storage- room for preps

[savethecat]

Hi, I've asked this before but

1. I can't find the thread
2. I think people's preps are bigger now!

BUT, where on earth are you finding room for your preps? I dont have much room and my cupboards are maxxed out. I also have one of those tiny freezers :(

I don't have enough stuff for this but you could fill bags/suitcases that are already sat taking up room in a cupboard?

I'm thinking under the bed or garage for most bits.

I don’t have much space either. Also I can’t afford to have more than 2 to 3 weeks of supplies stocked. Moved the dining table to the middle of the room further and found a little space in the corner so put up the spare temporary plastic shelf that was in the garage and have stacked some there.That way i can close the door if someone visits. 😅

Mine are now, in my 2 tiny kitchen cupboards, dining room dresser, under the spare bed, under DD’s bed. Yesterday I rejigged the understairs cupboard so cleaning stuff all out there now.

Tomorrow I start on the shed - shed’s not ideal but I can do potatoes and veg out there for a bit until it warms up.

On top of wardrobes might work too?

I’m lucky enough to have loads of storage room, but I hope you can make use of some of these spaces.

On top of wardrobes, for lighter things, like pasta, etc.
Bottom of wardrobes for heavier items.
Under beds.
Any space behind sofas.
Kick boards in the kitchen can be removed and you can slide cases of tinned goods under there. There’s masses of extra space under kitchen cupboards.

Also think of having a good clear out, as it’s therapeutic and you’d be surprised how much space that gives you.

Behind books on the book shelf.
Behind bath panel for cleaning stuff.
Next to loo. You can get narrow storage units for that space.
Walk round the house/flat looking for small spaces. Eg Spaghetti packs could go down the side of furniture say. Or bars of soap.

Cleaning stuff could go in garage/ shed if you have access via the back door. ( I can't access my garage without going through communal areas)

You only need to be able to open one kickboard. Slide stuff in in carrier bags. Use the loft ladder hook to hoik them out again.

We don't have a linen cupboard or a garage but in the suitcases is a great idea, thanks.

@BlackeyedSusan If you had known me for real, I’m the type who can’t remember where I have kept something when the need arises, so storing spaghetti in the furniture is fine but I would only discover it after say few years.😂

Toilet rolls stacked on the floor of linen cupboard around the hot water cylinder (as per normal, just higher and deeper stacked).

Cleaning materials tidied up and tetrissed in the 2 shelves to the side of the washing machine/tumble dryer, and 1 shelf under the sink.

Storecupboards reasonably full, but I also use the space between the top of the cupboards and the kitchen ceiling for extras - pasta, rice, teabags, coffee, a few tins, spare biscuits - they hide behind the plinth there.

In the cupboards, I stack a few tins high, to fill the entire space. I use glass jars for rice, pasta, flour, dried fruit (raisins etc), different kinds of sugar, couscous, polenta etc. They take up space but because they are solid, seem to be more practical than loose packets (and keep things better because they are sealed). And are easier to move in and out to get something which is in the second row behind the front row regularly.

I keep packets of spices etc by taking the plastic pouches out of the cardboard box, writing with sharpie what they are, and then storing them all in a deepish plastic tub - I can fit about 15 Shwartz sachets in the tub in the same space that 3 Schwartx boxes would take up (so 6 sachets).

Extra wine is in the floor of the wardrobe in the spare bedroom.

The freezer is slightly groaning, but I know I could do it better. I use takeaway plastic containers to freeze single portions of leftovers or batch cooking, and some pyrex freezable dishes for lasganas etc - so they all stack together well. I use Ziploc bags for meat or veggies, which means I can get rid of a lot of air - I tend to remove chicken breasts from their plastic packing to freeze individually and sometimes I will dice some before freezing - that saves a LOT of space from the plastic container, and also means they are somewhat pliable to fit into small spaces (although I try to freeze flat to stack better - as freezing into small shape holes can be problematic when that shape later changes....). And for stock (that I make occasionally if we've had a roast chicken etc), I tend to use tall thin cartons like the 500ml cream cartons, which seem to use the space available better.

@Puppycorn pasta keeps well past its BB date. I expect you clean more often than I empty the dark recesses of the corner cupboard in the kitchen, which is how I know it keeps... Oops.

I know what you mean about losing stuff though. Bought hand gel in Asda two weeks ago. Can I find it when I need to give it to Ds? Can I heck.