How I converted a spare hall closet into a space for cleaning supplies and overstock pantry goods
***Big thanks to Walmart for sponsoring this post! I have been monetarily compensated for my work, but all thoughts and opinions are my own. We only share what we love here, and as always, thank you for your support!***
Another huge thanks to iDesign for providing the storage and organization solutions for this project. As a long time fan of their product line I am thrilled be working with them as a Brand Ambassador. You can find all products linked here.
Cleaning Closet
When purchasing or building a home, one doesn’t typically think to add “place to store the vacuum” on the list of must haves. So of course, my poor vacuum, along with mops, brooms, flyswatters and the like have been homeless since we moved in almost a year ago. They kind of just fluttered around from room to room as they were used and never really had a designated space. If I’m being really honest, the broom was typically found cowering underneath the couch after falling victim to my children forcing it to sweep out the latest Mash em’ toy.
When we moved, I left behind a fantastic walk-in pantry, which the new house did not have. It does, however, have TONS of cabinet space in the kitchen with a surplus of pull out drawers. After doing a nice thorough edit of our pantry goods and appliances (ahem…taco salad shell maker thingy) I had plenty of space to store food supplies and appliances in the cabinets. This left a decent amount of open space in the hall closet.
Inspired by Abby over at Just A Girl and her Blog and Melissa from Polished Habitat, I opted to take out the pre-existing wire shelving and install an IKEA Algot shelving system to create a cleaning closet. If you do choose to go this route, IKEA has a great online tool (and in store service) to help you plan out your own space. Abby’s post on how to properly measure for an Algot system was also incredibly helpful.
Once the wire shelving was removed I patched the holes and sanded smooth. Honestly, I had every intention of painting the inside, but at the end of the day, it’s just a closet and I was ready to get on with the organizing already. Progress over perfection my friends. Side note, please excuse the terrible quality of the next three images. I stole them from my Instagram stories (great place to follow along with my crazy day to day life though!)
The ALGOT system was actually fairly easy to install. I was able to complete it within a couple of hours, and I’m sure the help of two tiny toddlers only made it go faster. HA! If you aren’t able to line yours up with studs, be sure to use wall anchors. I relied on my trusty Wall Dog Anchor Screws. The great thing about the Algot system is that the shelves and brackets are adjustable. So if/when your needs change down the road you simply move them to fit what suits you best. I knew that I definitely needed a space for my vacuum, other cleaning supplies, and overstock items like paper towels so I had planned accordingly.
These clear organizer bins house my steamer, handheld vacuum and other cleaning solutions that I don’t need for everyday use. They come in a large variety of sizes and can be easily wiped out or washed if things spill inside.
I also used the bins to store my Norwex cleaning cloths. I’m not perfect, but I’ve been SLOWLY trying to make more intentional decisions when it comes to the chemicals and products I use in our home and Norwex is great for this. The divided turntable up there currently houses some of the snacks I don’t want my kiddos to have free range on! ha! But I have to say, the turntable is by FAR my most favorite ID product yet. It has so many different uses around the home.
I had just enough wiggle room on the left side of the closet to install this wall mount mop and broom holder which gets them up off of the floor and nicely organized. No more broom hunting under the couch in this house!
I do keep most of our food in the kitchen cabinets, but bagged foods like chips, crackers and cereal can be a little awkward and unsightly to store. Our variety is always changing, so instead of individualized containers, I’m using these Luca Storage Bins to keep them contained and concealed. They’re lightweight and easy for my kiddos to grab at a lower height level.
As with any of my organizing projects, I can typically tell if something isn’t working out after a few days. This system makes it simple to move around until we get the right fit. But for now, I’m just thrilled to have this space serving a much more useful purpose for our family.
If you decide to tackle this or something similar, I’d love for you to share your own project on social! Be sure to tag me @themartinest on Instagram.
Full product source, as well as all of my other favorite InterDesign products, are linked HERE for easy shopping!
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