JAM Organizing - Wilmington, NC
  • Home
  • Before & After
  • Services
    • What to Expect
    • Maintenance
    • Gift Certificates
  • Products
    • Recommended Products
    • Featured Products
  • Workshops
  • Blog
    • Contribute
  • About
  • Contact
  • Search

Read On.

The More You Know: 8 Reasons You SHOULD Use Shelf Liner in Your Kitchen

6/12/2018

10 Comments

 
The More You Know: Reasons You SHOULD Use Shelf Liner in Your Kitchen. JAM Organizing. Professional Organizer. Wilmington, NC.
Full disclosure: I don't enjoy lining my cabinets. Not even a little. I never buy enough shelf liner, it always takes longer than I expect, and before the project is over, I've been to the store MULTIPLE times to buy more. Why do I line my kitchen cabinets? For the same reason many women do much of what we do around the house: because my mother did.

​So, I decided to look into it. Is this necessary? Do the benefits outweigh the frustration? Turns out, they do. 
The More You Know: Reasons You SHOULD Use Shelf Liner in Your Kitchen. JAM Organizing. Professional Organizer. Wilmington, NC.
This post contains affiliate links, meaning, if you click through and make a purchase or sign up for a program, I may earn a commission. This is at no additional cost to you.

#1 Using Shelf Liner Helps Protect Your Cabinets From Moisture.

Using shelf helps protect your cabinets against water stains and rings from not-quite-dry dishes and oil and stain rings from the bottoms of bottles and jars. ​If the surface is in great shape, a liner helps keep it that way. 
Picture

#2 Using Shelf Liner Helps Protect Your Cabinets From Scratches.

Using shelf liner helps protect your cabinets against unsightly surface nicks and scratches. Many of us keep small appliances, and heavy pots and pans, in our cupboards. Unless you’re the epitome of organized and more graceful than I, there will likely be some banging and scraping when it comes to removing or returning an item to its place.

Lining your kitchen cabinets will help protect the inside of your cabinets, so that you will be less likely to have to replace the cabinetry unit in the future.
The More You Know: Reasons You SHOULD Use Shelf Liner in Your Kitchen. JAM Organizing. Professional Organizer. Wilmington, NC.

#3 Using Shelf Liner Covers Up Possible Ick

No matter how much you spray and scrub, sometimes that stain or stickiness just won't budge. Normally, it's not worth replacing the shelf, especially if you're in a rental. A bit of shelf liner and no one is the wiser. 
Picture

#4 Using Shelf Liner Dampens Noise

​If you don’t like the sound of things rattling around in your drawers, a slightly padded liner helps dampen the noise, and items are less likely to scrape against the bottom as you remove them or return them to their place.
The More You Know: Reasons You SHOULD Use Shelf Liner in Your Kitchen. JAM Organizing. Professional Organizer. Wilmington, NC.

#5 Using Shelf Liner Keeps Drawer Organizers in Place

A padded, rubber shelf liner can help prevent drawer organizers that don't fit perfectly from sliding around every time you open or close the drawers. And what drawer organizer actually fits perfectly!?!
The More You Know: Reasons You SHOULD Use Shelf Liner in Your Kitchen. JAM Organizing. Professional Organizer. Wilmington, NC.

#6 Using Shelf Liner Makes Cleaning Easier

​Lined cabinets are easier to wipe down and require no special cleaner (where certain types of wood might). And if the stain or mess is really difficult, it's much easier to replace the liner than to clean the mess out of the wood grain!

#7 Using Shelf Liner Adds a Bit of Color and Style

If you like the idea of a bit of color or style in your kitchen cabinets, shelf liner can provide that extra pop. It's available in several colors and styles to suit every taste. Mix up different styles and colors for an extra bit of fun. 

​For a quick, inexpensive liner for dresser drawers, buy a roll of heavy-weight wrapping paper, and use it to line the drawers. Get a cheerful design, and you’ll smile every time you grab a pair of socks!

#8 Using Shelf Liner Keeps Small Items From Disappearing

I like the look of SOME wire shelving, but there's no denying it can be a hassle. ​Installing liner keeps small items from falling through to who knows where.

