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Tag: Storage Tips

  • The Big Problem with Meal Prepping That No One Talks About (And Is Costing You Money!)

    The Big Problem with Meal Prepping That No One Talks About (And Is Costing You Money!)

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    Shifrah Combiths

    With five children, Shifrah is learning a thing or two about how to keep a fairly organized and pretty clean house with a grateful heart in a way that leaves plenty of time for the people who matter most. Shifrah grew up in San Francisco, but has come to appreciate smaller town life in Tallahassee, Florida, which she now calls home. She’s been writing professionally for twenty years and she loves lifestyle photography, memory keeping, gardening, reading, and going to the beach with her husband and children.

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    Shifrah Combiths

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  • The Surprising Item You Should Never Keep in Your Kitchen Cabinets (It’s Dangerous!)

    The Surprising Item You Should Never Keep in Your Kitchen Cabinets (It’s Dangerous!)

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    We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

    As I began to reorganize my kitchen cabinets as part of my yearly spring cleaning routine, I wondered if some experts might have some advice on what’s safe and convenient to keep in a cabinet, and what’s better off in other parts of my kitchen — and here’s what they had to say.

    5 Things Not to Keep in Your Kitchen Cabinets

    “They’re called staples for a reason — you probably use them every time you cook!” says Julian Thomas, DIY and lifestyle expert and Command partner. For this reason, it’s best to keep certain items such as herbs and spices, flour, sugar, and even coffee either in your pantry (if you have one), or on display in other parts of your kitchen — Thomas suggests repurposing a picture ledge for storing spices — where heat and humidity won’t affect their potency.

    “Instead of storing aromatic coffee beans in cabinets, where light and temperature fluctuations can degrade their flavor, consider using vacuum-sealed containers stored in a cool, dark pantry or drawer,” says Melanie Summers, professional organizer and founder of I Speak Organized. “This not only preserves their freshness, but also maintains the aesthetic appeal of your kitchen.”

    “Cleaning solutions, especially liquids, should not be stored in your kitchen cabinets,” says Thomas. “While under-the-sink organization for cleaning supplies is the norm for many households, this still runs a risk of cross-contamination and harmful exposure. For instance, I let the storage under my kitchen sink get so full that a bottle of liquid dish soap became crushed by overcrowding and began to leak, eventually seeping out of the cabinet onto my hardwood floor.”

    According to Thomas, it’s best to label all your bottles clearly and opt for a layered pullout rack for maximizing space under your sink if this is the only spot you have for storing cleaning products. Other types of organization solutions, like my favorite under-sink turntable, can help keep your cleaning products and tools separated and easy to access.

    3. Occasional Appliances and Excess Cookware

    Overcrowded cabinets with rarely used cookware and appliances can create chaos in your kitchen. Summers suggests hanging pots and pans on a ceiling rack or wall-mounted rail to free up cabinet space and add a stylish, functional element to your kitchen decor.

    “Whether it’s a Crock-Pot only used during the colder months of the year or an indoor electric grill when it’s BBQ season, it’s tempting to store these ‘occasional’ kitchen appliances up high in a cabinet out of the way,” says Thomas. “However, depending on your strength and coordination levels, that might not be the best idea. Even storing these items in bottom cabinets is risky, considering so many people experience lower back pain, and bending over to lift heavy equipment is not wise either.”

    Thomas recommends carving out space in the garage, pantry, or even a utility closet to store kitchen appliances that you don’t use frequently. When it comes to the appliances collecting dust in your home, Dr. Dan Murauski, director of wellness optimization and longevity at Case Integrative Health, adds that it’s best to donate items that you haven’t used in about a year.

    4. Certain Sauces and Condiments

    Kitchen cabinets can provide excellent storage for sauces, condiments, and canned goods with long shelf lives. There are a few, however, that should be stored elsewhere to maintain their condition and give you more kitchen cabinet space. 

    “It’s important to read the labels on shelf-stable sauces to see which ones need to be refrigerated after opening,” says Murauski. “We all know ketchup and mayo need to go in the fridge. I was surprised to learn that soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce do as well!” Additionally, he suggests keeping olive oil and cooking oils in a light-proof container away from the stovetop. 

    5. Vitamins and Medications

    It may be tempting to keep your daily vitamins and medications within reach in your kitchen, especially if you take them with your breakfast, but Summers advises against this. 

