Are you tired of digging through cluttered lower cabinets only to find broken dishes or expired food? It’s time to rethink what you’re storing in those hard-to-reach spaces.
Keeping certain items out of your low cabinets creates a more organized, efficient, and safe kitchen environment.
Here are the 10 things that have no business taking up valuable real estate in your lower kitchen cabinets. Get ready to revamp your storage game and make the most of every inch of your culinary haven.
1. Breakable Items
While storing fragile items like vases and fine china in lower cabinets may seem logical to minimize the risk of falling from a height, it’s better to keep them up high.
This way, they’re less likely to get knocked over or accidentally kicked when you’re rummaging through the cabinet. Plus, storing breakables out of reach reduces the chance of children or pets accidentally damaging them.
If you must store delicate items in lower cabinets, consider investing in padded shelf liners or using dividers to keep them separated and protected.
Alternatively, display your beautiful serving pieces in a glass-front cabinet or on open shelves where they can be admired and easily accessed.
2. Daily-Use Items
Bending down and digging through low cabinets every time you need a plate, cup, or mixing bowl can quickly become a pain. Save yourself the strain and keep your most frequently used items at eye level or within easy reach.
Reserve lower cabinets for items you use less often, like specialty baking pans or large platters. This makes your daily routine more efficient and frees up prime real estate for the things you need most.
Consider installing pull-out shelves or lazy Susans to make accessing those lower cabinet items a breeze when needed.
3. Hazardous Materials
Cleaning products, sharp objects, and other potentially dangerous items should never be stored in low cabinets, especially if you have curious children or pets.
Accidents can happen even with child safety locks, so it’s best to keep these items well out of reach. Instead, dedicate a high cabinet or shelf to storing your cleaning supplies and other hazardous materials.
If you must keep them in a lower cabinet, ensure they’re in a locked or child-proofed container. Remember, safety should always come first in the kitchen.
4. Baking Supplies
Flour, sugar, and other baking essentials are magnets for pests like ants and weevils, especially when stored in lower cabinets near the floor.
Store your ingredients in airtight containers on higher shelves or in the pantry to keep your ingredients fresh and bug-free. If you keep baking supplies in lower cabinets, be sure to inspect them regularly for signs of infestation and discard any compromised items.
Avoid storing open packages, and always wipe down shelves and containers before restocking to prevent lingering pests from contaminating your fresh ingredients.
5. Large Appliances
Bulky appliances like slow cookers, blenders, and food processors can quickly eat up valuable space in your lower cabinets.They are difficult to access when you need them and create a cluttered appearance that can make your kitchen feel cramped and disorganized.
Instead of hiding these items, consider storing them on the countertop if you use them frequently.
If counter space is limited, look for creative storage solutions like appliance garages or pull-out shelves. These solutions allow you to easily access your go-to gadgets without sacrificing precious cabinet real estate.
6. Plastic Food Containers
We all have that one cabinet overflowing with mismatched plastic containers and lids. While it’s tempting to shove them all in a lower cabinet and forget about them, this only leads to frustration when you can’t find the right size or matching lid.
Take control of your container chaos by paring down your collection to only the essentials. Recycle any warped, stained, or lidless containers, and invest in a set of stackable glass or BPA-free options instead.
Store them in a designated drawer or on a higher shelf where they’re easy to reach when needed.
7. Open Food Packages
Lower cabinets are often dark, humid, and prone to temperature fluctuations – the perfect environment for bacteria and mold to thrive. Storing open food packages in these spaces not only leads to spoilage but can also attract pests like mice and cockroaches.
To keep your food fresh and your kitchen critter-free, transfer open packages to airtight containers and store them in the pantry or higher shelves.
If you must keep them in lower cabinets, use clear containers with tight-fitting lids and label them with the contents and expiration date to ensure nothing gets lost in the back of the cabinet.
8. Rarely Used Items
Those giant roasting pans and specialty cake molds that only see the light of day during the holidays have no business taking up prime real estate in your lower cabinets. Not only do they create clutter, but they also make it harder to access the items you use daily.
Relocate rarely-used items to higher shelves, the back of the pantry, or even off-site storage if you have the space. This frees up valuable cabinet space for what you need most and makes keeping your kitchen organized and efficient easier.
9. Cleaning Supplies
Although under the sink may seem like the logical place to store cleaning supplies, this damp, dark environment can lead to leaks, spills, and even dangerous fumes. Plus, storing chemicals within the reach of young children is a serious safety hazard.
Instead, dedicate a high cabinet or shelf in the laundry room or garage to your cleaning arsenal. If you must keep them under the sink, use a child-proof lock and store them in a leak-proof container to prevent accidents.
Always keep cleaning products separate from food items to avoid cross-contamination.
10. Cookbooks
While having your favorite recipes at your fingertips is convenient, storing bulky cookbooks in lower cabinets can quickly eat up valuable space. The humid environment can cause pages to stick together or even grow mold over time.
Display your most-used cookbooks on a shelf or countertop where they’re easy to grab when inspiration strikes.
For the rest of your collection, consider storing them in the living room or home office, where they can double as decor. You can also digitize your recipes and store them on your phone or tablet for easy access without the clutter.
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Davin is a jack-of-all-trades but has professional training and experience in various home and garden subjects. He leans on other experts when needed and edits and fact-checks all articles.