We've all been there: It's so easy to end up with a chaotic junk drawer, no matter how many times you tell yourself it won't get out of control. Slowly but surely, a drawer of random objects turns into a mess, but don't take it to heart. It happens to the best of us, including celebrities. JoAnna Garcia Swisher was all too familiar with the concept until an ultra-affordable hack changed her habits for good.
'Our kitchen and pantry can get chaotic fast! Drawer dividers are one of my favorite hacks for utensils and tools; they help everything stay in its place and avoid any junk drawers,' JoAnna begins, in an exclusive interview with Homes & Gardens.
The Sweet Magnolias actress collaborated with Ziploc for a campaign to maximize food preservation and minimize food waste, meaning clever home organization ideas were at the top of our agenda. Her essentials include the aforementioned drawer dividers, storage baskets, and, of course, Ziploc bags for keeping food in order.
In the pantry, I like using baskets to group similar items together, like snacks, baking supplies, or grab-and-go snacks. And for anything that’s already open, like a half-used bag of chips or when a recipe only calls for part of a fruit or vegetable, I’ll pop it into a Ziploc brand bag to help keep it fresh,' she says.
'I label everything too, it makes life so much easier when you can see what you have at a glance. Those little steps make a big difference in keeping the space functional, especially on busy weekdays.'
Shop JoAnna's essentials
These multi-functional drawer organizers can be installed in any drawer in your kitchen, pantry, or anywhere else you need a little order. It's a refreshingly easy way to organize your belongings and easy to find (and taps into a technique that is JoAnna Garcia-approved).
There's so much more to the humble Ziploc bag than its primary purpose as a food storage bag. We now know that they're great for keeping paint rollers fresh in-between painting sessions. They can also be useful for storing cosmetics, medications, and even for keeping clean laundry odor-free.
This four-piece set of wicker baskets would work well for stylish storage in the kitchen or the pantry. They're the perfect size for bulk-buying pasta, coffee, sugar, and nuts. Whatever your heart desires.
Organizing your pantry and maintaining tidy kitchen drawers makes it easier to keep tabs on precisely what's in your home, consequently preventing waste, which is a key concern for JoAnna.
'Food waste is something we try to be mindful of at home, especially with kids who can be picky eaters. The Ziploc brand recently shared that while 90% of K–8 parents say minimizing food waste is important to their family, only 58% say it’s important to teach their children about it. That really stuck with me. I try to involve my girls in those conversations and give them a say in what goes into their lunchboxes,' she comments.
'When they come to the grocery store with me, I let them each pick one fun lunch item for the week. We freeze what we can, and our guinea pigs are always happy to help out with extra fruits and veggies. It’s those little everyday habits that help teach bigger lessons.'
As JoAnna reminds us, Ziploc bags are synonymous with lunch boxes, but there are many other ways to use them around the kitchen, and your wider home.
'Ziploc brand bags are a lifesaver when it comes to keeping my home organized, especially with my girls! I use them for everything from storing small toys and craft supplies to rounding up school essentials like pencils, erasers, and crayons,' she adds.
'They’re especially handy for things that always seem to get lost or tangled, like hair ties, game pieces, charging cords, or even random receipts that somehow multiply overnight. The best part is that I can reuse them, so I can swap out items as needed. It’s such an easy way to keep everything organized and easy to grab without cluttering our home.'
Do you know any surprising uses for Ziploc bags around your home? Let me know your tricks in the comments below.
