How to store plastic containers: 12 great ideas

Food containers tend to make a mess in the kitchen! These ideas will help you organize your plastic containers neatly and conveniently.

This is probably a familiar problem to anyone who has had the misfortune to own a few plastic food containers. As soon as the containers become at least more than 3-4 pieces, they immediately tend to make a mess in one or another space of the kitchen. Whether it's a section of countertop next to the sink, a dish dryer, or even a drawer dedicated to containers, it can be difficult to find what you need and to find the right lid quickly. The ideas below will help you figure out how to store containers in your own kitchen so that they're in order, don't create visual clutter, and everything you need is at your fingertips.

1. Use a mini drying rack or pot lid holder to store container lids

If you store your containers on a shelf in your cupboard, try stacking the containers one inside the other and buy a separate small drying rack or pot lid holder for the lids.

2. Divide the drawer using organizer baskets

Try to find matching organizer baskets for your containers. This way, you can store similar containers and their lids in separate baskets.

3. Try mesh dividers for the drawer

If your drawer is deep enough, mesh baskets or dividers can help: that way you can see what's in the drawers.

4. Two lid storage bars

If you have a separate drawer for your containers, you can place two slats or rods at the front edge of the drawer to act as lid holders.

You can stretch such rods and in the center of the box, as you prefer.

5. Pegboard as a base for installing dividers

A simple yet ingenious idea to help you create dividers in your drawer exactly where you need them. Cut a piece of perforated board the same size as the bottom of your drawer and use pins to divide it into compartments. You'll have to make sure that only dried containers go into the drawer, though.

6. A hanging basket to store lids

Find a flat basket that's the right size and hang it from hooks on the inside of the cabinet. This basket can store small containers as well as individual lids.

7. Use a paper organizer - or make one yourself

Such organizers are often used in offices to systematize papers. meanwhile, you can place containers (lower tier) and lids (tier above) in them. Of course, access will not be so convenient, but such storage takes up little space!

By the way, this is a great way to store reusable bottles!

8. Adapt a small shelf

Find a small rack on sale that will fit on a shelf in your closet and store your containers on it.

9. Organize a hanging shelf

Attach a shelf like this to one of your cupboard shelves: it won't hold much weight, but it's great for storing container lids.

10. Buy pull-out drawers with dividers for containers

Such a drawer is convenient to pull out to find and get what you need, and dividers will help keep things organized.

11. Simple boxes will work too

12. Use a large desktop organizer for papers

Another way to use office supplies in the kitchen: a large multi-drawer desk organizer as storage for containers.