Crafts & DIY
15 Household Items You're Storing Wrong
You can save space and help your household items last longer by storing them properly.
D.G. Sciortino
04.16.18

Lots of us do things just because that’s the way we’ve been taught to do it. But there could be better ways to store household items that you just don’t know about.

Here are 15 household items that you’re storing wrong:

1) Keep Medicine Out of the Medicine Cabinet

The medicine cabinet is actually the worst place to store medicine. The heat, cold, moisture, and light can damage medicine and cause it to be less potent. It’s best to place them in a dresser drawer or a cool dark spot in your kitchen. Also be sure to remove that piece of cotton from the bottle, it can harbor moisture.

Borneo Bulletin
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Borneo Bulletin

2) Wine Glasses Go Upright

Do you store your cocktail glasses upside down? While it keeps dust out, you run the risk of chipping your glasses since the lip of the glass is most fragile and you can knock it against your shelf this way. Store upright and cover with a paper towel if you need to, or get a hanging glass rack.

Elle Decor
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Elle Decor

3) Cereal, Flour, Herbs, Spices, Chocolate, Dried Fruits

We’d think that storing foods in the packaging they come in would work just fine, but you could be inviting bugs to dinner. Insects are known to creep into our packages of flour, herbs, cereal, chocolate, spices, and dried foods. It’s best to store these items in airtight containers.

Home Cooking Memories
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Home Cooking Memories

4) Cookie Sheets Get Filed

You’re wasting a lot of space by stacking your cookie sheets. Use vertical placed tension rods or a file sorter to organize them instead. This will save space and prevent your sheets from getting scratched up.

Pinterest
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Pinterest

5) Canned Foods and Drinks Go In Racks

Canned foods and drinks take up a lot of space and it’s all too easy to lose track of expired cans. Put them in a can storage rack. They are inexpensive, take up less space, and will keep your oldest cans in the front.

Home Depot
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Home Depot

6) Non-Stick Pans Need A Barrier

If you’re stacking your non-stick or cast iron pans, you’re making a big mistake. This scratches them and can ruin their coating. Place a cloth, paper towel or paper plate in between them to prevent scratching.

The List TV
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The List TV

7) Baking Mats Get Rolled

Stacking baking mats can wear them out and take up a lot of space. A better way to store them is to roll them. Just place a cardboard tube around them so they stay in place.

Good Things By David
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Good Things By David

8) Knives Go In A Block Or Bar

Some of us spend a pretty penny on our knives. But tossing them into a draw could damage them or even cut someone trying to get into the drawer. It’s best to store them in a knife block or magnetic knife bar.

Cool Mom Eats
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Cool Mom Eats

9) Wine Bottles On Their Sides

You might know this if you’re a wine person, if not, listen up. Wine bottles should be stored horizontally and on their sides. This keeps the cork moist, which allows air in so that the wine doesn’t spoil.

Wine Kitz Pickering
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Wine Kitz Pickering

10) Christmas Lights

Untangling Christmas lights can be a real pain. Wrap them around an old paper towel roll or coffee can to keep them untangled. Keep them in a dark place to prevent fading.

Savvy Housekeeping
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Savvy Housekeeping

11) Yoga Mats

Do not store these in the trunk of your car. It may be convenient so you don’t forget it when going to yoga class but the heat or change in temperature can break the mat down. Keep it in a cool dry place near your keys instead so you don’t forget it.

Kickstarter
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Kickstarter

12) Perfume

We all keep perfume in our countertops or in a cabinet. But this isn’t helping it to last longer. Keep your perfume in the refrigerator to make it stay fresher longer and prevent it from going bad.

Fashionista
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Fashionista

13) Important Papers

Birth certificates, medical records, and other important papers need to be protected. Use a fireproof storage box that isn’t packed away in a closet and is accessible. This will enable you to grab it on the go in case of an emergency.

Amazon
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Amazon

14) Photos

Most of us toss our photos into an album or box without thinking twice. This keep leaves them open to fading or yellowing. Use an acid-free album or box to store your precious memories in.

Simple and Nice
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Simple and Nice

15) Clothing

The Container Store
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The Container Store

We all spend money on nice clothes so you’ll want them to last. Most of us put clothes in bins or plastic for longterm storage but this can damage and wrinkle your clothing. It’s best to place them in a breathable container, like canvas or cotton, with moth repellant to prevent this.

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