Ethan Clarke
Plastic containers are essential for storing leftovers, packing lunches, or organising your fridge and pantry. However, they can quickly become a cluttered mess of mismatched containers and missing lids. To organise your plastic containers, start by taking out all your containers and assessing what you have. Get rid of any broken or discoloured containers and those without matching lids. Sort the remaining containers by size, and decide on a reasonable number to keep for each size. You can then store them in labelled drawers or cabinets, using baskets or dividers to separate lids and containers and prevent them from mixing.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Storage space | Deep, lower corner cabinet |
| Container type | Plastic |
| Container condition | Cracked, cloudy, scratched, broken, miscolored |
| Container size | Small, medium, large |
| Container shape | Nesting, stackable, unstackable, odd-shaped |
| Container number | 4-5 large containers with smaller containers inside |
| Container location | Kitchen drawers, shelves, pantries |
| Container arrangement | Sorted by size and type, with lids near their containers |
| Container identification | Clear/frosted containers, labels |
| Container separators | Baskets, dividers, trays, bins, shelves, drawers, cubbies |
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What You'll Learn
Sort by size and type, keeping lids with their containers
Keeping your plastic containers organised is a great way to ensure your kitchen stays neat and tidy. One of the best ways to do this is to sort by size and type, keeping lids with their containers. This method ensures you can always find the container you need and helps to avoid a cluttered mess of plasticware.
To start, take all your plastic containers out of their current storage place and sort them by size: small, medium, and large. This will help you to see if you have too many of one size and not enough of another. From here, you can decide on a reasonable number of each size to keep and recycle or repurpose the rest.
Once you have decided on the number of each size you are keeping, it is time to find a storage place. If you have the space, it is best to keep each size in a separate place to make finding the right container even easier. For example, you could keep small containers in a drawer, medium containers in a sturdy basket, and large containers on a shelf.
When it comes to lids, it is best to keep them with their matching containers to avoid the frustration of not being able to find the right lid. If you have a larger drawer, you can keep the lids and containers together in one place, using a drawer divider to separate the lids from the containers. If you do not have a drawer, you could use a three-tier shelf, keeping the containers on the shelves and the lids in magazine holders acting as a shelf across the front. Alternatively, you could keep the lids in a small compartment near the containers, such as a small drawer or a wall-mounted file holder.
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Use drawers with dividers to prevent containers from sliding
Drawers with dividers are a great way to organise plastic containers and prevent them from sliding around. Before purchasing drawer dividers, it is important to measure the interior dimensions of your drawer, including its depth, to ensure the dividers fit. Dividers can be used to separate containers and lids, keeping them organised and easy to access.
There are several ways to prevent drawer dividers from sliding around. One option is to use clear bumpers, which can be purchased from most home or hardware stores. Bumpers are grippy and will prevent the dividers from shifting when the drawer is opened and closed. Another option is to use clear or acrylic Command Strips, which can be stuck to the bottom of the drawer dividers to hold them in place.
If you are looking for a more heavy-duty solution, you could try using a grip liner. Grip liners can be cut to size and placed inside the drawer, providing a grippy surface to prevent the dividers from sliding. Interlocking organisers with grip can also be placed on top of the grip liner to create divided sections within the drawer. This combination will ensure that both the dividers and the containers stay in place.
Another product that professional organisers swear by is Museum Gel. Museum Gel is grippy and putty-like, and can be used to secure items in display cases and protect breakables during earthquakes. To use Museum Gel, roll a pea-sized ball between your fingers until it warms up and becomes malleable. Press the gel onto the bottom of your drawer organiser and then place the organiser in the drawer, pressing down to stick it in place.
Using drawers with dividers is an effective way to organise plastic containers and prevent them from sliding. By utilising the various products mentioned, such as bumpers, Command Strips, grip liners, interlocking organisers, and Museum Gel, you can create a functional and organised storage system for your plastic containers.
