Things You Should Never Keep Stored And Organized In Glass Jars

Using old glass jars for cute storage has been trending for a while, and for good reason. While glass jars are the perfect way to hold and organize many things, some things really shouldn't be stored in them. In addition to certain foods like oils and herbs, many household and garage items — such as cleaning products, motor oil, gasoline, mineral spirits, first-aid supplies, and bleach — should not be stored in glass jars.

Clear glass jars make it easy to see everything and keep goods orderly, and their lids and rings help to keep perishable items from going bad. The problem is that many items can go bad quickly due to light exposure, and certain foods need to go through the proper canning process when using glass jars to prevent spoilage. Storing low-acid foods in glass canning jars without pressure canning can promote the growth of botulism. If you store improperly canned food in your home, whether in your pantry or other locations, the jars can become unsealed and contaminate the surfaces of other items stored nearby.

Glass jars are great for organizing bathroom staples like cotton balls, dental picks, and cotton swabs – but not everything in your bathroom should be stored in them. Some bathroom items can corrode metal lids, degrade in light, or create safety hazards – especially in homes with children.

Bathroom cleaners, especially bleach-based products and toilet bowl cleaners, should never go into glass jars. Not only can this create a poisoning hazard for children, but the metal rings and lids can react with the harsh chemicals of cleaners and break down over time, which will eventually cause the jar to leak. Many skincare products, like those containing retinols, also shouldn't be stored in clear glass jars. These products are photosensitive, meaning light can degrade their formulas. They are better left in their original packaging or opaque jars.

While you shouldn't be storing medications in the bathroom in general, it is a really bad idea to store them in glass jars. Light, heat, and humidity from bathroom activities can break down medications, and glass jars are not designed to protect medicines properly; not to mention storing medication this way can create an accessibility issue if you have children in the home.

Glass jars may seem like a convenient storage solution in garages or utility rooms, but some items can make them dangerous. Using glass jars in the garage to store things like gasoline, paint, paint thinners, oils, lubricants, and herbicides or pesticides isn't a good idea. Many of these products can degrade in light, corrode metal lids, or release gases over time. Glass jars can also easily break, causing a dangerous spill mixed with nasty glass shards. Storing chemicals outside their original labeled containers increases the risk of misuse or accidental ingestion.

While many people use glass jars to store small screws, nuts, bolts, and other hardware, this isn't a great idea because they can scratch or chip the glass, causing it to break. Batteries are best stored in their original packaging or a dedicated storage container. They can discharge or rupture if stored together loosely in a glass jar, especially if their ends touch each other or the metal lid. You should also not use glass jars with lids to store lighters or lighter fluid because they can create a pressurized environment from off gassing; they should be stored in a cool, dry place with proper ventilation.

While glass jars can be extremely handy for storing and organizing many household items, they are not the right solution for everything. When in doubt, the safest choice is to leave items in their original packaging and perhaps upcycle your glass jars into something more decorative.