Vittles Vault keeps critters at bay

I love well-designed products that fill a need perfectly and make life a little easier. The gate we had made for the bottom of the stairs, the cling wrap with a sliding cutter, the tube wringer for the toothpaste. Small things, but they make me happy.

The Vittles Vaults are another such product. They might seem little pricey at $37, but they are super-sturdy, stack tidily and are easy to clean. These large ones hold up to 40 pounds of dog food apiece. They live in the broom closet and are impervious to mice and to marauding poodles ... as long as the lid is on.

(Photos from my crummy cellphone.)