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Stack containers inside one another to save space
Stacking containers inside one another is a great way to save space when organising plastic containers. This method, also known as nesting, is a simple and effective way to keep your containers tidy and maximise storage.
To begin, take all your plastic containers out of their storage space. Sort through them, matching lids with containers. Identify any containers that are cracked, cloudy, or scratched, and recycle or repurpose them for non-food storage. You should also get rid of any containers without matching lids. Once you have a collection of containers with lids, sort them by size—small, medium, and large.
Now you can start stacking! Place the smaller containers inside the larger ones, and nestle their lids in with them. This method ensures that your containers are efficiently stored and easy to access. It also helps to keep your lids and containers together, so you don't end up with a pile of mismatched pieces.
If you have a drawer available, this can be a great place to store your nested containers. Drawers provide a clear view of your containers, making it quick and easy to find what you need. You can also use drawer dividers to separate your containers by size and prevent them from sliding around and getting disorganised.
By stacking your plastic containers inside one another, you'll save space and keep your storage area neat and organised.
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Use a shelf with open containers for easy access
If you have a large collection of plastic containers, it can be challenging to store them in the same place. This can lead to a drawer full of mixed-up lids and containers, making it nearly impossible to keep straight. One way to tackle this is to use a shelf with open containers for easy access.
First, sort your plastic containers by size and type. You can then keep the lids near their corresponding containers. Magazine holders can be useful here, storing the lids while acting as a shelf for the containers. If you have a lot of containers, you can use multiple holders and stack them on top of each other.
You can also use a desktop mail sorter in a pullout drawer to maximize space with its small, slender compartments. Use the sorter for container lids, and stack the containers by size towards the front of the cabinet.
If you have a large drawer, you can keep the lids and containers together. To prevent lids and containers from mixing, divide the depth of your drawer in two or use a large container inside the drawer to store lids.
Using a shelf with open containers is a simple and inexpensive way to organize your plastic containers and ensure they are easily accessible.
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Recycle old plastic containers and invest in a new set
If your plastic containers are old, mismatched, or damaged, it may be time to recycle them and invest in a new set. This can be a quick and gratifying solution, and you can choose a new set that suits your storage needs.
First, take stock of what you already have. If you have containers without lids, or lids without containers, or containers that are cracked, cloudy, or scratched, these should be recycled. Damaged containers can allow harmful chemicals to leech into food, so it's important to get rid of them.
Next, identify your habits and needs. Do you bring packed lunches to work or school? Do you prepare a week's worth of meals to keep in the fridge and reheat? Do you need leak-proof and air-tight containers? Do you prefer glass, metal, or plastic? Once you've assessed your needs, you can choose a new set of containers that will work for you.
When choosing a new set, consider investing in stackable containers that can be easily nested to save space. You may also want to choose containers with tight-fitting lids that can accommodate leftovers and keep food fresh. Clear containers are also a good option, as they allow you to see what's inside and prevent clutter.
Finally, when organizing your new set of containers, it's important to keep them sorted by size and type, with lids stored near their corresponding containers. You can use baskets, drawers, or shelves to keep them organized and easily accessible. You may also want to consider using labels to help you and your household members find and put back items easily.
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Frequently asked questions
Start by clearing out the space you plan to use for your plastic containers. Take an inventory of your containers and match lids with containers. Get rid of any containers that are cracked, cloudy, scratched, broken, or miscoloured, as well as those that lack a matching lid.
Sort your plastic containers by size (small, medium, and large). You can then decide on a reasonable number to keep for each size and set the rest aside to be repurposed.
Store your plastic containers in larger plastic bins, nested as much as possible to maximize space. Keep the lids with their corresponding containers. You can also use a desktop mail sorter in a pullout drawer to maximize space.
If you don't have a lot of drawer space, you can use a cabinet or pantry for your plastic containers. Use two sturdy baskets to accommodate a wide variety of containers and lids in a safe and easily accessible manner.
Hang a wall-mount file holder or a tension rod-separated drawer inside a cabinet door to store miscellaneous lids that are typically hard to find.
