9 Items You Should Store In Clear Containers

When it comes to storing items around your home, numerous options are available. However, some things will do better being stored in clear containers than in something of a solid color. Some of these items include certain foods, medications, and even your extra power cords. Reasons vary as to why each of these things will perform better in clear containers, from making it easier to know what you have on hand to facilitating easier storage for people in your home after use. Check your local home goods stores, such as IKEA or Target, to find the cheapest storage bins.

One of the best reasons to opt for clear containers is that you can easily see what is inside. This means you don't have to use a label maker or change labels if you reuse an old storage container. For stored foods and fabrics, you can check if anything gets into the container, such as bugs, and address the issue promptly. Stacking lidded clear bins also keeps you from having to pull everything from a stack to go through it to find what you want. And, of course, they help prevent clutter.

There are multiple reasons to store your pantry items in clear containers. It ensures you can easily see what you have so you're not buying multiples of the same staple items, and it allows you to know when to replace something when you're close to running out. Transferring food like cereal and dry pasta from boxes into lidded containers will also help keep it fresher longer. There may be a time when you need to throw away your old food containers, so keep that in mind.

When it comes to helping your kids keep their rooms clean and organized, clear storage containers can be a valuable asset. These containers allow kids to see what is inside them and parents to check their work, making the cleanup of kids rooms easier. If you opt for lidded storage, have your child test their ability to open and close the container before making a purchase. Otherwise, consider lidless storage containers, which will keep you from needing to find the lid when it goes missing.

Once a year, you dig out the seasonal and holiday decor needed for that time. By keeping these supplies and decorations in clear containers, you avoid forgetting where you packed what — no need for inventory lists or digging through multiple totes. It is helpful to ensure that you're organizing things together, such as keeping all ornaments in one container and all extra wrapping supplies in another, etc. You can even find color-coded lids for each holiday.

If you're a person who packs up your winter clothes in the summer and your summer clothes in the winter, putting these items in clear containers will help you feel more organized. This is especially true when it comes time to pull those garments back out for their season — you can see if you're grabbing shorts, sweaters, or something else. Sometimes you won't want everything out at the same time, which means you don't have to dig through every tote. Sealed totes also protect your clothing from pests.

Crafters know how quickly their supplies can become out of control. Having the proper storage containers to organize everything can make a huge difference. Clear containers organize your supplies so you can really see what you need depending on the project you're working on. This is also helpful if you're one of those people who tend not to craft when you can't see your stuff (out of sight, out of mind) — seeing what you have can help inspire you to get started on new projects.

Storing your gardening supplies in clear lidded containers helps keep them clean, safe from pests, and dry. We suggest storing similar items together, such as gardening tools in one and fertilizers in another to avoid any cross contamination. If you have leftover seed packets or flower bulbs that didn't get planted in time, you can store them in clear containers as long as they're not airtight (poke a few holes in the lid to allow airflow without the fear of pests or too much moisture).

Pet food, especially if you have multiple pets on different diets, can occupy a significant amount of space. By putting your pet's food in sealed clear containers instead of open bags, you can make sure it's safe from pests, prevent your pets from getting into it when it's not actually time for them to eat, and keep their food fresher for longer. To keep food straight for multiple pets, label the containers.

Electric cords are one of those household staples that you can't throw away because half the time you don't remember what they belong to, and the other half, they're tangled in knots. A clear container with individual slots is a great way to organize smaller cords. You can roll up larger ones and wrap a piece of Velcro around them to keep them from getting tangled in a larger clear tote. Dollar Tree offers a variety of smart ways to organize your home, including with affordable clear containers for these cords.

Whether you take prescription medications or use supplements and vitamins to maintain your health, keeping your bottles organized can be challenging if you have an extensive collection. Storing your medicines in clear containers makes it easier to see what you have so you can always access what you need. We also love the idea of keeping your a.m. and p.m. medications together in marked drawers and storing seasonal medication, like for allergies, colds, and flu, in one clear container.