Bonus Tip! Protect Non-Stick Pans

The More You Know: Reasons You SHOULD Use Shelf Liner in Your Kitchen. JAM Organizing. Professional Organizer. Wilmington, NC.
There are kitchen organizers that allow you to "stack pans" without actually stacking them (like this adjustable one from Amazon). You may not have these in your home because of the added cost, you're only planning to be there for a short time, they just don't fit your cabinets, or for a variety of other reasons. Regardless, protect non-stick pans from scrapes and scratches by cutting padded shelf liner to fit inside the pan.
The More You Know: Reasons You SHOULD Use Shelf Liner in Your Kitchen. JAM Organizing. Professional Organizer. Wilmington, NC.

Tips for Getting the Most out of Your Shelf Liner

Clean your cabinets. We know it's no fun, but make cleaning your cabinets an annual ritual. (Spring is here for a bit longer...)
Skip the waffle stuff. At a time, this was a favorite, but I'm giving it up for something without holes! The holes mean that crumbs and dirt will end up on the surface beneath. Also, it’s not always no-slip—it can bunch up and shift when you put items in or when you take items out. And it’s not as easy to keep clean.
Product Recommendation. JAM Organizing: Professional Organizer in Wilmington, NC specializing in Home Organization and Home Office Organization. Covering New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender, Duplin, and Onslow Counties in NC and Horry County in SC. Blog Post: Guest Post: 8 Reasons You Should Use Shelf Liner in Your Kitchen
Product Recommendation. JAM Organizing: Professional Organizer in Wilmington, NC specializing in Home Organization and Home Office Organization. Covering New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender, Duplin, and Onslow Counties in NC and Horry County in SC. Blog Post: Guest Post: 8 Reasons You Should Use Shelf Liner in Your Kitchen
Product Recommendation. JAM Organizing: Professional Organizer in Wilmington, NC specializing in Home Organization and Home Office Organization. Covering New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender, Duplin, and Onslow Counties in NC and Horry County in SC. Blog Post: Guest Post: 8 Reasons You Should Use Shelf Liner in Your Kitchen
Consider an under-the-sink mat. ​They're more able to soak up any spills and many are machine washable!
Product Recommendation. JAM Organizing: Professional Organizer in Wilmington, NC specializing in Home Organization and Home Office Organization. Covering New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender, Duplin, and Onslow Counties in NC and Horry County in SC. Blog Post: Guest Post: 8 Reasons You Should Use Shelf Liner in Your Kitchen
Keep it from slipping. ​If you want to make sure the liner doesn’t slip, put a little blob of reusable mounting putty in each corner.
Product Recommendation. JAM Organizing: Professional Organizer in Wilmington, NC specializing in Home Organization and Home Office Organization. Covering New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender, Duplin, and Onslow Counties in NC and Horry County in SC. Blog Post: Guest Post: 8 Reasons You Should Use Shelf Liner in Your Kitchen
Try cedar. Because of the repellant properties of cedar, natural cedar liners can be beneficial in storage areas where moths and other insects can be a concern, such as where you keep spices, dry goods, or kitchen linens.
Try cork. Available in rolls several feet in length, cork provides a resilient surface that cushions fragile items such as glassware. It also resists mold and mildew.
Product Recommendation. JAM Organizing: Professional Organizer in Wilmington, NC specializing in Home Organization and Home Office Organization. Covering New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender, Duplin, and Onslow Counties in NC and Horry County in SC. Blog Post: Guest Post: 8 Reasons You Should Use Shelf Liner in Your Kitchen
Go for something really durable. ​Cut vinyl flooring to fit in your drawers and cabinets, and secure it with removable wall poster adhesive. It is much more resilient, so you will never have to change it!
Picture
Skip the sticky stuff. The adhesive itself shouldn't damage your shelves, but the act of scraping it off might. What's the point of protecting your shelves if the act of removing the protective layer causes dings and scratches? Look for low-tack versions.
The More You Know: Reasons You SHOULD Use Shelf Liner in Your Kitchen. JAM Organizing. Professional Organizer. Wilmington, NC.
So, how many of you need to take a few minutes and line your kitchen cabinets? Do you have a favorite liner or tip? Please share below.
​Happy Organizing!
Picture
​Would you like to live a more organized life? Contact us today to get started!
Picture
10 Comments
Reese link
7/29/2019 06:24:55 am

I’ve always lined shelves because I’m paranoid of precious occupants’ ick and stains even after cleaning. I was debating whether to line the cabinets in our brand new house since no one else has ever lived here and found your article. You convinced me to stick with lining! I used cork in our last home and that’s what I’ll use here too. I like the look of cork and it has great benefits.

