How to Make a Shelf Organizer for Cans

Storing canned food items can be a challenge, especially if you don't have an organizational system. Though they stack easily in neat rows, reaching the last few cans in the back of the cupboard can be difficult. One solution to this is to store your cans in homemade organizing bins. Commercial can storage systems can be expensive, but homemade bins are practically free. If you make them correctly, the cans will simply roll to the front of the bin, putting less strain on you to reach them.

Long, thin shoebox with lid
Utility knife
Canned goods
Measuring tape
Pencil
Hot glue

Instructions

- 1
  Remove the lid from your shoebox and dust out both. Cut the lip off of the edges of the lid with a utility knife. Shoeboxes no more than 6 inches wide are perfect for this project.
- 2
  Measure the diameter and height of one of the canned goods you plan to store. Measure a can the same size as most of the cans you usually have in your house. For instance, if you eat a lot of canned soup in 16-ounce cans, measure a 16-ounce can. Most of these measure about 4 inches tall by 2 inches wide.
- 3
  Draw a rectangle on one of the short ends of your shoebox the same length and width as the diameter and height of the can, in this case 2 inches by 4 inches, in this case. The bottom edge of the rectangle should be about 1/2 inch above the bottom edge of that side of the shoebox. Cut out the rectangle with a utility knife.
- 4
  Turn the box around so you can see the intact short end of the box. Measure about 2 inches down the inside of the intact short end, and draw a line. The space between the line and the top edge of the box should match the diameter of your cans.
- 5
  Line up one short edge of the lid piece with the pencil line inside the box. Push the other end of the lid piece down into the edge of the box right below the rectangular hole, creating a ramp. Run a bead of hot glue around the edges of the lid piece. Let the glue dry for about 15 minutes.
- 6
  Place cans on the ramp inside the box. As you remove cans from the rectangular hole in one end of the box, the rest will fall forward.

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