You don't need another plastic box — these 3 reusable items are totally free, and ideal for storage

organizing shoes in boxes — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Storage seems like a never-ending issue in my home. No matter how many cupboards or drawers I seem to have, there's always more things than space. And even when I do find places to put my stuff, it becomes messy pretty fast, shoving things into cupboard in a disorganized fashion.

I usually end up fervently searching for storage solutions online, from plastic boxes with lids to pantry storage bins and glass jars, but they all cost money. So, I end up just putting up with the mess because I don't want to spend the cash to deal with the things I've spent money on in the first place.

1. Preserve jars

Pantry jars of food — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Jams, jellies, peanut butter, preserves, all these day-to-day food items often come in arguably pretty nice jars. And while I've been guilty of just recycling them when they're empty, what I should've been doing instead is cleaning them out ready to act as a storage pot for something else.

Of course, there's the persistent label adhesive that comes from trying to remove the brand stickers that might put you off, but how to remove stickers from glass is actually pretty easy. All you have to do is soak the jar in hot (not boiling water) with some dish soap for about 15-20 minutes. A little longer if the sticker is particularly stubborn.

Then, you can label it up however you like to suit what you've stored inside. From coffee beans, to rice in your pantry, to spare change or jewellery around your home, there's plenty of ways these simple jars can become a storage solution that you don't have to pay extra for.

2. Cardboard boxes

Boxes piled up — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

If there's something I have even more of than food jars, it's cardboard boxes. With so much shopping done online these days, various sizes of boxes show up at my doorstep pretty regularly.

And while I'm quick to break these boxes down and recycle them, I've started to repurpose them for storage and I'm wondering why I didn't do it sooner. Arguably, they can be a little unsightly. But, if you're placing them as dividers in drawers, you don't even see the sides.

Or, if you fancy sprucing them up, you can add wrapping paper to the inside of the box to give it an attractive liner, or even paint the boxes if you want to change their color entirely. Either way, they're great for containing items, and if you seal them up correctly, you can hide things away safely in your loft, too.

3. Egg cartons

Eggs sitting in a carton on a fridge shelf — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

If you're anything like my family, you get through a lot of eggs. And even if you don't, you probably have people you know that do. And it turns out egg cartons are actually a really lovely way to organize and separate small belongings and trinkets you have around your home that are laying around.

Like the cardboard boxes, they can be decorated or slipped within existing drawers. Additionally, it's worth giving them a clean out first, just to ensure there's no excess egg left behind before you use it to store.

Then, they can work as lovely separators of jewellery, hair ties, craft supplies and anything else small you can think of. And if you want to keep your items safe, they've got the built-in lid that'll keep the dust and dirt out. You can even tape it shut if you're putting things away for safekeeping.

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Grace is a freelance journalist working across homes, lifestyle, gaming and entertainment. You'll find her writing for Tom's Guide, TechRadar, Space.com, and other sites. If she's not rearranging her furniture, decluttering her home, or relaxing in front of the latest streaming series, she'll be typing fervently about any of her much-loved hobbies and interests. To aid her writing, she loves to head down internet rabbit holes for an unprecedented amount of time.

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