The Dollar Tree Solution That Keeps Root Vegetables Organized

Root vegetables last longer in dry, dark, and cool places. The absence of light prevents them from sprouting, and the lack of moisture helps avert rotting, which is why your kitchen might actually be a better place for them to breathe. But with so many things to fit in your pantry, where do you store root vegetables without making it look unsightly? There's a simple trick you can employ using essentials straight from the housewares aisle at Dollar Tree. A Dollar Tree shower caddy can double as a modish storage solution for your root vegetables with a few improvisations.

A basic wire shower caddy from Dollar Tree's home collection costs about $1.50. It's compact and lightweight with a top handle, so you can hang it wherever you can manage to squeeze in some space in your kitchen. If you're running short on space, go full-on Marie Kondo and use her go-to techniques for organizing your pantry. You can even place your new root vegetable storage near your kitchen herb garden. This will keep all your fresh supplies together while adding a touch of vibrance to your herb lab. Once you've purchased the shower caddy, look for some wire baskets, both oval and rectangular, and a few zip ties. These baskets also come at a price of about $1.50 each. You should be able to create this storage setup for your root vegetables for about $10 to $12.

Assemble all your Dollar Tree purchases for the storage project. Then fold down the first rack of the shower caddy to remove any barriers for the oval baskets. Squeeze the sides of the basket slightly to flatten it out enough to fit into the shelf. Secure the oval basket to the back horizontal bar of the caddy using zip ties to make it more stable. Add another zip tie to the bottom of this shelf to secure the middle section in the end. For the second basket, bend the hooks at the end of the caddy before flattening out the basket a little, just like the first time. This way, you won't struggle with gaps and will be able to hang the basket on the hooks more easily. Then, secure it with two or three zip ties. 

Once these steps are in place, you'll be left with some space in the middle. This is where you can tuck in the rectangular baskets, one below the other. If you want to make room for extra storage, get your hands on a couple of Dollar Tree's wire wastebaskets. Place these on either side to store additional items. They're ideal for holding longer root vegetables like radishes and carrots. They also cost the same as the caddy, so with the low price, you can get several and use a few to organize your fridge in a breeze. Round it off by spray painting your Dollar Tree root vegetable storage project in a color that subtly contrasts with your wall paint.