I'm awaiting anxiously but I'm not as hopeful because even if I had nice dividers, I know DH would probably still find a way to mess them up. Right now we stack them in the drawer with the lids on top.

We'll be pondering the same 'issue' as soon as DH make our way around the kitchen, DIYing our own drawer dividers. We actually started with our utensil drawers first, as it would've driven me nuts to work in the kitchen w/o our daily-use items. Tupperware/plastics are lower priority, which allows me to be in denial a bit longer. :)

I think my preference will be stacking similar items (blue box below) rather than tilting them on their sides (red box):

To get containers out of the red-box area, you'd need to pull out all the containers just to get at one. Stacked the blue-box way, you just pull off the top.

Maybe nest the containers (blue box), but store the lids beside them a la red box?

cpartist: Oh...you allow DH into the plastics drawer?! ;)

I got rid of all the Tupperware, and I started collecting vintage Pyrex refrigerator boxes. I have them in two sizes, and they stack up so nicely in my cabinet. They don't stain like plastic, wash up easily in the dishwasher, don't become warped, and carry no potential for plastic-leech health issues. I buy only Pyrex so all the lids match all the dishes.

Our favorites are the small ones; I package up the leftovers into these little containers, and they're individual-serving-ready. I carry them to school, or at home they go right into the microwave, then we eat directly from them.

The only negative: They're pricey.

The other thing I have in my house is the exact opposite: I have a big stack of disposable clamshells on the top shelf. I started buying these for wedding cake take-homes, and now I keep them in my kitchen for sending leftovers home with guests. No need for them to return a dish. These are really cheap; I'm working my way through a case of 500, which I want to say cost about $35.

Love the dog!

Good point javiwa. I don't like the idea of lifting the stack to get to the lid - so maybe like this:

Mrs Pete - love the tip for the disposable clamshells - I end up losing half my tupperware at the end of a holiday dinner/family get-together. I like the idea of pyrex, hopped over to ebay and found lots of look at.

cpartist: Oh...you allow DH into the plastics drawer?! ;)

OMG! Javiwa, you just made me spit my coffee at the screen laughing.

The majority of our plastic containers are the small ones for our dog's breakfast. We feed her RAW and breakfast consists of a concoction that looks like meatloaf before it's cooked. We make up a batch monthly and then freeze 2 days worth (2/3 cup total) in our plastic containers.

Whoever empties the dishwasher puts them away. When I put them away, they get stacked neatly with the covers on top. When DH empties the dishwasher, it will depend on his mood. LOL.

Here you can see in this photo that DH has been unloading the DW and putting away the tupperware. (Yes we also use the butter containers for the dogs food too.)

Yup, oldbat -- that version looks good. My problem will be with our assorted round containers (cottage cheese, sour cream, shredded parm): easily nested, but the various lid sizes/diameters drives me a bit nuts. Might be a sign that I need to cull the plastic herd!

cpartist: I unload the DW, too. :) DH offers to, but I give him the ol' "Thanks so much, but I've got this."

Ok so I just emptied the DW and of course I had to straighten up the tupperware mess. Below to the left is the photo from earlier showing what DH considers neat, and on the right is my version. I just don't think dividers will help me. LOL. (Thankfully he has so many other great qualities, that I'll keep him.)

I like the second option. I'm not much help as I switched completely to glass containers now and those are not easy to organize.

I love your idea of dividers, and I also prefer the containers stacked as javiwa suggested. I can see me lifting out a container and having the lids falling over into the space. I might consider having one row for containers only plus one row for lids only, Something like this?

cpartist, Ok so I just emptied the DW and of course I had to straighten up the tupperware mess. Below to the left is the photo from earlier showing what DH considers neat, and on the right is my version.

Ummm, I don't mean to put down your organizational skills, but is there a difference? LOL! But I'm being serious...

sherri1058, that looks great! Bookmarking it for myself!

Ummm, I don't mean to put down your organizational skills, but is there a difference? LOL! But I'm being serious...

LOL. On the left there are different sizes stacked on top of one another and singles just stacked on top. On my side all the same sized are stacked together. Only the upper right corner has a different sized on top of the larger ones.

cp, thank you for clarifying, it is kinda hard to see the stacks from above : - ). DH doesn't 'stack' anything either. My special utensils drawer (peelers, old paring knives, spatulas, etc. looks like a nightmare. I swear he just tosses them in from a distance!

I got rid of all my round containers. I only use square or rectangular containers. I purchase several (probably 4-8) of the same identical container. This makes for much easier stacking (which is what I do), usually with lids either under the container or lids stacked and on top of the container. I use my IKEA lazy susan cabinet for all the storage. I did purchase some inexpensive 'plastic throw-away' type for food gifting/sharing. None of mine is Tupperware, mostly Rubbermaid.

