Where should lunch bags and bottles go after work?

Choose separate emptying and storage points

Put the emptying point where someone normally first has access to the kitchen after returning. Put the storage point where they pick up the bag before leaving again. The two spots may be close together, but the bag should move between them only after its contents have actually been dealt with.

Account for pieces that dry separately

Walk through the routine with everyone who carries lunch. If a bottle dries separately, give it a clear spot and reunite it with the bag before morning. A bag that belongs at school the next day should be easy to distinguish from one ready for storage.

A bottle, lid, or container may remain out after the bag is ready. Give those pieces a recognizable place and assign the person who reunites them. If two similar bags belong to different people, use a simple name or distinguishing mark rather than assuming everyone knows which lunch goes to school tomorrow.

Test the route on a busy morning

Can the person leaving find a usable bag, bottle, and lid without searching the sink or another person's backpack? If not, look for the handoff that failed. Moving the whole storage spot may be unnecessary; one missed lid or a bag returned to the door too soon may be the actual cause.