Ethan Clarke
Plastic containers are essential for storing leftovers, bringing lunch to work or school, or organising your fridge and pantry. However, they can quickly become a source of clutter and frustration, with mismatched containers, missing lids, and limited storage space. To store plastic containers neatly, it is important to first declutter and organise your collection, and then utilise various storage solutions such as drawers, cabinets, shelves, and baskets. Here are some tips to help you get started.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of containers | Only keep the required number of containers for one week's worth of leftovers. |
| Container condition | Recycle or repurpose damaged containers. |
| Container type | Only keep clear containers. |
| Container size | Keep a variety of sizes. |
| Container set | Keep sets that stack or nest, with mix-and-match lids. |
| Container color | Get a different color for each family member's lunch container. |
| Container storage location | Store containers in a kitchen drawer or cabinet. |
| Container storage method | Use dividers, pegboards, or baskets to separate containers and lids. |
| Container storage accessories | Use a plate rack, mesh organizer, or cabinet organizers. |
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What You'll Learn
Sort by size and type
Sorting plastic containers by size and type is a great way to organise them neatly. It is a simple and effective method to declutter your cabinets and maximise storage space. Begin by taking out all your plastic containers and assessing what you have. This will help you identify how many containers you need and in what sizes.
Once you have a clear idea of your plastic container collection, sort them by size: small, medium, and large. This makes it easier to see if you have too many containers of a particular size. For instance, you may realise that you have an excessive number of medium-sized containers and only a couple of large-sized ones.
After sorting by size, you can further organise your containers by type. This could mean categorising containers by their use, such as food storage or non-food storage. Food storage containers should be clear or transparent, allowing you to easily identify the contents and increasing the likelihood of consuming leftovers. Non-food storage containers can be used for various purposes, such as organising household items or storing seasonal items in the attic or garage.
You can also sort containers by their shape and features. For example, you may want to group containers with tight lids, which are ideal for packed lunches or picnics, separately from those with loose lids.
Finally, decide on a reasonable number of containers to keep for each category and set the rest aside for repurposing or recycling.
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Stacking and nesting
Once sorted, decide on a reasonable number of each size to keep and select the best containers in each category. The remaining containers can be recycled, repurposed, or donated. If you have a lot of containers, it is a good idea to stack and nest them to save space. Place the largest containers first and fit the smaller ones around them. You can also stack water bottles on top of each other to keep them from toppling over and taking up unnecessary space.
If you have a large drawer, you can keep the lids and containers separate by dividing the depth of the drawer in two. Use drawer dividers or a large container inside the drawer to store the lids. If you have a smaller drawer, you can use a magazine holder, placing it flat and storing the lids while acting as a shelf for their matching containers. You can also use a wall-mounted file holder for small kitchen organisation, which guarantees a lid is always within reach.
To make it easier to find what you are looking for, add labels to your containers and storage spaces. This helps everyone in the household know where items are and where they should be returned.
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Use dividers and compartments
Dividers and compartments are a great way to store plastic containers neatly. They help to keep things organised and prevent clutter. Here are some tips on how to use dividers and compartments to store your plastic containers efficiently:
Firstly, it is important to sort your plastic containers by size – small, medium, and large. This will help you determine how many and what type of dividers or compartments you need. You can then invest in decorative box shelves with different compartments or use shelf inserts to divide your shelves or drawers into sections of varying widths and heights. This will allow you to make the most of your storage space and keep containers of different sizes separate.
Another option is to use drawer dividers, which are adjustable and can be moved to fit your needs. These prevent containers from sliding around and getting disorganised or damaged. You can place containers in one compartment and sort the lids according to type in the other compartments.
If you have limited drawer space, you can use a large container inside the drawer to store lids, keeping them separate from the containers. Alternatively, you can use a desktop mail sorter in a pull-out drawer to create small, slender compartments for lids, with containers stacked by size towards the front of the cabinet.
For water bottles, you can use wire baskets that can be clipped onto shelves. This keeps them separate from other containers and easily accessible.
By using dividers and compartments, you can efficiently organise your plastic containers, maximise storage space, and prevent clutter.
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Store in drawers or cabinets
Keeping plastic containers in drawers or cabinets is a great way to save space and stay organised. It is best to keep lids with their corresponding containers to avoid a cluttered drawer or cabinet. If you have a larger drawer, you can divide the depth of the drawer in two, using DIY drawer dividers or a large container to separate lids from containers. Drawer dividers are easy to adapt to the height of the drawer and can be moved around to fit your needs.
If you have a smaller drawer or cabinet, you can use book bins, placed on their sides, to create separate sections for containers and lids. You can also use two tension rods to create three compartments of varying sizes in a small drawer. Alternatively, use a few decorative box shelves of different sizes to create instant compartments in a drawer, or two sturdy baskets in a cabinet to separate containers and lids.
If you plan to use containers for different activities, store them separately. For example, if you bring packed lunches to work, you will benefit from light plastic containers with tight lids. In this case, you could store these containers separately in a drawer, with lids sorted according to type in the other two compartments.
It is important to first assess what you have and get rid of any broken or unmatched containers. Then, decide how many containers you need and for what purposes. Finally, decide how to store your final collection.
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Use labels for accountability
Labels are a great way to keep your plastic containers organised and ensure accountability. This is especially helpful if you have a large household with multiple people accessing the containers.
Firstly, collect all your plastic containers and lids and sort them by size, type and colour. This will help you identify how many containers you have and what you may need more or less of. It is a good idea to get rid of any containers that are broken, discoloured, or do not have a matching lid. Once sorted, you can decide on a system that works for you and your household. For example, you may want to store all the lids separately in a bin, or keep them with their corresponding containers.
Now, print out labels for each category and stick them onto your shelves, drawers, or cabinets. You can label by size, type, or colour, depending on what makes the most sense to you. For instance, you could have a shelf for small containers, one for medium, and one for large. Or, you might want to label by type, such as "lunch containers" or "leftover containers". If you are storing lids separately, make sure to label that bin or shelf as well.
If you have a lot of containers, you might want to create subcategories to make it even easier to find what you need. For example, within your "lunch containers" section, you could have a label for each family member so everyone knows where to find their container and where to put it back.
Using labels in this way will help everyone in your household locate the correct container for their needs and also know where to return it. No more plastic container avalanches or lid-matching chaos!
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Frequently asked questions
First, sort the lids by size or container type. Then, divide the drawer depth into two sections, or use a large container to store the lids. You can also use drawer dividers to prevent containers from sliding around.
Install cabinet organisers or shelves to make the most of the space. You can also use baskets to store containers and lids together. If you have a lot of containers, use a wall-mounted file holder to store loose lids.
Only keep the number of containers you need to store one week's worth of leftovers. Get rid of any containers that are damaged, discoloured, or lack a matching lid.