Thanks new-beginning.

I think I'm good with the plan; figured that the sizes I have will work, so I'll just stock up.

DH and I made a quick run to Home Depot for a wood run and he is out in the garage cutting :). Hope to post the results tomorrow. Talk about instant gratification! (Would that all of my projects could get done this quickly - DH always gets a little nervous when he sees me walking around with the tape measure).

Have fun, old bat! DH just plants little tape measures around the house for me. :) (He keeps an eye on the 25-footer!)

Wow, that was fast, oldbat2be! Can't wait to see your tupperware organization!

Here's a lid organizer that I am going to try.

ref=psdc_3744031_t1_B01CMLG4NG

I was thinking of this one. It’s cheap, and will drop into my deep drawer pretty well. It doesn’t hold too many pot lids, but I think snap-tops can be doubled up, or tripled. Right now they are on end, bracketed off from the bowls using a tension curtain rod. Which works great. Until the dh just shoves and shoves and shoves the lids into the nearest spot, until the rod pops out. I don’t complain because I’m grateful he unloads the DW every morning.

I now have only two Rubbermaid lines, and they all fit together very neatly. I couldn't deal with the DH issues, either.

sherri1058 - thank you for this suggestion - I definitely saw it but - somehow - forgot to give you credit. Thanks!! I think it will work nicely. -OB2B

P.S. nice photoshopping skills :)

We switched to square Rubbermaid tubs of different heights/capacities. They all use the same lid though, so that cuts down on clutter. We have a few smaller Rubbermaid tubs, and a few disposable tubs that get reused, and assorted tiny tubs for school snacks. We also still have two sandwich containers that probably should go away, as nobody eats sandwiches for lunch anymore. Anyway, dh built new drawers, and I have corralled all containers here, with help from an Ikea Variera box (also use in pantry for nuts, snacks, etc.) that keeps the lids contained.

Almost everything in your current drawer is not expensive stuff, and it's all mismatched. Throw it all out and spend $30 on new ziplock stuff. They all stack easily and many of them use the same size lids. You really only need 3-4 sizes. It will take up half the space as your current mess and fit twice as much stuff.

H202, I have many 'mismatched' containers, some of which I'll toss when my time comes to organize, like oldbat2be is organizing now, but I don't care at all for ziplock as it is thinner than my mismatched items, while tupperware and older containers (not sure the brands) do keep foods from icing up in the freezer far better (ziplock is fine for the fridge tho'). It'd definitely cost me more than $30 to replace my thicker tupperware to make them all the same shape, and too, I need the odd sizes as well : - )

Oldbat, I keep the lids separate, nicely corralled in a plastic box. I tend to place the lids from biggest to smallest, so it's pretty easy to find the correct lid.

I do have a few odd-sized containers, or extra-large ones, but they are stashed in a cabinets, not the primary tupperware drawer.

Best looking Tupperware drawer I've ever seen. Great job!

Oldbat - did you get the dividers with the cabinets or did you get them after? Or make them? I want to do something similar but am not sure where to get the dividers.

That looks fantastic! How long has it stayed that way? (I suppose it depends on who empties the dishwasher, as in my house!)

Next question: what happens when a new size/style comes into the house?

That is one gorgeous drawer!

I also use glass containers that I look for at Homegoods etc. I stack the containers and corral the lids in a lid container. I noticed at Thanksgiving that a lid/dish mismatch has once again occurred. How?? I think the missing containers must be hanging with the missing socks, maybe under the stairs?

Oh I want my tupperware drawer to look like that. What did you use?

Impressive organization!

These dividers from Lee Valley look like they could be used for something similar.

Awesome. Perhaps you and your DH could spend some time in my kitchen.

Did you allow the dog to move around in the meantime or is she stuck there? :)

For those of us who aren't as willing to commit to a layout or aren't as handy or are just kind of lazy, you can do some pretty easy drawer dividers (for large items) with tension rods. A lot of them. It won't be as nice, though.

oldbat2be, I realized my own organization was pretty bad and how envious I am of you and your DH's amazing job after staring at your Tupperware drawer for a full 5 minutes this morning, still bleary-eyed over a cup of coffee. Amazing! Thank you for posting follow-up. That's a far better solution than stacking lids atop the containers... less to do to pull out just what you need.

...I need about 4 of those drawers though. Changing my name from 2ManyDiversions to 2ManyTupperwareContainers! LOL!

I keep clicking on these posts hoping to find ideas to use organize my Tupperware when it isn't being used to hold something. But I rarely see any actual Tupperware in these posts. I use my modular mates for staples, sandwich containers, kit cups, snack cups and bowls for packing DH's lunch etc. Most every post here is about leftover containers with an occasional sippy cup or a few tossed in. How do people actually organize their Tupperware bowls, serving pieces etc.?

