Storage hacks: Professional organiser’s simple hack will transform your messy plastic container storage

It is a truth universally acknowledged that if there is a drawer or cupboard with plastic containers in the home it’s probably messy and takes forever to find the right lid.

Well, it turns out that the solution to this common problem is so simple, we’re surprised we hadn’t thought or heard of it sooner.

Professional organiser Julie Whiting from The Decluttering Co shared the game-changing storage tip in an Instagram post.

READ MORE: Dirty grout transforms with surprising gadget you probably already own

Whiting’s solution? Store the plastic containers with their lids on rather than separately.

“It means grab-and-go. No rummaging. Also, you can immediately see any orphans and discard them, rather than not knowing which sets are complete,” she tells 9honey Living.

As for why many of us have never thought to store plastic containers this way, Whiting says it comes down to two things.

“Space is usually the reason. Secondly, the lids may not be quite dry out of the dishwasher, and we are busy – so it’s tempting to throw the unmatched odds in the drawer and deal with the issue later. But we have to remember that getting organised is self-care for our future selves.”

READ MORE: Bathtime essential you can also use to make towels soft

If you’re thinking about trying this hack but worried whether you have the space to make it work, the pro organiser shared her top tips.

“Match up and declutter the containers to have fewer if need be,” she said.

“Sacrifice other kitchen non-essentials to give the plastics more space. How often do you REALLY use that popcorn maker/cupcake stand/crockpot? Good containers are used often and they are important.”

READ MORE: The A-Z list of the biggest brands spotted in Amazon’s Big Smile Sale

Whiting also helped explain why plastic container drawers and cupboards often become one of the messiest spots in the home.

She says part of it has to do with the mix of containers that come from family, friends and takeaway orders in addition to the ones we’ve bought ourselves.

It’s also to do with a lack of space and thinking that separating lids and containers and nesting the containers together will make the most of the storage area causing “a frustrating rummage every time we want to match up a set”.

Decluttering tips and hacks to make it quick and easy

For those who aren’t fans of storing containers with their lids on, the pro organiser has some advice.

“Nesting containers is OK if they are all the same kind, for example, a stack of six identical Tupperware tubs with lids sitting on top. But if you have a jumble as most of us do, store them matched,” she said.

For a daily dose of 9honey, subscribe to our newsletter here.

And drawers will always be better for plastic containers than cupboards and not just because they won’t all fall out on top of you if they do get messy.

“Drawers are better for most things, as they bring products out to you, rather than you leaning into a dark space to fossick and create avalanches in your stacks,” she explained.

“If you don’t have the luxury of drawers and must use cupboards, get a big tub or basket to contain them. It acts as a drawer as you can pull it right out into the light.”

FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.