Sometimes, more things *IS* the answer (No, really)

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Sometimes, more things IS the answer (No, really)

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Started 2 years ago by Quadlex
Latest reply from reyecat
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Quadlex
Member

So, the kitchen. I think it's the Primo place for clutter. Dirty dishes. Packets of things. Fridges cluttered. Tools everywhere. Ack... Makes me panic just thinking about it.

But I've found that my kitchen is the place where buying *more* helped. Specifically, storage-wise.

I bought TupperWare Modular Mates. They're pantry building-blocks, basically. They're *fantastic*. I have so many pulses, grains, packets, spices, baking products and so on that I just couldn't store them in open packets. I could throw stuff out, but that would be cluttering up my finances when I needed some more (Who uses an entire packet of Cous Cous?)

I also bought FridgeSmarts, which are boxes that allow veggies to breathe and maintain a better humidity profile then plastic bags... It helps me see what's in my crisper and stops things getting liquified and ignored. It also makes them last longer (Which I think counts as uncluttered)

On the other hand, buying more storage bowls to allow me to prepare food in advance then serve all at once hasn't really helped me in any way. It takes up half a cupboard for some things I really don't use often.

So, I guess my kitchen mantra is "If it holds something often, it's not clutter".

Now I've just got to pare down on things that are mostly full of air.

Posted 2 years ago #
Ava Lind
Member

Quadlex, you make a lot of sense. Unlike the living room and the bedroom, a working kitchen--one that feeds people on a regular basis--needs oodles and oodles of equipment and food. It might be that the kitchen is the most challenging room to organize. What do you think?

I don't happen to buy storage units though; I tend to reuse jars and re-sealables, sticking labels and dates on them. My cupboards aren't pretty, but they are accessible and easy to understand, which is pleasant.

Posted 2 years ago #
reyecat
Member

It does make sense!

I could never afford tupperware so I just use the Ziploc containers. So that's an alternative that won't break the bank. They stack very nicely.... if you are using the Xlarge and the medium sizes they fit very well with each other ... the large size does stack well with it self but not as well with other pieces. But It still works great for me.

In fact I like Ziploc containters better because when they are not in use in my pantry they fit inside each other. Tupperware does not fit inside each other and so takes up a lot of space when it's not in use.

Also it's a bit of a rigamarole to get replacement pieces for Tupperware whereas with Ziploc if something breaks you can just pick some more up the next time you are at the store. Easy Peasy.

Posted 2 years ago #
toberead
Member

I love to make a large dish and subdivide it into individual portions to eat later. It's so convenient to have my own homemade "frozen dinners" to pull out any time I want. For me, the secret to storage bowls is to buy all the same type. A few years back, I was ruthless and tossed out all the mismatched plastic containers. I found some plastic storage containers that had a small and large size that used the same lid. (They were actually "disposable" containers like Ziploc, only these were a generic brand.) I spent the money and stocked up on more than I needed, because I knew the container size would be discontinued eventually. (It was.)

Now I don't have to look for a bowl and a matching lid - every bowl matches every lid. They are easy to store because I don't have to worry about getting a container from the bottom of a stack - they all nest inside each other and I have two stacks - large and small - and one basket of lids - all the same size.

In my case, buying more was good, because if one breaks or melts or gets lost, I have extras. I have a couple of packs that haven't even been opened yet, because I know I can't buy any more that will match up. It's worth a little extra space to know that I have enough storage containers to last me for years. If you buy a few here and a few there, they won't match and you'll have to deal with finding the right lid for the right bowl (and trying to store bowls and lids of different sizes).

Posted 2 years ago #
Quadlex
Member

@reyecat + toberead:

Actually, toberead's issue with mis-matches is exactly why I switched to TupperWare. I had a lot of containers bought from the supermarket for storing food and pantry goods. Then they changed all the sizes so that things didn't fit properly... New lids won't fit old containers and nothing will stack. So I got the shits that my collection was aging, cracking, and not overly useful.

So, I switched to TupperWare, because the Modular Mates have been around for ages and I imagine they'll be around ages more. I actually sell the stuff too, but I don't drink the koolaide... Some of it's clutter, plain and simple, and all of it's more costly then supermarket products... But I consider being able to buy new lids and get broken stuff replaced a godsend.

Posted 2 years ago #
Claycat
Member

I just have a few plastic containers for the refrigerator, but mostly I don't put stuff in plastic when I bring it home from the store. It causes me more organizational problems than it helps. I bring items from the store and keep them in their boxes. I don't have the patience to deal with extra containers.

This reminds me of an elaborate system of card files and journals, etc., that I read about. It was to help organize things, but it would have just added to my problem with paper clutter, so I passed on that one.

I think the containers idea would work best with people who are naturally organized. Different strokes!

Posted 2 years ago #
reyecat
Member

Quadlex said, "But I consider being able to buy new lids and get broken stuff replaced a godsend. "

I can totally see that, especially when you sell the stuff. And I agree about all the extra stuff they sell, what a load!

I used to sell Epicure Selections and their kitchen ware... Yikes what a load of unitasker stuff!

Posted 2 years ago #

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