Simple Hacks That Will Save You Space When Storing Silicone Baking Mats

Are you wondering what to use instead of aluminum foil while reducing waste in your home? One of the easiest ways to make your home more eco-friendly is with silicone baking mats. You don't need to bother with disposable parchment paper or waste time scraping food off of a baking sheet. Instead, silicone gives you a reusable option every time you break out the cookie dough. But these baking sheets are often awkward to store. They're not sturdy enough to slide effortlessly into a pantry or cupboard, and, although you can roll them, you need a way to keep them from unfurling. But if you save an old paper towel tube, you can slide it over your rolled silicone mat, keeping it perfectly in place. Since you'd trim a paper towel tube for this project, one cardboard insert can provide storage for several silicone baking mats. 

Sometimes, silicone baking mats feel sticky. This happens when oils remain even after washing (and it probably means you aren't washing your silicone mats correctly). When stored flat, you might find that your silicone baking mats stick together thanks to these oils, making it a chore to grab one from your pantry or cupboard. But when you roll them before storing them, it offers easy access when it comes time to bake. 

This hack is simple to carry out. Begin by cutting a paper towel cardboard insert into three to four-inch sections. Paper towels are traditionally 11 inches long, so you can store three silicone baking mats with one roll. Once clean and dry, roll your baking mats horizontally or vertically — it all depends on where you're storing them and how much space you have. Once you've done this, slide your rolled mat through a piece of paper towel tubing, and voila! Instant storage. 

If you're looking for other ways to stash your silicone mats, you can use old toilet paper rolls. You could also consider using a cloth napkin ring, a shower curtain ring, or even a hair tie. You most likely have one of these items around your home, which means this hack won't cost you a thing. If you're looking to store your baking mats in plain sight, you could always dress up these makeshift cardboard holders. Just grab some washi tape and wrap it around each hardboard insert before adding your baking mats. You can purchase multiple colorful rolls of washi tape on Amazon for $8 (at the time of writing this), making this an affordable DIY craft that you can customize to match any home decor.