Tupperware Storage Hints & Tips

You may recall that last weekend I tackled my Tupperware cupboard as part of the weekend declutter challenge. I didn’t actually manage to finish it over the weekend but got back into it this week and it is now looking rather swish (if I do say so myself!)
I thought you may like to see the before and after photos as well as read some of my Tupperware storage hints and tips.

For some time I have stored all my plastic containers on shelves in our pantry. There were a few issues with this system, the most significant one being the height it was stored at! I am short…quite short… storing Tupperware on shelves that are head hight (or above) does not work. Trust me.

The Tupperware was initially packed here by my (tall) husband and I just never moved it. This time, instead of tidying it and packing it back up high I decided to move it to drawers down low in the kitchen. I had to do some reordering of where everything was kept but I have moved less used appliances up to the high shelves and the more frequently used Tupperware into the drawers.

You can see what my Tupperware looked like before on the next slide…

Yep, chaos hey! It would all fall on my head every time I tried to pull something out and I couldn’t even reach the stuff up the top. I used a very sophisticated technique of poking things from below to get what I wanted to fall out… not exactly organised!
After pulling it all out, sorting through it and moving it into low drawers into the kitchen it turned into this…

How’s that for a transformation!! I’m loving it. It is so easy to keep tidy because it is all within reach. I have the bottom draw full of all my storage containers (for left overs, freezer meals etc) and the top drawer has all the snack containers and lunch boxes. I do have a bit of other random stuff I’m still sorting through but overall I’m super pleased.

As promised, I’ve written a how to guide with my top tips, you can read it on the next slide…

Step 1: Where will it go? Sit down and work out where you will store it. Does the location you have chosen work? Is it easy to reach and put away or do you need a stool or a degree in tetris to make it work? You may need to do some shuffling in your kitchen to find the ideal spot. Think about what you use most and make sure those items are the easiest to get (and put away).

Step 2: What do you use it for? Try and group your Tupperware and plastics by purpose. Keep all lunch boxes together, store ones that are for freezing meals all in the same spot etc If it is used less often it doesn’t need to necessarily be stored with the main Tupperware if you are short on space.

Step 3: Sort and chuck. I’m all for chucking (or giving away/selling) stuff you don’t need or use. It is a principle I have been applying liberally in our home lately. Do you have a million tiny baby food sized storage containers but your youngest “baby” is 16? Time to chuck them (or give them away). You can find out more about my love of chucking stuff here.

Step 4: Stacking is key. Don’t try to store everything with its lid on, it will take up far too much space. Stack containers inside each other, keeping like with like. Don’t go crazy and stack everything, you don’t want Tupperware that is like babushka dolls every time you want to access something. Just stick to stacking things the same size and purpose.

Step 5: Think vertical. You may notice in my picture that I have stored many of the lunchboxes and most of the lids vertically. Vertical stacking actually is really clever for saving space. particularly for easy access of items in deep drawers. I use it in the kids wardrobes with clothes too and it works really well.

Step 6: Explain the system to other people in the house. If you want all lunch boxes in a certain draw then make sure everyone knows about it. You don’t want to be the only person who can unpack the dishwasher because no one else knows where anything goes!

Good luck! I’d love to see how you go. You can show me your results on Instagram (anorganisedlife_) or on Facebook or comment below xx