This tip comes from my reader April:
I’ve recently discovered a way to save money on buying pantry storage containers. I was tired of all the small, opened bags of baking items like chocolate chips, various nuts, marshmallows, etc. I had previously either used a chip clip to close them back or put them in a ziploc baggie but it was a big pile on the shelf of my pantry and I wanted a better way to organize them. I looked at buying some more pantry storage containers like I have for my sugar, flour, etc but those are so expensive. While I was rinsing out a plastic mayo jar to recycle, I had a voila moment. Why not reuse the jar? Now I save the jars from mayo, peanut butter, jelly, etc to store smaller dry good items in my pantry. Not only does it save money but it is good for the environment. Best of all I can see what’s on my shelf! By the way, adding baking soda, vinegar and hot water to a jar will help get rid of any residual smell from the previous contents. Just don’t close up the lid until the bubbling is all done and the pressure is released.
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Vi says
Hi! I have one of those annoying corner shelving in my tiny pantry in our apt (i know, at least I have one ;) but anyhow, shelving space is limited, so I bought a couple shoe organizers with the pockets (the ones that hang on the door) from the Dollar Tree and keep my grains, beans, packets of tea, hot cocoa, etc organized in each one. It’s wonderful because not only I saved some shelf space, it makes everything so easy to find!
From Drop Box
Mary says
Brilliant!! I am totally doing this! Thanks for sharing!
Tanya says
I kept (to my husband’s dismay) most of the formula cans from when my kids were babies. I clean them and use in the pantry like most of you said. I’ve also used them in the classroom though. I put together kits for certain activities so that I don’t waste time handing out supplies to each child. For example, we do a frog jump for measurement so the can would contain the rubber frog, the measuring tape, an empty film canister, a rubber band and a popcicle stick. (You use the last 3 to make a lever to launch the frog). This would be good for roadtrips and vacations as well. You could make kits of fun things to do.
Jen says
We save all of our Cool Whip containers to use for leftovers. We always put the food on a plate before re-heating to avoid any concern with the plastic. My husband makes homemade spaghetti sauce and we freeze that in Cool Whip containers. The sauce stains them, even when it’s only frozen in the containers. We used to save all of the Cool Whips but are over-run now!
Beth says
I have been doing this for a long time, and it’s a great tip! Many companies are making their plastic containers BPA free now, especially food containers. I did purchase large storage containers from a dollar store for flour and sugar, but I re-use mayonnaise jars, dip jars, spaghetti sauce jars, etc. for other things. Dip jars work very well for homemade stain remover and homemade cleansers lke soft-scrub and furniture polish.
I found out that the main reason people are told not to re-use food containers is because of bacteria that can form around the neck of bottles and jars and they do need to be cleaned thoroughly, but cleaning thoroughly and drying completely will kill most household bacteria. I have also used mayonnaise containers to make instant pudding while camping!
WillowK says
You have to be careful reusing plastic containers that aren’t made specifically for reuse as they can release dangerous chemicals once heated (like in a dishwasher or with hot water). They will not only release chemicals into whatever you put into the container, but they can also spread them all over everything else in your dishwasher. It costs too much for companies to make the containers safe for reuse when they are intended to be used and then either recycled or thrown out. That’s why actual food storage containers made to be re-used are so expensive. The companies have to use higher quality materials that are made to hold up to repeated washings.
Jen says
My grandfather used to use baby food jars for tons of stuff. Granted, much of is was bolts, screws, nuts and other garage/workshop stuff, but this could work for an office, too… paperclips, push pins, rubber bands, etc.
My Mom works in a doctor’s office. She used to bring home the “collection” containers (UNUSED!) and now I have most of my office stuff in there. This is, of course at home so nobody other than my husband sees it. He was pretty disguisted at first.
Becky says
I have used glass spaghetti jars, large ball canning jars and gallon pickle jars for this purpose for many years. I mostly keep rice, dry beans, pasta, bread crumbs and chocolate chips etc. in them. I like how it looks and easy to spot contents. I clip the directions/measurements for things like rice and drop it in the jar for a ready reference.
boomer3145 says
Pill bottles work too. I clean really well & add sorted beads
Taylor says
I love this idea! Thank you!
Becky says
Neat idea. Thanks
Jackie says
Is this really safe? I mean I’m guessing you would want to do only glass containers that you could run through a sani cycle?
Deann says
Jackie, I always run my plastic containers through the dishwasher (on the top shelf) before reusing them. I put the lids in a basket that I used for baby bottle tops and nipples. Hope that helps!