) a great fan of Sterilite. That’s why there are boxes, tubs, and other assorted clear plastic storage items scattered around our house. There are several rollaround drawer units, including at least one wide-track setup, but this one – a Sterilite 3-drawer unit – is mine.

Trust me, this is not a piece of fine furniture that you would find beside the leather ottoman or the classic Queen Anne clawfoot hostess chair. It’s a big hunk-o’-plastic; about as utilitarian as you can get. Most of ours can be found buried in a closet or other storage space.

The Sterilite 2830 3-drawer cart stands 25-5/8” tall (optional casters add about 2") and is 12-5/8” wide and 14-1/2” deep. It has a white frame and clear plastic drawers with molded handles. The top is flat, white plastic. Empty, it weighs perhaps five to seven pounds. You can also get it in black with clear plastic, see-through drawers.

Mine stores exercise clothing: biking gear for all seasons, plus a few forlorn bits of running clothing that have filtered to the bottom of the drawers. The see-through plastic is clear enough that it’s easy to find that neon green jersey and the socks with the red stripes at a glance. The drawers glide smoothly and easily without sticking. The top is sturdy enough to support a few odds and ends like an empty backpack and a couple of tote bags. Others in the house store linens, odds and ends, and even out-of-season shoes.

One of the keys to using this storage is to recognize its limitations: the cart is intended for organizing light-weight, bulky items like clothing and toys. It will start warping and the casters won’t work right if you overload it with books, metal tools, and other heavy stuff. Keep your contents light, and this design will serve you well.

Note: for those who live in cold climates, Sterilite plastic becomes pretty brittle at sub-freezing temperatures. Keep that in mind if you use one of these in an unheated garage or other storage area. Otherwise, have at it! Summary Plus:  see-through, works smoothly, keeps stuff nicely organized Minus:  not suitable for heavy items, brittle when cold What They're Saying:  When you run out of drawer space, this Sterilite 3-Drawer Cart is an economical solution to the organization conundrum.

copyright © 2018 scmrak