The 5 Best Things to Decant in Your Home
There’s something deeply satisfying about taking everyday items out of their bulky, chaotic packaging and giving them a clean, intentional home. Decanting isn’t just for perfect pantries - it’s a useful way to optimize your space, improve efficiency, and make your home more functional.
If you’re looking for the easiest, highest impact items to decant, these five are absolute winners.
Disclaimer - not everything should be decanted! Decanting can be difficult and time-consuming for busy families or people with ADHD. But these 5 items can save you more time and headache in the long run that they cost in decanting time, so I think they are well worth the extra effort!
1. Laundry Pods
Laundry pods don’t have to stay in their original containers.
Laundry pod and oxygen bleach powder containers are notoriously bulky, difficult to open, and opaque - making it hard to tell how much you have left. Moving pods into a clear jar or canister instantly elevates the space and gives you a chance to see what you have on hand. Choose a container that opens easily with one hand and is large enough to hold all your pods. Affix a label so you know exactly what’s in the jar.
Why it works:
You can see when you’re running low
It keeps the laundry shelf visually clean
It’s safer if you choose a childproof container instead of relying on the original packaging
2. Granola Bars
Granola bars, fruit snacks, and individually-packaged snacks look great and function well when decanted into clear containers.
Pantry chaos often starts with individually wrapped snacks tumbling everywhere or ripped cardboard containers hiding the fact that there’s only one left inside. Decanting granola bars into a clear bin or drawer keeps them easy to access every time you reach for one. Apply a label so everyone in the family can follow the system. Kids will love the ease of getting their own snacks and they may even be more willing to help put away the groceries! Plus, clear containers make lunches and after school snacks a breeze AND prevent over-buying.
Why it works:
Easy grab and go access
Helps you track inventory
Encourages healthier snacking because everything is visible
3. Feminine Hygiene Products
Elevate your space with more structured storage.
Original packaging is often thin plastic that’s difficult to open cleanly and awkwardly sized, or cardboard that gets frayed with use. Decanting pads and tampons into clear bins, drawer organizers, or baskets makes your bathroom feel much more organized because these containers have structure that manufacturer packaging lacks. Plus, you’ll see very clearly when you’re running low and your items won’t get in the way of your overall bathroom organizing system.
Why it works:
Creates a calm, cohesive bathroom aesthetic
Makes it easier for everyone, including guests, to find what they need
Keeps everything structured and contained
4. Cotton Swabs
Create a spa feel in your bathroom with apothecary jars.
These are classic decanting items for a reason. They look beautiful in glass jars, apothecary containers, or ceramic canisters. But what’s important to me as an organizer is getting rid of the bulky container they come packaged in. The container doesn’t fit in any standard organizing systems and it looks dilapidated after only a few uses and continues to degrade over time. Eventually, it will be crushed and buried below other things and it always takes up more room than necessary. Ditch that box!
Why it works:
Adds instant “hotel bathroom” vibes
Keeps items hygienic
Gets rid of the awkward cardboard box
5. Ziploc Bags
Ziploc bags decant beautifully into bag storage systems or clear drawer organizers.
The cardboard containers for Ziploc bags are always ripping, collapsing, or getting lost in the drawer. Plus, you can fit so many more bags in the box - it’s mostly air! A dedicated organizing system for sandwich, quart, and gallon bags is a small upgrade that feels luxurious and greatly improves the accessibility of your bags.
Why it works:
No more crushed boxes
Easy to grab the size you need
Drawer stays tidy instead of chaotic
Final Thoughts
Decanting isn’t about perfection, nor is it about creating extra work for yourself. It’s about creating a home for frequent-use items that works better for you than the original packaging. The goal is to give you maximum impact with minimal effort, and long-term benefits like reducing over-buying and keeping organizing systems functioning optimally.
What do you decant that I haven’t covered? I’d love to hear from you!
Happy organizing!
