I deleted my social media accounts in 2022. I don't have internet at home. Still, the Internet's storage is still acutely aware of his obsession with containers. Whether you're watching a house tour on YouTube or reading an article online, it seems inevitable. Sure, there's something appealing about it. I devoured an entire video essay analyzing what the immense popularity of decluttering, replenishing, and resetting posts tells us about class inequality and late-capitalist society.
The trend of moving packaged products into clear plastic containers, also known as “decanting,” has become so big that you don't even need to go online. I don't shop much online these days, but I still can't stock up on groceries without seeing a shelf full of plastic containers. Most of the time, it is touted as the solution to all your organizational problems.
Admittedly (yes, that's a pun), as a self-proclaimed “Monica Geller without a secret messy closet,” I can understand the appeal of decanting videos. The act of cleaning and organizing always heals me. I like to take care of my space and the spaces of my loved ones. I recently wrote an essay about why cleaning is my expression of love. I'm also a minimalist by necessity, so I declutter regularly.
And that's not to say there's nothing satisfying about watching two beautifully manicured hands transfer fresh product from its original container to an empty, clean, transparent container. . That's ASMR. It's escapism. According to Fortune magazine, as inflation rates rise and “shrinkflation” means consumers are paying more for less, staggering wealth inequality is ushering in a new Gilded Age. It seems to be telling us of beauty and order in an increasingly chaotic world.
We also know that it may make sense to move fresh produce or pre-packaged goods into more secure packaging. When you bring a bag of fresh cat food home, immediately transfer it to a large plastic container with an air and moisture seal. Mainly to keep your pet out of it, but also because you live in a humid and bug-infested area. And high-quality cat food isn't cheap.
And I fully support people making money in creative ways. As a creative person who is always thinking about money, I'm glad that so many content creators, especially women, have found a way to make money creating content from the comfort of their home. At the same time, I can't help but feel that trending content, even with good intentions, does more harm than good.
Women, especially mothers, are already held to unrealistically high standards when it comes to organization and housework. Women are expected to organize not only their own lives and belongings, but also the lives and belongings of those around them, including their children, partners, parents, and bosses. Cleaning up is just another task on a never-ending list.
I'm single and kid-free, but the thought of decanting all my purchases after a long day of running errands still makes me exhausted, plus all those extra plastic containers mean extra washing to do.
But my biggest concern about decanting isn't wasted time and energy. Like many other trends, the internet's obsession with plastic packaging is encouraging two of the most economically disadvantaged generations, Millennials and Gen Z, to spend money on things they don't need. .
It may not be obvious, but anyone who has ever purchased something has access to a container that can be reused for organizational purposes, so it's also pretty wasteful from a sustainability perspective.
I store my nail polish in the plastic container I used to store my CBD gummies in. I kept my lip balm and headphones in an Altoids tin and labeled them “lips” and “listen” with black permanent marker. My fork, knife, and spoon are sorted into three coffee mugs I received as a gift, but I never use them for drinks because they're too big and heavy for my tastes. I use old prescription bottles to store paper clips and staples. An old pepper can for nail clippers and tweezers. My headband and hair clip are in an old coffee can.
On my own journey to pay off debt, I would reuse containers even if I could afford not to. Not only does it generate less trash, but it also looks cute. They may look beautiful, but clear plastic containers lack flair and personality. Reusing containers is certainly more sustainable, and that's great. But it's also more creative and more fun.
After all, home care is personal, and so is organization, and there's a reason why the internet's obsession with decantation is so big. That is, many people like it. But it's not the only way, or in my opinion the best way, to stay organized. What worked for me may not work for someone else, but I'm happy with reused containers, and a clean fridge full of prepackaged food and drinks is fine.