This Common Item Is The Perfect Accessory Storage Solution—and It May Be In Your House Right Now

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Although it's now synonymous with outdoor retailers like REI and sports like backpacking, the simple carabiner hook could be the Swiss Army knife of accessory organizers for your closet. You just need an imagination and a few belts, scarves, ties, and purses that could use a little organization, plus the carabiner hook. If you have lot of those items to organize, it helps if you've got a small collection of carabiners — because you'll likely find any number of items, however impractical, to hang on them.

This rifle holder-turned-camping-accessory comes in a variety of sizes. Chances are, you have a small version of a carabiner on your keychain, keeping your house and car keys in order. Larger sizes, like the HUJOM Heavy Duty Universal Stroller Clip, can be as large as your open hand, and are often used to clip grocery bags, purses, and diaper totes to the handles of strollers.

The size and number of carabiners you'll need for keeping your accessories organized depends on how many items you need to hang up, and how wide they are. For example, a large carabiner would probably fit a row of eight to 10 average-sized belt buckles. But the same carabiner may only be large enough to hold one or two purses with wide straps. You might also need hooks of a few different sizes. While you could use a small carabiner to hold metal hoop bracelets, on the other hand, a couple of large carabiners could be the key to keeping your extension cords tucked out of sight. 

The largest carabiners are designed to fit around the handle of strollers or towel bars. Some, like LilFe's 6.7-inch Stroller Clips, open wide enough to fit around a standard-sized bar in a closet. If you plan to hang your carabiners directly on the closet bar, get enough hooks to keep hangable accessories separate. To take full advantage of one of the most clever closet organization hacks, get one hook for belts, grab another carabiner for ties, and secure a third one for scarves or small backpacks. This strategy allows you to see all of your items at a glance.

You can also use HOUSE DAY Black Magic Space Saving Hanger Extenders to maximize real estate on your closet storage bar. Hanger extenders are long bars with holes down thee center and hooks on both ends. Normally, you'd hook hangers onto the holes of the extender, but this method would work just as well if you swap out the hangers for carabiners. This lets you make the most of vertical storage options, instead of horizontal ones, leaving more space on the closet bar for other items.  

Finally, if storage space is hard to come by in your closet, you can combine the carabiners with a storage accessory, like an Essentials Over the Door Metal Hook from the Dollar Tree. Each piece features up to five spots to hang your things. Get two over-the-door hooks, which could hold eight or more carabiners, and  utilize the unused space above your closet or bathroom door.