The best storage containers you can buy

The Iris USA Store and Slide Storage Box finally gives you an easy solution to the age-old storage dilemma: What to do with your off-season clothing when you're not wearing it?

Remember when you were a kid and your mom asked you to clean your room so you basically just shoved stuff under the bed until it looked neat and hoped the duvet cover would hide the mess? The Iris USA Store and Slide Storage Box allows you to do just that while patting yourself on the back for being tidy at the same time.

These 40-quart plastic containers are slim and flat, coming up at 6.25-inches tall. The shape is perfect for fitting underneath most bed frames. Low-friction disks secured to the bottom of the box allow you to slide them back and forth without damaging the flooring. It's also worth noting that the material is BPA-, PVC-, and acid-free.

Professional organizer Lisa Zaslow of Gotham Organizers recommended these organizers to The Strategist.

One reviewer on Amazon wrote, "Plastic is pliable and sturdy. Containers nest inside one another nicely when not in use to save space. Large enough to hold lots of odds and ends I don't want to have to dig through deep boxes to get to. Will purchase again when the price is right."

Pros: Flat shape fits under most bed frames, 40-quart capacity, BPA and PVC-free plastic

Cons: A few reviewers complained about handles breaking or cracked plastic

Buy the Iris USA Store and Slide Storage Box on Wayfair for $17.99

The Sterilite 6 Quart Storage Box is your best bet for organizing smaller minutiae in your closets or on shelves.

Made of the same quality materials as our top pick, the Sterilite 6 Quart Storage Box is a great choice for organizing smaller items and supplies. Everything fits neatly inside the clear plastic bins so you can see what each one hold without opening — no need to rifle through all 12 before you find what you're looking for!

The main difference between these and the 30-quart boxes from Sterilite, besides the size, is that the lid snaps shut instead of latching closed. Recessed handles beneath the lid make it easy to transport the boxes, especially if they don't have anything heavy inside.

Despite the less secure method of closure, reviewers said the lid stays put in transit. Sterilite storage boxes are highly rated by experts and shoppers. These boxes, in particular, have a 4.1-star average Amazon rating based on more than 1,000 reviews and were featured by The Spruce.

One shopper wrote, "I love to stack them under shelves where I can just pull out the whole box and then look through it. The tops don't fit super tight and don't have a latch, but they don't need to, in my opinion."

Pros: Clear base, handles for lifting, good value, pack of 12

Cons: Lid doesn't latch close

Buy a 12-pack of the Sterilite 6 Quart Storage Boxes on Amazon for $27.04

Corral loose items with the Fabric Cube Storage Bin by Room Essentials, which are attractive enough to double as decoration.

I'm a big fan of utilizing storage as part of my decorating scheme. The problem with this approach, of course, is that the storage actually needs to be cute in order for it to work. The 11-inch Room Essentials Fabric Cube Storage Bins are certainly attractive enough to display.

They're actually meant to be drawers that fit into cube organizing shelves, but you could easily place them on the floor in small groupings as an accent. Since they're fabric, they fold up for easy transport, making them a great pick for dorm room storage that doubles as decoration.

The fabric cubes come in 22 colors with both solid and patterned options to go with any design scheme. With more than 1,600 reviews on the Target website and a nearly perfect rating, these are well-loved by consumers.

"Love these fabric boxes," wrote one shopper who left a 5-star rating. "They fit perfectly in the cube sorter I got. The holes make it easy for my toddler to pull them out but not all the way. And the color is as pictured so it's very neutral for my living room. Would recommend."

Pros: Cute fabric design, can be used in cube organizer or alone, lots of colors

Cons: Not stackable unless using cube organizer

Buy the Room Essentials Fabric Cube Storage Bins at Target for $4.99 each

Need something a little heftier for outdoor storage? The Rubbermaid ActionPacker Lockable Storage Box is your best bet.

When you need a storage container that will withstand the elements, look no further than the Rubbermaid ActionPacker Lockable Storage Box. It's resistant to harsh weather conditions like rain and snow, thanks to a sturdy plastic exterior and a lock closure. This makes it perfect for outdoor or garage storage.

The Wirecutter also recommends packing it for outdoor activities such as "camping or tailgating" because of special details that make it ultra durable and easy to transport. It's probably not ideal for indoors because of how bulky it is, but thanks to its dent- and water-resistant construction it can handle a rugged environment.

The container has a 4-star average rating on Amazon based on more than 100 customer reviews, and it comes in 8-gallon, 24-gallon, and 35-gallon capacities. The 35-gallon version has a nearly 4.8-star rating at the Home Depot.

After a heavy rainstorm, one Amazon shopper wrote, "There was not a drop of water or wet feeling inside the box. It has several of my electric and hand tools. All were dry."

Pros: Resistant to weather conditions and damage, sturdy, lockable lid, ideal for outdoor use

Cons: Heavier and not ideal for daily use inside the house, pricey

Buy the 24-gallon Rubbermaid ActionPacker Lockable Storage Box from the Home Depot for $46.33