Over the past two years of leading our home-organization coverage and writing about everything from shoe racks to drawer dividers, I’ve learned there is truly a storage bin — or box, or crate ...

With so many storage options out there, it can be tricky to figure out which system is best. Sometimes, it’s a matter of aesthetics, while other times you need something purely functional.

It’s useful if your bin is lightweight, durable, easy to thoroughly clean, and doesn’t permanently take on the odors of its contents. Stainless steel and heavy-duty plastic work well — they ...