22 Clever Ways To Repurpose Empty Toilet Paper Rolls For Extra Storage Around Your Home

What is the one item that every bathroom needs? Toilet paper, of course! As an essential home item, an average person goes through over 80 rolls a year and each one that's used up comes with a thin cardboard cylinder. While you may think it is trash, think again, because you're missing out on some amazing organization and storage DIYs. For many of these projects, you'll need multiple spools, so make sure to save them in a moisture-free area while you're collecting them for your project. Luckily, many types of adhesive will work on this cardboard material, including some you may already have in a drawer, like white glue, hot glue, and superglue.

But, let's be honest — your bathroom tissue tube was in a grime-filled place, near your toilet. Therefore, it's imperative to clean these items before you do anything with them. Since they are made from thin cardboard, it's best not to get the material wet. To clean it, first remove any lingering paper. Take a rag or brush to gently remove any debris on the surface. Then, spray it lightly with a sanitizer spray, and leave it under the sun in a clear, clean, and dry container for a couple of days to thoroughly eliminate germs and bacteria. From making a woven basket to building a desk organizer, here are 22 clever ways to repurpose empty toilet paper rolls for extra storage around your home.

Believe it or not, your next cord organizing solution is a used toilet paper roll. This hack is pretty simple; roll up your cord and slide the bundle through the empty cylinder, helping it stay in place. You can try this hack with cords from electric items, like irons or fans, or even extension cords. Once it is secured together, you'll have an easier time neatly storing these items away. And now that loose cords aren't getting in the way, you can use this free area to store other items.

Never let ribbon or twine take up too much space by lying loose in a box and getting knotted. Instead, keep them neat and make more room in your crafting space by wrapping the fabric around a toilet paper roll. This is optimal for holding multiple thinner ribbons or twine, or even thicker rope and fabrics. Once it is wrapped around, tape each end down to keep it in place. Or, get even more creative by making a ribbon or twine dispenser with a box and bathroom tissue spools.

Glam up your accessory zone while reusing toilet tissue rolls to build a jewelry organizer. While it may look difficult, it's pretty easy to accomplish, only needing a small, shallow box, multiple paper tubes, fabric of your choosing, box feet, and a metal bar. Once you have your fabric tucked around your tubes, your bar glued down, and everything fully decorated, it's time for the best part — filling it. Place it on your vanity, displaying your new budget-friendly jewelry organizer, perfect at holding rings, earrings, and other accessories.

If you have a little one running around the house, the chances are high that you have many little metal cars just laying around. You can take your storage game to the next level by creating a toy garage out of toilet paper tubes. Simply enough, all you need to do is glue the tubes down into a box, facing the hole-side out for the cars to slide in. Decorate it to match your kiddo's room, and hang or set it out. Before you know it, the toy chaos will fade.

Utilize the space in your bathroom on a dime by adhering empty toilet tissue tubes onto the inside of a cabinet door or a wall. Take your cardboard roll and stick tape on the back, before finding a spot for it. Slide in larger items like combs and brushes. To hold smaller things, glue on a bottom before attaching it onto the inside of a door. You also can use adhesives like Velcro or command strips for extra strength and longevity.

If you're a crafter, you know how cumbersome it is when your rub-on or heat-transfer vinyl unravels from the tube. Therefore, you can keep it tidy and rolled up with an empty toilet paper roll. Slide the material through the hole, and it will stay in place. Label the cardboard before you stick it over the vinyl. You can even stack multiple sheets together to fit into a tube. For thicker vinyl, cut the cardboard, creating an easier method to wrap around it.

A genius way to reuse toilet paper rolls in the kitchen for a more organized space is to create drawer organizers. For this hack, take the tube and mark it with what it will hold, like cords, rags, and sandwich bags. Line them up so your drawer storage opens up and becomes more neat. If you don't want them to roll around, you can even attach Velcro command strips that allow you to keep them in place, but also allow you to easily remove them if you need to.

Those scarves you have laying around in an unorganized fashion can finally be neatly put away with a paper-tube trick. By connecting multiple rings cut from toilet paper rolls, you can easily suspend them from a hanger you have laying around the house. Once it is complete, hang it in a coat closet and drape your scarves into each hanging hole. Now, you can easily see and pick which scarf you want to wear.

Strategically clear up space in a kitchen drawer by using an empty toilet tissue tube to hold tongs together, especially the ones that refuse to fully close. All you need to do is cut your roll to match the size of the head of the tongs, or completely slide it over the whole tool. You also can add a covering or top by gluing a cardboard piece to stop the utensils from sliding completely through. Don't toss it away when you replace your old pair. Instead, reuse it.

Making a trash bag dispenser is a genius way to reuse toilet paper rolls in the kitchen for a more organized space, as well as free up some room as you condense it down to a small roll that can fit in a bathroom tissue tube. Create an opening in the middle of the cylinder large enough for a bag to come out. Shimmy the rolled bags in, pulling the last bag out, allowing you an easier time to unroll. Clear up even more room by suspending the dispenser on the inside of a cabinet door.