Reply
Jen MacLean link
7/29/2019 11:58:50 am

I hate lining cabinets and shelves! But I always do - even in new places. Each time I swear I'm not going to bother with it, each time I decide for the better, and each time I'm glad I did. Keep those cabinets looking nice!

Glad we could help!

Reply
Monica link
8/1/2019 10:13:47 pm

Great article. Very helpful & informative. I will definitely be using your advice. We're moving into a new home and I want to start differently than I did at my last home. Would you suggest cork for all cabinets including the pantry?

Reply
Jen of JAM Organizing link
8/2/2019 08:00:57 am

Thanks! Glad the article helped.

I haven't used cork personally, but after doing more research, I'm definitely intrigued. I'd say to use whatever makes your life easier and whatever you enjoy. The fact that it's more cushioning is great for fragile glassware. The fact that it resists mold and mildew is also a bonus. But, how often have you had mold or mildew in your cabinets? It can happen, but I've never personally had that issue.

The mold and mildew resistance may be good in the pantry, but I would look at the liner closely. Unless it's a tight cork, it could trap crumbs, germs, etc. Anything in the pantry needs to be easy to clean, because no matter how careful you are, there will be spills. Bonus if it's easy to replace as well - in case you have a particularly nasty or difficult-to-clean spill (think honey).

If you like the look of cork - go for it! Also, there's nothing that says you have to use the same liner throughout. I'll sometimes spend more on designs I like on lower shelves and just get plain white for the ones I can't see into.

Just ask yourself if you like the look of it and if it will make your life easier. If yes, then you have a winner.

Also, great plan lining in a new home before moving everything in! Getting started on the right foot will save loads of time and frustration in the future!

(Think also of lining other cabinets around your home, especially anything that may hold liquids: bathrooms, laundry rooms, utility closets, garages, other shelving.)

Reply
Jen
10/6/2019 11:28:15 pm

I’m wondering if you can recommend a few liners for the pantry and kitchen cabinets etc on amazon? Thank you!!

Reply
Jen MacLean link
10/10/2019 02:35:53 pm

Hi, Jen! Sorry for the delayed response. Things have changed a little on the back end, and it took some time to figure out how to approve your question and respond!

I've updated the post to add links to more shelf liner - some plain white options, a pattern option, and an under-sink mat.

Have fun!

Reply
Tyson Coolidge link
12/3/2019 08:52:10 am

I like what you said about using shelf liners so that you can more easily clean your cabinets. My brother has been telling me about how he wants to make sure that his home is as easy to clean as possible when spring rolls around. I'll share this information with him so that he can look into his options for professionals who can help him with this in the future.

Reply
Jen of JAM Organizing link
12/3/2019 01:12:22 pm

Thanks for your comment, Tyson! Lining your shelves can make them easier to clean, especially if you have a really messy or sticky spill. Worse case: just trash the old liner and replace. And if he has slotted shelving, liners may help contain the spill, keeping it from spreading to lower shelves.

Thanks for reading and Happy Organizing,

Jen

Reply
Julie link
7/13/2020 01:19:28 pm

Great ideas and good points, thanks for posting.

Reply
Patrick Ross link
7/14/2020 09:28:22 am

I like what you said about using a shelf liner to add color to your cabinets. My sister wants to make sure that her kitchen looks nice in the coming weeks. I'll share this information with her so that she can look into her options for professionals who can help her with this.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    I'm Jen, a professional organizer ready to help you take charge of your space, free up your time, and lead a more organized life! (Read more about me here) ​

    Archives

    June 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    September 2017
    August 2017

    Categories

    All
    Announcement
    Baby
    Classes
    Cleaning
    Closets
    Decluttering
    Decorating
    Donations
    Family
    Goals
    Goal Setting
    Guest Post
    Health
    Home Organizing
    Inherited Items
    Kitchen Organization
    Organization And Children
    Organizing
    Organizing Challenge
    Pantry Organization
    Paper Organizing
    Photo Organizing
    Planning
    Quick Solutions
    Schedule
    Sentimental Items
    Specialty Closets
    Sports Equipment Organizing
    The More You Know
    Video
    Workshops

    RSS Feed

info@jamorganizing.com • 910-338-9463 • Copyright © 2017-2022. Clever Nose Design. All rights reserved.
  • Home
  • Before & After
  • Services
    • What to Expect
    • Maintenance
    • Gift Certificates
  • Products
    • Recommended Products
    • Featured Products
  • Workshops
  • Blog
    • Contribute
  • About
  • Contact
  • Search