It Used To Be Everywhere — The Item At The Thrift Store That Doubles As Retro Storage

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We often think of thrift store finds as pre-loved items good enough to be reused or repurposed, but sometimes, we forget the fact that they were once staples of daily life from decades ago. In most cases, many shoppers find a renewed purpose for retro finds, like using a vintage China cabinet for seasonal decor. Today, we're looking at cracker tin boxes, one of the many retro finds at the thrift store, which can be refurbished into a stylish and practical storage box. Tin food storage goes back to the 17th century, when such boxes were used as a durable and hygienic way to store food while keeping it fresh for as long as possible. 

Tin cracker boxes have come in different sizes and shapes over time, and enabled food manufacturers to creatively design their tin boxes to market their products. However, when manufacturers slowly transitioned to cheaper packaging materials such as plastic, production of these tin boxes eventually diminished. While you can find some brands selling crackers in tin boxes to this day, you can score empty cracker tins at the thrift store or spot them at farmer's markets, or secondhand markets like eBay.

To ensure a successful thrift store haul, make sure to collect cracker tin boxes that best suit your storage and organization needs. Generally, cracker tin boxes are one of the best ways to store craft supplies, along with pantry staples. Taller, rectangular cracker tins can store longer items, from ingredients such as pasta, to craft and hardware materials like paintbrushes and zip ties. Meanwhile, short yet wide rectangular tins can be used to store spice containers, tea bags, or coffee pods; and can also be used as a repository for stickers and trinkets.

If you encounter bits of rust in your cracker tin boxes, you can remove it with the help of a stainless steel cleaner, like Bar Keeper's Friend. Just be sure not to use it on the decorative exterior, or you risk damaging the design. For a gentler restoration method, you can clean the surface with warm, soapy water, then swab on a coat of linseed oil to preserve the original paint. If the colors are rather faded, you can always choose to add a pop of color with coats of acrylic paint. For improved organization, decorate your tin boxes with labels and stickers, or assign colors to your tins to associate them with a certain item or category.