    “Rather than keeping these in kitchen cabinets, where temperature and humidity can fluctuate, opt for a dedicated storage area in a closet, bedroom drawer, or even a lockable medicine cabinet in a cool, dry bathroom,” she says. “This ensures their efficacy and keeps them out of reach of little ones.”

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    L. Daniela Alvarez

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  • The Ingenious $17 Storage Gem Every Kitchen Needs, According to a Pro Organizer

    The Ingenious $17 Storage Gem Every Kitchen Needs, According to a Pro Organizer

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    We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

    The quest to keep things organized in the kitchen is never-ending. After all, there’s a nonstop flow of things in and out, and despite all the best intentions, it’s way too easy for things to get out of hand — and fast. 

    Luckily, it doesn’t have to be that way. I’m late to the game in working with a professional organizer, but now that I know, I know. And ever since I began working with the experts, I’ve learned to trust the recommendations that come from a pro. They see our messiest, most challenging spaces, day in and day out, and have the skills and the experience to help turn things around. This can involve spending some extra money, but in my experience, at least, it’s been money well-spent to invest in things that keep everything in my space easy to find and access. After all, when you know you already have things at home, you’re less likely to buy duplicates and end up with waste.

    I’m fascinated by how organizers’ brains work, and what their absolute go-tos are. Kim Jones of Lock & Key Home in Louisville, Kentucky, and author of The No-Nonsense Home Organization Plan, was kind enough to share her tried-and-true favorites when it comes to organizing kitchens. Here are the five she says every kitchen needs (all for around $20).

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    Dana McMahan

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  • These Are the Easiest Silicone Bags Ever to Clean — Just Watch

    These Are the Easiest Silicone Bags Ever to Clean — Just Watch

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    We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

    I cannot kick my resealable bag habit. I do my best to reuse them, but sometimes I can’t decide which is worse: wasting water trying to remove greasy food from inside the bag, or giving up and throwing them out. I thought reusable silicone bags would be the solution, but while they definitely work, most can be pretty tricky to clean, and they’re just as hard to dry because they still only open on one side.

    1. It’s effortless to clean.

    When my kids come home from school, they don’t even need to rinse their SoftShell containers. They simply open them and drop them into the dishwasher next to the plates, saving time and water. If I had known that these containers would solve all our lunch box drama, I would have invested in them years ago. 

    2. Deep cleaning is a snap.

    Not to slander my children prematurely, but when the Big Bee, Little Bee bags inevitably spend spring break marinating in a child’s backpack, the silicone panels can be fully removed for deep cleaning.

    There’s no pinch-press seal on these beauties. Simply close the container and slide the lock into place. You can even do it blindfolded — just feel for the raised lock symbol. Young children can manage this independently, which is a selling point on its own. 

    4. It doubles as a plate.

    Unlike a traditional resealable bag, the Big Bee, Little Bee containers double as plates. When open, they lie flat easily, and actually stay down. Double the surface space for lunch time!

    My teenage daughter won’t take her splurgy PlanetBox bento box to school because it takes up too much space in her backpack. Her new seven-by-seven-inch SoftShell easily slips into the small pocket in the front of her bag, leaving plenty of room for her Chromebook and binder. 

    6. There are no lids to lose.

    There are plenty of great solutions for lid storage, but why not forgo them altogether? With SoftShells, there are exactly zero lids to lose.

    7. It’s microwave-safe.

    My kids barely have time to eat lunch at school, let alone microwave it, but the SoftShells are indeed microwave-safe — just be sure to leave them open to vent. The edges are cool to the touch, even fresh from the microwave, making them safer to handle than a traditional plate. 

    8. It’s colorful and freezer-safe.

    The SoftShells are also freezer-safe, which is the main place I use resealable bags. As an unexpected bonus, they make my freezer colorful and cheerful! They come in four fun, bright colors that kids love: lime, raspberry, grape, and aqua. 

    9. There are no hazardous materials.

    The clamshell edges are made from BPA-free plastic, but the only part of the container that actually touches food is the FDA-grade silicone shell. All components are also free from the alphabet soup of bad actors: PVC, phthalates, and lead. 

    A word to the wise: Don’t wait.

    These popular baggies are frequently out of stock, so I recommend placing your order as soon as you see that they’re available. When deciding how many you need, keep in mind that they are designed for sandwiches, snacks, and foods with thick sauces. In other words, they’re not made for your breakfast bone broth. 



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    Meg Asby

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