Kitchen Drawer Organizer: Buying Guide
From cooking utensils like spoons and forks to specialized tools like pizza cutters and can openers, there are many accessories you need to make your kitchen easier. With so much to keep track of, most people just toss it in a drawer. This solves the storage problem in the short term, but leads to bigger problems in the long term.
Finding and retrieving something from a messy drawer can be quite a hassle. You can also damage the item you are trying to access or cause unintentional injury from forks, knives, and other sharp instruments. Luckily, kitchen drawer organizers make organizing this mess fairly easy.
You can divide your utensils and tools into different compartments so everything is separated and in one place. If you are interested in purchasing a drawer sorter for your kitchen, you should consider the following important factors:
Things that need to be organized
The first thing to consider before purchasing a drawer organizer is to figure out what items you need to sort. The best way to solve this is to empty cluttered drawers and separate items based on type and size. Note the relative size of the item and the number of size categories.
For example, let's say most of your drawers contain cutlery of different sizes. That means spoons, forks, and knives. To do these, you will need an organizer with only three separate compartments of approximately the same size. Let's say your drawer contains individual tools like a pizza cutter, can opener, whisk, and corkscrew. To store them all, you need a drawer sorter with different compartments of different sizes.
drawer space
Once you know what type of kitchen drawer organizer you need, it's time to figure out its exact size. Take a tape measure and note the inside dimensions of the drawer. Make sure the outside dimensions of the organizer you purchase are slightly smaller than the inside dimensions of the drawer.
The last thing you want to do is buy a pull-out sorter that is just 1/8 inch too large. Side note: If you buy a kitchen organizer that doesn't fit drawers edge-to-edge, check to see if it has non-slip pads underneath. Otherwise, the organizer will move to the side when you open and close the drawer, creating even more clutter.
material
Drawer sorters come in a variety of materials, each with their own pros and cons. The most common options on the market are:
wood/bamboo
Wooden or bamboo sorters are one of the most popular options on the market, and for good reason. It is extremely durable, aesthetically pleasing, and has a smooth surface that is easy to clean. The only downside to wood is that lower quality ones can start to crack over time.
plastic
Plastic kitchen drawer organizers are a great alternative to wood as they are more durable than regular use and come in a variety of designs. However, even the best quality plastic organizers can be scratched by metal utensils. If you accidentally drop it, it may break.
metal
Metal desk organizers are definitely the most durable option. Make sure what you buy is made of rust-resistant materials. Also, metal organizers completely stand out from both standard white hardboard or textured wood drawers.
Additional features
enlarge the sides
The expandable drawer organizer design includes several compartments in the center and two compartments on the sides. These side sections slide and can be opened or closed as needed. The biggest advantage of this design is the fit.
The side partition can be expanded to fit the drawer or item you want to store. This design is also usually made of wood or bamboo and looks great in most kitchens. The highest quality versions of these designs have a removable divider in the middle, so you can adjust the size and shape of these compartments as well.
Separate tray
This type of drawer organizer consists of multiple trays that are completely separated from each other and often comes in sets of several different sizes. Cover your drawers with these trays like a Tetris-like puzzle to keep everything organized, or place one or two to separate small items from large items.
The versatility and sheer number of configurations are the biggest reasons to get these. You can also organize many drawers in one set, making this design great value for money.
connection divider
These are the simplest types of kitchen drawer organizers, consisting of plastic dividers with cutouts that lock together to form separate compartments. These setups require a little planning and ingenuity, but their low cost and great versatility make them worth considering.
That being said, these plastic dividers stick out like a sore thumb in drawers because they are mostly rainbow colored. Even if you get a completely black one, it won't blend into the drawer design.
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