Product Reviews ➜ Organization ➜ Storage
Non Toxic Storage Containers
The best non-toxic storage containers avoid materials that off-gas or leach chemicals, especially for items you handle often, though the standard can relax for storage that's tucked away and touched only occasionally. Natural materials like solid wood, organic cotton canvas, and aluminum are reliable choices with minimal processing concerns, while plant-based materials like rattan and wool felt need certifications like OEKO-TEX to confirm they weren't treated with pesticides or synthetic dyes during processing. Plastic storage isn't automatically off the table, but food-grade, BPA-free options are a meaningfully safer choice than standard plastic bins when plastic is what you need. Every material here, from metal and wood to plastic and felt, is scored using the my full methodology.
By Dr. Meg Christensen | Physician-founder of Interior Medicine, a non-toxic home resource built on her background in medicine, biochemistry, epidemiology, and clinical research.
Updated May 1, 2026
Most rattan isn’t OEKO TEX certified, but these, by Pottery Barn Kids, are! Rattan is a plant that’s usually treated with pesticides, processing agents, and varnishes, and can be associated with some chemical off-gassing. Certification ensures these are minimally and safely processed.
Under Furniture Storage Drawers
Get Laid Beds makes wooden storage drawers that you can slide under your bed or couch. They’re solid wood, and come with either safe non-toxic stain, or you can choose to leave them unfinished.
Another option you’ll want to keep out in the open. Most felt is made with polyester, but Graf Lantz makes large felt baskets out of real wool— and it’s even OEKO TEX certified. I love that these have optional lids, so you can enjoy their cute shape while keeping the contents out of sight. Come in several colors and sizes from small to large.
A clever way around getting more storage boxes that’s pretty, too: a storage ottoman. You can keep blankets or sentimentals or holiday decorations in here, (almost) in plain sight. There are no rules! This one, from Medley, is made of organic rubber latex and wool, and you can choose from OEKO TEX upholstery options.
The most straightforward swap for big plastic containers, aluminum storage boxes are big, lightweight, durable, weather-proof, dust-proof, and pest-proof. Great for storing blankets or anything else that needs a higher amount of protection. They are spendier than plastic, but aluminum is safe to the touch (read more here) and won’t off-gas like plastic does.
Avocado makes GOTS certified organic cotton canvas zippable storage bags that keep their rectangular shape. They easily slide under beds and on to slim shelves in the closet.
If you want plastic storage, certified food-safe containers are a lesser-evil plastic, even if you’re not storing food in them. It’s hard to know exactly what is or isn’t in the plastic, but they’re NSF certified for food contact and free of BPA — better than the majority of plastic storage containers out there. They’re a little hard to find out in the wild, but restaurant stores are great for this (I’ve ordered through both ULINE and WebstaurantStore before, just for things in my home, and they’re totally great and normal!)
Deeply unglamourous, old-school, and also the most affordable option here, Bankers boxes are secretly great at storing things that need only a moderate amount of protection, like holiday decorations, sports equipment, or random odds and ends. The handles and label area make them nicer than regular moving boxes, and since they fold into shape without glue, they’re about as plastic-free as you can get. I have some in my basement that are decades old.
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What are formed felt storage bins made of?
Usually polyester, and often a portion of it is recycled polyester from water bottles. It is molded into a shape with heat, and dyed. While polyester can be relatively safe and chemically inert, it’s usually only the case with clothing or blankets made with it— they’ll have OEKO TEX certification confirming no toxic dyes or additives were used in processing. Moreover, I like to avoid recycled polyester unless it has GRS certification, since plastic water bottles can come from unknown origin and have lots of unsavory chemicals of the past mixed into them. Since boxes are not considered close-contact items, manufacturers usually don’t bother with this level of safety or OEKO TEX or GRS certification. I think that’s generally fine— I use some plastic storage bins because I touch them once a year at Christmas to get decorations out — but if you’re looking for something safer or that you touch often, this is just good background information to understand. I think felt often looks “natural” and safe, so it’s useful to know that it’s dyed plastic.
Sometimes, felted storage bins are made with wool! These will generally cost more— just be sure to check the label and not assume “felt” means “wool.”
Product Reviews ➜ Storage