10 Things Pro Organizers Remove From the Original Packaging ASAP

When you’re in the middle of a DIY project or fixing something you finally got around to, the last thing you want to do is unbox your drill bits. "Keep the tool easily accessible, with all of its parts organized nearby in a labeled bin," says Trunz.

Organize your snacks and other munchies by category and place them in containers. "This makes it easier to see what you have and what needs to be replenished next time you go grocery shopping,” says Trunz. Plus, a sealed lid is way better at preventing staleness than a bag or box.

If you have pets, put their treats in a sealed jar on the counter or entryway table, says Parks. "It looks nicer, keeps the treats easy to access, and helps protect them from pests," she says. "Plus, having them out where you can see them reminds you to give my dog a treat, which I'm sure the dog considers the most important organizational benefit."

"Extra cords, chargers, battery packs, and other accessories should be labeled and placed in bins or bags so they’re easy to find when you need them," says Trunz.

Coffee pods in their original boxes can take up a lot of unnecessary space in a cabinet, pantry, or drawer, says Olivia Parks, owner and lead organizer at Professional Organizer New Orleans. "I like using a drawer organizer instead, which allows you to fit more pods into a smaller space while keeping everything easy to see and grab," says Parks.

Items like flour, sugars, chocolate chips, cocoa powder, baking powder, and baking soda are best when placed in clear organizers, according to Shannon Littlehale, founder and professional organizer at Make Space NJ.

"When you decant these things into clear containers, you can easily check the volume you have on hand when you’re prepping for a recipe or making your grocery list," says Littlehale. "It also keeps things fresher longer if you’re using an airtight container and you will avoid pesky pantry moths."

Office supplies are often jammed in a drawer or cabinet with no rhyme or reason, says Littlehale.

"When small items like this are left in their packaging, it’s hard to see what you have," she says. "It’s better to create a drawer filled with drawer organizers to hold all of these small things like pens, paperclips and push pins. Keep back stock only in the cabinet and restock from there as you see fit."

No one wants to fiddle around with plastic boxes when they’re trying to fix the remote.

"If you have the space, I always recommend creating a battery drawer in your laundry room, office, or even kitchen,” says Littlehale. “You can add drawer organizers to the drawer and sort batteries by size and type. If you have young children, consider replicating this system within a lidded bin that you can store on a shelf up high."