The One Place You Should Avoid Hanging A Mug Collection And Why

There are so many creative and clever spaces where you can store and display your mug collection. From coffee bars to in-cabinet storage solutions, your favorite pieces are no longer relegated to hiding in dark recesses or being shoved into a cluttered cupboard. However, while kitchen pantry items that keep your mugs organized, like spice racks, are a great idea, there are definitely hacks (and certain areas) you want to steer clear of — mainly because they pose a risk to your pieces. You may have seen the trend of utilizing the hanging space above your oven. For some kitchen supplies, this is a great trick. However, for many items, this is just a mess in the making, as your mugs will collect grease and could even get damaged. Stylish, yes, but a good idea? Probably not.

Utilizing vertical space in a small kitchen (or even in a larger space) is a good way to store everything from mugs to cookware. However, this trend seems detrimental. Hanging hooks above your stove is certainly useful to keep cooking utensils and other items handy, but think about how much grease and oil can splash all over your range, countertops, and even walls when cooking. Whenever you clean your kitchen, that area is likely in need of a good wipe down. So hanging your mugs there will result in leaving them dirty and in need of regular cleaning, which only adds to your workload.

It's not just the grease that can be a drawback for this storage hack, though. As the heat from your cooktop climbs, it could melt the adhesive you've used to add the hanging hooks to your wall if you're using command strips or other similar brands. Cooking also creates steam, meaning humidity can seep under these hanging pieces and pull them off. Mugs could smash when they fall, creating a mess both on and behind your stove — something you definitely do not want to clean up. 

Even if you screw hooks into the walls, it is a little hazardous to hang glass mugs, which can crack and shatter right above where you cook. If you were to try this with the idea that you could remove the mugs whenever you cook, you're still creating more unnecessary work. There are plenty of DIYs or even thrift store treasures that make great coffee and tea mug storage solutions. While it might be a good idea to keep this area clear of all items, if you do want to utilize it, stick to stainless steel cookware that can handle the heat — although they may still get oil and grease on them. Otherwise, a blank space or a decorative backsplash may be the best options for the area over your stove and oven!