Forget Shelves And Cabinets: Combat Clutter With A Clever Spice Storage Solution

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

A kitchen in a boat or an RV is the picture of space efficiency and secure storage. Their owners take full advantage of vertical space and make sure essentials aren't tossed about the room when they hit a pothole or sail into choppy seas. Following this practice of storing things high and tightly, a new contraption is getting attention: spice gripper clips. These self-adhesive racks are equipped with split ring clips that snap around spice bottles. On Amazon, scores of brands are putting out similar designs at a wide range of price points.

Why waste drawer, shelf, or counter space? Going vertical is a genius way to store spices without cluttering up your kitchen — but it's far from a new idea. Wall-mounted spice racks have been around for a long time, while magnetic metal spice containers for fridges are a more recent innovation in the category. Spice gripper clips have one up on both of these solutions, since you can mount them inside cabinet doors without tools. Plus, they're designed to store spices still in their original packaging — no decanting into special containers or relabeling required.

One legitimate concern about organizing your spices with strips of gripper clips is their longevity. Most of these products are made of plastic, and the thin gripping arms are certain to break sooner rather than later. Granted, the price tag on these largely plastic spice organizers matches the material and won't break the bank — for example, a three-piece set of Valink Spice Gripper Clip with 20 clips sells for a little over $7. However, items with a short life expectancy number among the things to stay away from buying for a more sustainable home.

Whether or not someone will manufacture metal spice gripper clips is yet to be seen. Until then, plastic does the job — for a while, at least. Reviewers of even the highest-rated spice gripper clips available on Amazon complain that the clips weaken or stretch over time. Some customers have experienced jars falling from the clips, which is extra problematic with glass jars. Others share that the grip isn't trustworthy enough for plastic or glass jars. Some buyers reported that the self-adhesive strip either don't adhere well to the wall or stick so firmly that they're hard to remove.

You can avoid many of these issues by checking the product reviews carefully before you buy a set of grippers. Also, only hang lightweight plastic spice jars in each clip. The Amazon Choice Simple Houseware Store Spice Gripper Clips are labeled Amazon Choice and have some of the highest reviews — about 65% of customers rated them five stars. At just shy of $10 for a four-strip pack, they're definitely affordable. The product comes with screws for permanent mounting and alcohol pads for cleaning the surface if you go the self-adhesive route.

If you have glass spice bottles, spring for a sturdier solution that costs a little more. Products like the Wvapzwr Bottom Support Spice Clips have a little shelf that supports the clipped-in spice jar from below. A two-strip set with 10 clips in total will set you back almost $8. However, with individual bottles of spices sometimes costing as much as this storage product, you might want to protect your investments with one of the best magnetic kitchen storage finds on Amazon instead.