#HTE

Kickstarter is Solving Organizing Issues You Didn’t Know You Had

Organizing-related products often show up on Kickstarter; bike storage solutions and key holders are just some of the common items. But recently I’ve seen some that are a bit out of the ordinary.

Tidy Snap was designed to keep children’s clothes stashed neatly in a drawer, rolled instead of folded. The Tidy Snap is something children ages 4-5 (and older) can use themselves. The Tidy Snap can also be used on adult clothes, and could help with rolling them for space-saving suitcase packing.

This project will be funded on June 11, so obviously it appeals to a number of parents (or travelers). And certainly some children will get into using the Tidy Snap. But in many cases there’s an easier answer; use something like a basket for kids’ clothes like T-shirts and skip the folding and the rolling entirely.

Another product aimed at children (and their parents) is the ReadyXO crayon box. And for those who want to use a crayon box, this seems to be a well-designed product; some children would love to use it to keep their crayons visible and well-protected. But many children will be fine with crayons just tossed into a basic plastic box, and won’t want to fuss with putting them away in specific slots using a box like the ReadyXO (which has until July 13 to get funded). 

I’ve always used regular pants hanger for my jeans, without any problem—but I’ve had clients who definitely find those hangers too much of a bother to use. The Jean Hanger is an easier solution; the jeans are just hung from the belt loops. I’m not surprised this product has way surpassed its goal, and will be funded on June 18.

Anyone who has struggled to fold fitted sheets when putting them in the closet might appreciate Fitted, which uses zippers at the corners to make the sheets foldable. Of course, there are videos showing you how to fold fitted sheets, but Fitted would be an easier solution. But not everyone is bothered by a not-too-nicely-folded sheet, and some of us just take the sheets off, wash them, and put them back on the bed. This Kickstarter has until June 30 to get funded.

Anyone who uses a lot of decorative pillows on a bed or sofa knows the problem of where to put all those pillows when the bed or sofa is in use. The Pillow Tower is intended as the answer to that problem. (Of course, another answer would be to use fewer pillows.) Those who are handy with tools and have workshops could probably make product themselves, but not everyone has those skills, tools and space. This Kickstarter has until June 22 to get funded. 

Creative alarm clocks abound, but I’ve never seen one like the Barisieur, which brews coffee (or tea) so the purchaser can wake up to the sight, sound and smell of coffee being made. It’s one of the more complex designs I’ve seen on Kickstarter, with its induction heating design, the milk cooler, etc. 

This is not a product for someone like me with curious cats. And while the alarm clock has an LED which adjusts to the environment, many end users have other specific alarm clock needs and preferences (dual alarm, small size, etc.) that the Barisieur would not meet. The Barisieur has until June 25 to get funded.

Since so many of my clients live in small spaces, anything that helps them save space catches my attention. I know how much space a pet carrier can take; the Noah foldable pet carrier addresses that problem. Features like the ergonomic grip also caught my attention. The Noah has until July 23 to get funded.

Like most people, I use a basic toiletry bag when I travel. But the Tashtego roll-up toiletry kit is certainly a nice alternative, allowing the end user to see everything at a glance. However, there’s always the chance the pockets won’t fit the specific items someone carries, which isn’t an issue with a normal toiletry kit.

The Tashtego is made with #10 waxed cotton canvas completely impregnated with a heavy Martexin water repellent wax, so it can just be hosed down (or washed at a sink). This Kickstarter has until July 5 to be funded.

While Lego-organizing products aren’t uncommon—and anyone with a large collection of bricks understands the needs—they aren’t something you often see on Kickstarter. The Maker’s Chest from Larscraft is a thoughtful design, with six removable drawers, each of which has two movable dividers. The chest has been designed for safety; as the designers note, “Two 100 Newton gas lifters allow the chest to open with ease and keep the lid from falling down during play time.” There’s a build platform, and an optional figure display with Lego-compatible bases. The Maker’s Chest has until July 3 to get funded.