Genius House Hacks · a GopherCentral & PulseTV publication
Organizing & Repurposing · October 15, 2026 edition

Save Your Empty Toilet Paper Rolls

From Anisa's Genius House Hacks newsletter.

Anisa at her open dresser drawer, standing empty toilet paper rolls upright to divide folded t-shirts into neat sections.

Hello Neighbor! My t-shirts and leggings used to turn into one tangled pile every time I opened that drawer, no matter how neatly I folded them.

I did not want to spend money on a drawer organizer set, so I saved a handful of empty toilet paper rolls instead of recycling them right away.

Standing them up on their ends split the drawer into neat little slots, and now every shirt has its own spot. Below is how I set mine up.

Be Well,
Anisa

Turn Empty Toilet Paper Rolls Into Free Drawer Dividers

Empty cardboard toilet paper rolls, stood on end inside a drawer, work just like a store bought divider tray for keeping folded clothes, hair ties, or office supplies from sliding into one big pile.

How to Do It

Save a handful of empty toilet paper or paper towel rolls instead of recycling them right away, then roll or fold each item, like a t-shirt or a scarf, into a loose cylinder that fits inside the tube. Stand the rolls upright side by side across the bottom of the drawer, then slide a folded item into each roll so it stays upright and easy to see instead of sliding flat.

More Ways to Use It

Cut a few rolls in half for a shallow junk drawer, and pens, tape, and chargers stop tangling together. A cereal box cut down to drawer height does the same job for bigger items like towels.

Ask the Genius: Will the Rolls Collapse Over Time?

"Will the cardboard rolls get flimsy and collapse after a while?"

A plain cardboard roll holds up for months of everyday use since it is not getting wet or squished under weight. Once one does go soft, just swap in a fresh one, they are free and endless.

Got a handy tip of your own?

Reply back to Anisa, she loves reading your emails.

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