Keep track of your bobby pins, hair ties, and scrunchies by repurposing toilet paper rolls into the perfect hair accessory organizer. This trick is quite simple; take your empty tube and slide the hair accessories onto it, instantly keeping it in place. You can even use one cylinder to hold both. Multiple rolls may be needed, especially if you have loads of hair supplies. Once each one is full, just remember to store it in a dry place so the cardboard doesn't get wet in the bathroom.

Every beauty section needs optimal storage. Generate a stylish, affordable makeup organizer with empty toilet tissue tubes. Keep it simple with only a few cylinders, or construct a larger version if you are a makeup lover. Stack two toilet paper rolls for a taller compartment or add paper towel tubes to incorporate varying heights. Decorate or paint the outside and attach the rolls together. Once attached, trace some cardboard underneath to build a base. Attach together and then set it out on your vanity to hold all your items.

Don't toss toilet paper tubes when you could be using them to neatly store wrapping paper. Small enough rolls will just slide through a tube, while larger wrapping leftovers need your empty cardboard cylinder to have a slit cut through it. Then, take the paper that is twisting into itself and wrap your roll on it, instantly keep it in place. Now it won't unravel or take up even more room in your storage area. Plus, it is easy to take off; just needing you to slide it away.

Have your art supplies organized at all times with a restroom tissue organizer. It's quite simple; just throw in rolls with the circular openings facing up. Then, strategically sort your supplies, whether that is pencils, scissors, knives, or anything else you use. If you want a portable option, take a handled basket or container and place the tubes inside. You don't need to add bottoms unless you have small items or need extra security. Then, stick in the supplies, making a kit that can travel anywhere that inspiration sparks.

Incorporate stylish storage into your home with a DIY basket idea you can make using empty toilet paper tubes. To successfully achieve this, you need multiple tubes. The more you have, the bigger your basket will be. This is a little bit more of an intricate project, incorporating weaving techniques and possibly requiring an extra pair of hands. However, once done, you can decorate it to match your home's aesthetic. Make multiple sizes and styles, and position them all over your home for affordable storage.

As a space you need to keep clutter-free for a clear mind, try out a toilet paper roll storage hack for a snazzy desktop organizer. Find some tubes and glue them together. Then, add a base, whether it is a plastic bottle or other multipurpose cardboard. Decorate it to match your space, setting it on top of your desk to hold all your writing utensils. You can even trim them down to hold smaller items like pushpins, paper clips, and binder clips. Smaller options can also be positioned in a drawer for even more organization and storage.

Make a clutter-free zone by turning toilet paper tubes into unique bathroom storage. There are a few different ways to construct this, whether you keep the tubes by themselves or glue multiple tubes together. No matter which DIY route you go, you'll need to place a bottom on them before you put anything inside. Also, feel free to decorate it to match your bathroom's aesthetic. Once done, set it on the counter away from the sink, and you can easily hold cotton swabs, floss sticks, and more.

Gather four empty toilet paper tubes and a flat, light surface to create a DIY shelf. Luckily, you can finish this project fairly quickly, only needing to securely glue the legs down to the surface. Once dried and steady, flip it around to set items on it. This is an excellent choice to not only hold décor, but a seamless way to create varying levels on a desk or counter. Don't forget to decorate it to match the room you plan on using it in. 

Turn toilet paper tubes into mini storage boxes a couple of ways. You can attach multiple tubes together, creating a box, or make it simple by just placing a bottom on them. While you can keep the original roll color, especially if you have a rustic home or want more neutrals, you can also decorate it to match your space, easily holding your smaller items, like screws. It can even work as gift wrapping for those smaller-sized presents. 

Integrate some flair into your space by making a pyramid organizer out of empty toilet paper cardboard tubes. It's pretty simple; lay your rolls on their sides and then stack them on top of each other, developing a pyramid. You can make it small, only using three, or go bigger by adding as many rows as you want. Remember to decorate your new organizer to match your overall home look. Set the pyramid on a flat surface or suspend it on the wall, easily storing away daily items from pens to kitchen utensils. 

Never just toss your kitchen knives in a drawer again without a cover when empty toilet paper rolls can come in handy. Unsheathed knives are more prone to chips, dents, and scratches, and think about the potential danger that comes with multiple sharp objects lying around together. Instead of damaging your tool or harming yourself, roll your cardboard tube around it. This will also help with storage and organization, giving you more space to safely place other items inside. And don't forget to use this trick during your next home move. 

Put on your creativity hat and develop a cool organizational tool that moves. This project involves empty toilet paper rolls sectioned off into compartments. Each section rotates independently, allowing you to access each compartment. While this project can easily be done by everyone, it does take a few more steps and supplies, like paint, straws, hot glue, and a base. You can add as many sections as you want, creating a multi-level storage tool. Once it is all together, you can set it out on a crafting table or a vanity, holding smaller items.