If not plastic, then what? For houshold storage. - Page 2

[townmouse]

Mouse=proof food storage: glass jars. You can get quart-sized, but also alot larger. Don't remember where I got my big ones.

Clothes storage: I save cardboard boxes of size. Also, sew large bags from scraps (dismantle big shirts from Goodwill, yard sales, etc. or use worn sheets and blankets)

Misc. stuff like wrapping paper (I don't use wrapping paper BTW), extra electric stuff, duct tape, batteries, BOB stuff...again, cloth sacks, sew tags or label them with permanent marker. Shoe boxes.

Really big stuff: metal trash cans, remember the old-fashioned Oscar the Grouch kind? Will last you and all your kin, a lifetime. And more rodent-proof than a rubbermaid, if you can attach the lid well.

Rubbermaid containers are not mouse/rat proof. They can chew thru it.

I'll think about this some more and get back to ya.

If you're handy, buy old wood furniture (curbside on trash day, or good will or yard sales) take it apart, sand down the wood, and build stuff the size you need. The tree already died, get more mileage from it.

Salvage stores and junkyards for old kitchen cabinets. You can easily lock these, and if you get a set and paint them they'll look nice.

[amcal]

I was just at IKEA and they had glass containers in all shapes and sizes - perfect for food storage. Some were tall and round, some were short and square - oblong, octogon - you name it!. Some had hinge glass tops, some had stopper type tops. I was amazed at the huge selection.

[caspian's mama]

ooh. the wine crates would be really gorgeous.

as for huge jars, i'd recommend trying a deli. we used to have the most enormous pickle jars at my parents' place. (yes, they'll stink of oickles for a little while, but vinegar or lemon juice and some fresh air would probably get them out.)

as for small food storage, instead of going out and buying stuff, we reuse old yogurt or ice cream (especially tofutti) containers. they're still plastic, but if you already buy them and eat the products therein, i can't imagine it's TOO harmful to use them 2-3 more times for leftovers before recycling them. it really has cut down on the amount of plastic we bring into the house.

you may already be aware of this, but i think a MAJOR factor in food storage is that we tend to look for something that can later be popped directly into the microwave as-is. YUK YUK YUK!!! i think this is possibly more crucial than fridge or cupboard storage, if it's only short term.

*k

[caspian's mama]

"...metal trash cans, remember the old-fashioned Oscar the Grouch kind? Will last you and all your kin, a lifetime. " (townmouse)

* where can you buy these? at a regular hardware store? you're right - they must be SUPER durable; won't crack or get infused with "garbage stench" like plastic either. good call.


* i forgot to mention: someone recommended using spray-painted shoeboxes for storage. not to dis, but i'd imagine the spray paint is just as bad (or worse) for you than the plastic. just my 2 cents...


*k

[mamamead]

i second the glass storage at ikea- it's cheap and nearly all glass and they are made to stack. also, i use baskets for everything else- they come in all shapes and sizes, and if you look around you can get them cheap at thrift stores and stuff.

[mamamead]

also, there are really lovely fabric-covered boxes for things like clothes and blankets- i have some that are under the bed size that are good for storing out-of-season clothes.

[AllNatural]

How about wicker? While it might not be mouse-proof, it still makes great storage...if you don't have mice. Oh, and cats love it, btw. ;-)

www.organize-it.com/wicker.php
This site has wicker baskets, baskets with liners (great for putting mama cloth or cloth tp in), willow & wood baskets and wicker trunks. And the prices aren't too bad either.

Kate

[CryPixie83]

Originally Posted by ekblad7+

And what about storing clothes that you are handing down from kid to kid?

They're pricey (but durable and pretty), cedar chests work great for clothes If you have extra space (like in the attic or whatever) you could build cedar storage units (with drawers), or even cedar boxes (basically just lumber and nails, so not too expensive).

[caspian's mama]

a cheap alternative to cedar chests is to buy cedar chips or strips. (actually, i think they even sell real cedar contact paper - don't ask me how they make it.) you still get the freshness and mothproofing for a minimal cost. like the other mama said, though, a full sized chest is still a good investment, if you've got the cash.

[townmouse]

caspian's mama: in the midwest you can get trashcans at farm and tractor supply stores, or lumberyards.

[heldt123]

If you can find small, unfinished wicker laundry baskets they look really nice. You can find inexpensive baskets at yard sales too...really pretty depending upon your space. I know our Fleet Farm up here sells unfinished wood crates, but those stores are local to the Midwest. They try to sell them to college students for stackable bookshelves, etc.. Have you tried a web search?

[sabrosina]

I tried a websearch and came up with nothing. Well, I did find plenty of decorative sets for 60 or 80 dollars but I don't want anything fancy. This is for my closet organization so I just want inexpensive sturdy plain wood stackable crates. And noone seems to make them.

I'll do a search for Fleet Farm. I used to live in Milwaukee and LOVED that store. Thanks for the tip.

[elizabeth102483]

I love the Container Store, it can be expensive but they always have what i'm looking for. http://www.containerstore.com

[AngelBee]

Thanks for all of the ideas mamas!!! This is great!

[late-night nan]

If you have any friends who are Korean or Korean-American, you can ask if they have any large empty glass jars that are used for storing kimchi. We buy kimchi by the jar, which means we have lots of big jars. When we finish eating the kimchi, we rinse out the jar and usually let water sit in there for a day or so, and then wash it out well with sudsy water along with the lid. We have a collection of 2-pint, quart, and gallon+ jars that we use to store grains and beans in our pantry.

We also use stainless steel canisters for flour, sugar, etc.

I guess regarding bathroom products, lined wicker baskets are a good option and usually you can find some at TJMaxx or Marshalls.

Excepf for aesthetic reasons, why do you prefer to get rid of plastic that is not going to touch food? Isn't the toxicity of plastic related to leeching at extreme temps? I avoid buying new plastic for environmental reasons, but if you have plastic containers already, is there any harm in using them--and also not contributing to more landfill? although i guess you could freecycle your plastic things, as I bet you'd have many takers...