How can I organize my plastic containers?

Janine
by Janine

I have so many different sizes and colors of plastic containers that it drives my family crazy. I’m looking for a way to organize them in my kitchen cabinets and to make it easier for them to match top to bottom and still be able to keep them dishwasher safe. please help me.drowning in containers.


  9 answers
  • Cheryl A Cheryl A on Jan 10, 2020

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CH1fV4-zvDE


    I used to sell Tupperware so I had tons of plastic containers I never used. I sold some and I donated some and then I stored the ones I rarely use in my laundry room on a shelf or in the garage. I would cull out the ones you don't really need or use and see if that brings peace to your family lol

  • Emily Emily on Jan 10, 2020

    This is what I did recently (I know exactly what you mean by the lid thing) I went through all my containers and lids. I discarded all that did not have a mate. I then put the lids on the containers they were for and stored them mated. Also I have been thinking lately about reusing glass containers, like those that we get applesauce, jam etc in, why not use them as containers for leftovers?

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Jan 10, 2020

    I always put my lids and containers together before I put them in the cabinet. I doubled my cabinet space by adding wire shelves that stand on legs. That kept me from having to stack containers high. If you have multiples that are the same size, you could nest them bottom and then stack the tops then store side by side.

    Another way to store them is to put all the lids in an organizer. I've seen people use a plastic dish drainer with great success.


    As for dishwasher safe, you should be fine if the containers and lids are good to go in the dishwasher.


    After saying all that, my parents had your issue so we went through all their containers and made a serious decision of how many they really needed. Got rid of all the butter bowl type containers and if there wasn't a lid to bowl match, it got tossed. Then we took a good look at what shape the containers were in and purged some of those. Then I purchased lock & lock containers for them to replace them. They are very pleased that we did.

  • William William on Jan 10, 2020

    If you have the time you can use a Sharpie Marker to mark the lids and containers.

  • I always store the lids to the correct containers directly underneath or next to them in my cabinets. It takes a little more time when I'me emptying the dishwasher, but works.

  • Cynthia H Cynthia H on Jan 10, 2020

    Hi! This is the method I use, only my bin is a large plastic container I had:


    https://www.hometalk.com/diy/organize/kitchen/diy-free-storage-solution-for-all-those-food-storage-container-lids--20009884

  • Lifestyles Homes Lifestyles Homes on Jan 10, 2020

    I mark them with different colors of fingernail polish.

    Red dot on the lid = red dot on the bottom.

    Pink dot on the lid= pink dot on the bottom.

    Etc.

    When you run out of color choices, paint a triangle or a square or whatever.

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Jan 12, 2020

    Go through your cupboards and sort the containers and lids, they have to have a lid that fits and no extra bottoms or tops, the numbers must match. (This is a good time to clean and reline your shelves). Then stack the containers with the lids underneath them. I put the squared ones in the corner spaces, and the round ones where they fit best. Keep the most often ones in the front. Also, if you are prone to keeping the carry-out containers, do the same with them on a different shelf.

  • Janine Janine on Jan 13, 2020

    Thanks to ALL of you for the wonderful suggestions. I’ll take them to heart and see which one work’s for my tiny kitchen space. :)