Seriously I don't see one item of Tupperware here. I do use the containers pictured for giving food away. I keep those in a small plastic bin on a shelf in the spare room.

What a nice looking tupperware drawer and the puppy seems to approve. :)

I think tupperware has become a generic term for all plastic containers.

Your drawer looks great and I love your sweet dog with the gentle smile-getting in on the act.

I am curious about the dog. He or she is gorgeous! Shepherds are in my top two breeds, I have a 120 lb sweetie who is the love of my life

This is a bit off topic but to the poster using vintage pyrex...don't dishwasher the fridge dishes it will make the exteriors all chalky eventually. I mourn all the chalky vintage pyrex i find but leave behind at the thrifts.

Tupperware is my favourite product. EVER! And luckily my girls have inherited my love of it. Eldest daughter has a degree in Environmental Science so we are all therefore encouraged to not use plastic wrap or packaging. I am jealous of your neat drawers though. Here are mine haha: (I used to have more but we moved so got rid of some)

OBTB, if it wasn't for the wood floor and nicely trimmed toenails, I would think your before picture was in my kitchen with my GSD sitting in the way of MY Tupperware drawer. Oops, another exception, mine is totally overflowing and crammed full. Now I have inspiration! Good job.

You all are great, thank you for the kind words!

sherri1058 - thanks again for the idea to store the lids vertically.

strob06 - DH made the dividers. One sheet of plywood and

bpathome - the dividers could always be repositioned for a new size/stype, but what I have, seems to work well, so there may not be a new size/style. I stocked up on the current sizes so should be fine for a while. Everybody so far is putting containers away in the right spots:)

barncatz - The missing socks make me CRAZY!

cp - I'm sure your builder could add this - it would be like your gorgeous spice cabinet, all mission style!

Fori - you cracked me up with the comoment about Hunter, DH says he's up for a road trip to your home as long as he can go fishing :)

2ManyTupperWareContainers (tee hee!)

watchmelol - I didn't think a title like 'Please Assist with Plastic Container Organization' worked quite as well....

annac54, Anne - now I need pictures of your Shepherds:) Hunter is a 80 pound 2 year old Shepherd - rather goofy at his age. My last was a 120 pound long hair - now that one was gorgeous!

And because it's that time of year, and we're talking GS's, here was our Christmas card a few years ago. You know how some people hate the idea of cats on countertops? This was sort of a play on that... I was going to include a sponge too :)

oldbat2be, that ^ has to be the funniest Xmas card ever! You win the internet today!

And now I have José Feliciano in my head for the rest of the holiday season...

I haven’t organized anything in my house. I’m still in stalled reno mode, but I know my containers! I use glass for home, plastic for giveaways. I’m very happy with Pyrex and Anchor Hocking (with the true seal lids = super love) I wash the lids by hand, and the containers in the dw. I store the containers nested, on occasion, and with the lids on. My, “no, no, you take some turkey home” containers are usually Gladware, and people love them and keep them. I buy them and give them away this time of year. Hope that helps!

Rolling on the floor at your Christmas card! The pup looks soo pleased with himself.

Cheryl - thank you:) I am hoping for KAW pictures from you over the holiday season...

eam- always lovely to hear from you. I'm thinking your gladware is my keepware - so need to look into your pyrex and anchor hocking (hooking?)

barncatz - it was not the simplest photo shoot ... hence the large bone and also DUE TO the large bone. We lifted Otto up there and then asked him to stay. I will admit to photoshopping out certain gruesome fragments!

We use Rubbermaid Premier (Amazon link). There are only 2 sizes we use frequently, which means only two lid sizes. There are also some tiny ones we don't use and a large one we permanently keep raisins in. One set was sufficient for just DH and me. We bought another set when DD moved in with us.

I had all of these organized in an 18" drawer (and my hand mixer was in there too, for some reason).

I keep a handful of the Gladware ones available to use for sending things home with people, but the ones I use all compactly fit in a drawer.

Currently, since we're in a rental home with insufficient drawers, I keep them all in a plastic storage basket (Amazon link). They really don't quite fit in one basket, so I need to reorganize into two. Our cabinets have stiles (I hate stiles) and so when I have two baskets next to each other I can't pull them both out individually.

I am totally thrilled with the Rubbermaid containers--and I don't miss the Tupperware exercise of "try every similar size lid until you find the right one", and the various useful containers that didn't stack at all, and the constant checking to find out the bottoms/lids don't match up anymore.

oldbat2be, I'll try to get some pics. My latest thrill is cooking tenderloin in the CSO. Amazing!!!