The Best Bathroom Canister

Buying Guide

Your bathroom is the most moisture-prone room in your home. In fact, one study found that humidity increases exponentially once the shower’s running, even with adequate ventilation. That brings a few challenges for the items you store in that room.

Your paper products are the most vulnerable to all that moisture. Items like cotton balls and cotton swabs, along with your tissues and toilet paper, can start to break down over weeks and months of moisture exposure. Today’s bathrooms often situate the toilet in a room or cubby that at least provides some protection for those paper products, but you’ll still deal with it in the paper items in other areas of the bathroom.

That’s where a good canister can come in. Made of glass or thick plastic, these storage devices are designed to keep your cotton products dry and safe from dust and debris. The plastic is thick, forming a good barrier, and the lid, while not typically airtight, will seal enough to offer protection.

One great thing about bathroom canisters is that they typically have lids that just rest atop the jar. You simply lift the lid and grab the item you want, rather than having to pry a lid open. You can find bathroom canisters in a variety of styles, but they’re usually clear to allow you to see what’s inside.

Often bathroom canisters are sold in sets. Some are sized exactly the same while others offer sets of different-sized containers to let you store a variety. You can use the smaller canister for toiletries like cotton swabs and save the bigger ones for hair accessories or cotton balls.

Bathroom canisters aren’t limited to bathrooms, either. Some find the style ideal for office supplies or storing wrapped candy. Since the seal isn’t airtight, it’s not a good option for perishable foods or coffee grounds, but you can set it on a shelf in your kitchen to hold sweetener or condiment packets.

• For easy access, look for a jar that doesn’t have a lid that screws on or clasps. This will let you lift the lid with one hand to grab your item. It’s especially important to go with this type of lid if you’re storing an item you access often.
• Durability is a challenge with traditional bathroom canisters, which were made of easily breakable glass. Today’s canisters are usually made from thick plastic or break-resistant glass to withstand the occasional collision.
• Most bathroom canisters aren’t airtight, so if you’re looking for something to store perishables like unwrapped food, you’ll need to look for one with a lid that forms an airtight seal.
• Pay close attention to the measurements if you’re ordering your canisters online. Pictures can make jars and bowls look larger than they are in person, so you may end up unpleasantly surprised. Capacity can also provide insight. Some smaller canisters are perfect for holding cotton swabs, while you’ll want something wider and taller for toiletries, accessories or cotton balls.
• If you go with a canister that isn’t clear, invest in some labels to offer hints as to what’s inside. This is particularly essential if you’re buying them for use by guests who might not know what each canister contains like you do.
• The lid of a canister needs to be easy to lift off with one hand so that you can reach in and retrieve your items with the other. Many canisters come with knobs or handles that make it easy to lift them up.
• If mildew is a concern in your bathroom, your cotton balls can be a handy tool. Soak them in bleach or a bleach cleaner, then set them in the corner of your tub or shower. Keep them there for a couple of hours before removing them and rinsing off any remaining bleach. You can also add cinnamon to some cotton balls and place them around your bathroom for a more affordable alternative to traditional air fresheners.