Make Pots And Pans Clutter A Thing Of The Past With One Genius Dollar Tree Hack

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Are you tired of wrestling with a messy pile of pans, baking sheets, and lids every time you open the cabinet? Or maybe you're afraid of an avalanche coming down when you just need to grab one pan from the bottom of the pile. Organizing pots and pans efficiently is often a struggle, but there's a simple Dollar Tree hack that can change that. Grab a simple dish rack, pop it in a cabinet, and you've created a new vertical storage system for your cookware.

This genius hack allows you to utilize every inch of cabinet storage space while making it easier to get what you need. To get your pans under control, all you need is a Dollar Tree Essentials wire dish drying rack that costs just $1.25. It is designed to hold items vertically, so you can easily slide your slim pans into the sections to hold them standing upright, parallel to each other. This hack also works for lids and baking sheets. 

Not only does it help tame the mess, but it's also a fantastic way to keep all of your items accessible and visible. Simply grab what you need without having to move the entire collection every time. Of course, you can also buy metal wire dividers specially made for holding pots, pans, and lids, but they tend to be pricier. For example, this Jaq pot lid holder retails for $19.99, compared to Dollar Tree's $1.25 alternative. When you're on a budget, the Dollar Tree option is the way to go.

This hack is fairly simple. Just pop a dish rack into the cabinet, and slide your favorite pans and baking sheets into the slots vertically. The sections on the dish rack are wide enough that you can likely put multiple thin baking sheets into one section. Thicker pans and lids may need their own sections. 

Despite its simplicity, there are some ways that you can elevate this organizational hack. For example, by attaching several dish racks together, you can create a longer storage system in a wide cabinet. As is, the rack can hold four items, give or take a few, but you can use two or three racks to multiply your organizing power, especially given the low price point. To keep things organized, use zip ties to attach the racks together. That way, your storage system will stay in place despite repeatedly pulling cookware pieces in and out. 

You can also pair this hack with other genius storage DIYs for pots and pans. For example, use the trendy hanging pot rack method to display your prettiest pots and pans on the wall, and use the dish rack technique to store away the useful but not-so-stylish ones in a cupboard. You can also pair this hack with cabinet inserts, like shelf-raisers to keep your kitchen organized. Place an Ipegtop kitchen cabinet organizer next to the dish rack in the cabinet to help you organize thicker items like sauce pans, dutch ovens, or stock pots. Or, go with the cheaper Dollar Tree Essentials white wire cabinet shelves for a similar option that gives you more stacking space. Remember, storage is about what works for you, so you can adapt every DIY to meet your own needs.