Thursday, March 19, 2009

Cheap Storage Solutions

In the last post we watched a video of a young lady making a solar oven from a Pringles can, this got me to thinking about the uses of the cans themselves. I save all kinks of containers, even more so if the have a lid. I use pringles cans for storing smaller items all the time and not sure why I haven't post on it before...sometimes I forget things. Here are a few cheap storage solutions from a used (otherwise thrown away ) pringles can.

Store loose tools. I keep screwdrivers in one and wrenches in another. When I need one, and I will aways need the one I didn't get, I have a good assortment that is easy to carry.

Store loose hardware. We all have nuts and bolts, screws, washer and other small hardware that needs an easy storage solution, pringles can to the rescue. With a marker write the contents on the lid, screws, bolts..ect..

Store dry beans and rice. Place beans or rice in a seal able bag, zip lock or freezer bag, roll the bag and place in the can. Again, mark the contents and date on the lid. Lay them on their side on a shelf or in a drawer for easy stacking and identification.

Store your first aid kit. That's right, a pringles can first aid kit. My first aid kit is in a plastic box shaped container and it's kinda awkward if you know what I mean. I emptied the contents and then placed them in a pringles can, works great for me. On this one I covered the outside of the can with brown paper from a shopping bag and used a red marker to make a big + and the words first aid. Takes up much less room.

Store clothes. Roll up a pair of underwear, a T - shirt and a pair of socks and place in the can. Helps to keep the dry and will fit easily in you BOB or emergency bag. Even keeping these items in your car would be a good idea. Stores under the seat or in your console or trunk for easy access.

Store maps. Roll several maps together and place them in the can. Mark the can to know which maps are inside.


Store rope or cordage. Just roll and fold in a manner that they will slide into the can.

Store fire starting material. Place paper, matches and small twigs or branches inside.

Store extra batteries. You can get several packages of batteries inside a can.

Don't forget Bullseye's Survival Gear Store


This is Bullseye...OUT !!!

7 comments:

Angela said...

Do you seriously eat that many pringles? ;)
Good ideas!

Bullseye said...

Angela, LOL I do eat a lot of Pringles. I have saved a bunch of them over time too. Plus the kids love 'em. Thanks for you comment, good to hear from you.

Cygnus MacLlyr said...

Uncle and I garnered an old tackle box of grandad's and made a preparer's kit/ barter box out of it-- everything from spare band-aids to can openers to matches to ... what have you.
Cheap-- and effective!

Thanks, Bullseye!

Ken said...

...i do the same thing with jars of all kinds,i don't eat many pringles but i can see the tubes usefulness...my favs are the big/bigger pickle jars...plus they're clear,can see contents...

Bitmap said...

I like coffee cans. These days most of them are plastic, but still usable.

The only problem with glass jars is that they can break if you drop them.

Angela said...

Okay, I'm over my pringles shock now. Anything plastic that has "pete" on the bottom by the recycle code is food grade, so you can wash out old peanut butter jugs, etc. and use them to store dry goods (beans, corn, spices, etc.) directly in. Just make sure they're good and dry before putting any food in them. PB type jars would work well for nuts and bolts storage also.

Bullseye said...

Cygnus, That is yet another great idea, thanks man.

Ken, The tube of the Pringles can is what makes it so useful to store larger items in. I too save glass jars but I seem to break a lot of them, thanks brother.

Bitmap, haha!! Man you should see the coffee cans I have stocked up, been saving them all for years. I love them. I keep chains in a few in my workshop, makes for easy storage. Thanks for the comment, always.

Angela, I am a PB jar nut too, I just love any kind of jar with a lid. I use PB jars for change, 1 for quarters, 1 for dimes and so on. And yes they are also great for dry beans. I just washed one out good this morning as a matter of fact. lol Thanks for the comments, love to hear from my readers.