Ditch The Bulky Boxes And Store Your Lightbulbs Like This Instead

There are certain items in our homes that almost all of us can store in a better way. No, we're not talking about the food on your pantry shelves or the miscellaneous items in your junk drawer. Instead, we're talking about an item that many people store in their garage: lightbulbs. These can be quite awkward and difficult to store, as they're bulky and fragile and come in flimsy boxes that take up loads of shelving space if you don't use them right away. However, there is a good workaround to this issue: Use a cubby style organizer to house them in an organized and safe spot.

If you're tired of lightbulbs getting damaged when stored in their flimsy boxes or find that you can never keep all your bulbs in one spot and they're a pain to hunt down, then this hack is the perfect solution. All of your options can now be housed in one easy-to-grab container. Not only is this relocation easy, but it's relatively affordable, as all you need to do is buy one single product to corral your entire lightbulb collection. It's a budget-friendly idea to organize your garage once and for all. Let's take a look at how to pull it off. 

In order to pull this hack off, you first need to find a cubby style organizer. A great option to consider is a Christmas ornament or mug storage box. These are specially designed to have deep, padded compartments that are thick enough to keep breakables from getting chipped while stored, making them perfect for something as delicate as lightbulbs. An example of this is the HomyFort storage box, which has 12 compartments and retails for $19 on Amazon. However, if you have a lot of lightbulbs, consider buying a two-pack so you have access to 24 compartments. For instance, you could buy the two-pack of Hearth & Harbor Coffee Mug Storage Cases, which costs $32 on Amazon.

Once you have your cubby, remove your lightbulbs from their packaging and store them in each individual slot. Large bulbs can have their own compartments, whereas several smaller bulbs can be housed in one slot. If you're worried of the smaller bulbs getting jostled while stored together, consider adding tissue paper, bubble wrap, or styrofoam padding between each layer. However, rather than buying those materials new, try to use leftover mail packaging whenever possible to save money.

You might be wondering how you'll know the wattage of each bulb if you throw out their product boxes. Luckily, most lightbulbs share the watts on the bulb itself. You can usually find it printed either on the metal collar or on the actual glass. However, if you want the convenience of seeing that information at a glance, there is an easy workaround to that. Before tossing the packaging, simply cut out that information and place it either on the bottom of the bulb's padded compartment or on top so you can see your options immediately. This is also great if you want to remember the specific brand the bulbs are from for repurchasing purposes. 

If you like to buy in bulk to save your money or have a large house that needs lots of lights, another alternative is to use a single storage box for each kind of bulb. For instance, your 30-watt living room bulbs can be stored in one box, while your 80-watt bathroom lights can be stored in another. Label each box with its brand and wattage, allowing you to quickly grab the case you need when a bulb goes out. Lastly, if you're a visual person and would prefer to see what kind of bulbs you have available without opening the cubby container, choose one with a clear top, such as the Tiny Tim Totes organizer that retails for $17 on Amazon.