How do you store...

[moolie]

I did a search, and found a comment about taking apart a wire clothes hanger onto which to string canning rings, but I'm looking for other ways to store them. I've almost doubled my number of canning jars with my recent kijiji deals and they all came with rings. A the moment then are piled in two plastic dishpans, but I would like to keep them clean and dry (they are in the basement--we have a very arid climate here in southern AB but the basement is a bit humid compared to the rest of the house, plus we have a whole-house humidifier connected to our furnace and this will kick in sometime in September when the temps drop).

Any ideas?

Also, wondering how to best store buckets of grains and beans. I have 5 and 6 gallon buckets that I've been collecting and I recently ordered and received some of the Gamma seal lids so we can actually get into them without breaking our fingers, but I've read that you shouldn't store plastic directly on top of concrete basement floors--except that I don't know why? Should I just put wood blocks under them, or do they need more than that?

I may store them in my basement guest room with my canning shelves, and this room is carpeted (pad and shaggy carpet over cement floor)--the shaggy carpet is my concern. We hope to remove it in a few years and just paint the floor and add an area rug for coziness for guests (my parents live out of town and come for extended visits) because the carpet, although newish (not our choice, came with the house), bothers my asthma if I spend time in that room so I think the humidity may mean that there is mold or something under the carpet pad.

Hope that makes sense, and thanks in advance for any ideas!

 

[freemotion]

Keep those rings in a dry area. Maybe an attic? I did string and hang mine, but got tired of looking at them as I don't have a pantry. I now keep them loose in a drawer in my kitchen. I have a dresser that I painted and keep in the kitchen for more storage. The microwave sits on it, along with the jars and bottles that I use daily (home dairy) and a basket of lids. My 1930's suburban house didn't come with much storage space. The drawer works as it is very handy to put them away and get them when needed. Remember, you only need as many rings as jars you can fill and can in the space of two days, as you will be removing the rings for storage so they don't rust quickly. So go through them and toss any rusty ones.

 

[k0xxx]

Also, wondering how to best store buckets of grains and beans. I have 5 and 6 gallon buckets that I've been collecting and I recently ordered and received some of the Gamma seal lids so we can actually get into them without breaking our fingers, but I've read that you shouldn't store plastic directly on top of concrete basement floors--except that I don't know why? Should I just put wood blocks under them, or do they need more than that?

I believe the problem with storing buckets directly on concrete is that moisture may build up beneath them, and over time some moisture will migrate through most plastics. I've read that one of the best ways to store them, in a room with a concrete floor, is to set them on wooden strips of at least a half inch thick. This allows for air to circulate under the buckets, keeping the dry and cooler. So, wooden blocks would be fine.

 

[CrimsonRose]

Also, wondering how to best store buckets of grains and beans. I have 5 and 6 gallon buckets that I've been collecting and I recently ordered and received some of the Gamma seal lids so we can actually get into them without breaking our fingers, but I've read that you shouldn't store plastic directly on top of concrete basement floors--except that I don't know why? Should I just put wood blocks under them, or do they need more than that?

I believe the problem with storing buckets directly on concrete is that moisture may build up beneath them, and over time some moisture will migrate through most plastics. I've read that one of the best ways to store them, in a room with a concrete floor, is to set them on wooden strips of at least a half inch thick. This allows for air to circulate under the buckets, keeping the dry and cooler. So, wooden blocks would be fine.

I can't remember where I read it at but I also heard that the something in the concrete will break down the plastic and for long term it can put holes in your buckets or weaken the bottoms...

 

[ORChick]

Keep those rings in a dry area. Maybe an attic? I did string and hang mine, but got tired of looking at them as I don't have a pantry. I now keep them loose in a drawer in my kitchen. I have a dresser that I painted and keep in the kitchen for more storage. The microwave sits on it, along with the jars and bottles that I use daily (home dairy) and a basket of lids. My 1930's suburban house didn't come with much storage space. The drawer works as it is very handy to put them away and get them when needed. Remember, you only need as many rings as jars you can fill and can in the space of two days, as you will be removing the rings for storage so they don't rust quickly. So go through them and toss any rusty ones.

When we did the walk through of this house with the previous owners I noticed the shelves with canning jars, and said something to my DH. The then-owner said "Oh, you're a canner? Do you want those jars, my wife doesn't can anymore". Of course I said yes. When we moved in I found there was also a small box of flat lids, and a large box of rings. Jars and flats were fine; rings were 99% dinged and/or rusty. They took up space for a year or so as I got settled in, and then I went through them and tossed almost all of them. Now I keep the rings either on the jars (the empty jars, to protect the edges, not the full ones), or in a couple of cotton shopping bags that I have hanging from hooks near the shelves - one bag for regular, and one for wide. Works well; they have air circulating around them, I know where they are, and they aren't in the way. But, as free says, you don't really need too many; I have more than enough now, again, and am thinking of recycling some of them.

 

[moolie]

Thanks everyone , I think the idea of cloth bags is perfect because I can just bag them up and leave them on the shelves in the dish pans they are already in--that will keep the dust off and also allow for air circulation, which was what I was most worried about. I don't have tons, but I do probably do have more than I need--half a bin of standard, 24 gem, and 3/4 a bin of wide-mouth.

Also, wondering how to best store buckets of grains and beans. I have 5 and 6 gallon buckets that I've been collecting and I recently ordered and received some of the Gamma seal lids so we can actually get into them without breaking our fingers, but I've read that you shouldn't store plastic directly on top of concrete basement floors--except that I don't know why? Should I just put wood blocks under them, or do they need more than that?

I believe the problem with storing buckets directly on concrete is that moisture may build up beneath them, and over time some moisture will migrate through most plastics. I've read that one of the best ways to store them, in a room with a concrete floor, is to set them on wooden strips of at least a half inch thick. This allows for air to circulate under the buckets, keeping the dry and cooler. So, wooden blocks would be fine.

Perfect, thanks Mark! We have several cut-off ends from 2x4s that would work if we put two under each bucket. Great to know what the potential issue is with keeping plastic on the basement floor as well--we have a few Rubbermaid totes of camping equipment stored on the floor in our furnace room and I think I'll jack those up as well for the circulation.