How to Create & Maintain a Clean, Organized Pantry

Picture this: Dinner time is approaching, and you thought for sure you had the ingredients for a go-to weeknight family meal. You start looking through the kitchen cabinets only to find packaged snacks, mismatched ingredients, and expired spices. Suddenly it's plan B (or C or D) or takeout. Again. Sound familiar? Today I'm going to share 4 tips to help you transform your pantry from cluttered chaos to clean and pristine, all while setting up easy-to-maintain systems that even your kids can follow!

Tip #1: Remove All Items & Review Expiration Dates Before Restocking

The first step is the hardest. You need to remove every item from your pantry and kitchen cabinets. If possible, set everything on a single surface such as a table or kitchen island. Bring in a folding table if needed! Check all expiration dates, and toss anything that's open and has gone stale. While everything is out, wipe down those shelves for a fresh start before restocking.

Tip #2: Create Categories & Commit to Keeping Like Items Together

Next, you need to create categories that make sense for your household. With a recent client, we decided to store snacks, ready-to-serve foods, and overstock in the pantry. Then we consolidated ingredients, oils, and spices in the cabinets above her primary prep area. That way, the items needed for cooking and prep were all together but out of sight. And by consolidating snacks to the designated pantry area, it became much easier to see what needed to be restocked and what snacks just weren't being eaten at all and shouldn't be purchased in the future. By working with what you already have, you'll be able to create a system that is customized to your space and needs. Bonus: your family members won't always have to ask where things are and will be more likely to put things back in the designated space.

Tip #3: Select Storage Solutions & Start Saying No to Excess Packaging

Home organizing shows and stores would love nothing more than for you to purchase their branded products! While I do love the look of a beautiful pantry, I like to help my clients think through what is realistic for them in terms of maintenance and budget. Uniform sized containers for baking supplies and other staple ingredients can help make the most of your space and keep your food fresh longer. I suggest that any pantry items that come in bags or softer packaging be decanted into well-sealed glass canisters. Boxed or canned items may not need any additional storage products, unless you prefer labeled bins. Turnstiles are a great solution for deeper cabinets, and don't forget to adjust your cabinet shelves if that's possible! If not, hanging organizers or shelf inserts can do a lot to increase visibility. The goal here is to be able to see what you have and know when it's time to restock.

Tip #4: Make a Plan to Maintain the Space & Move Through it Monthly

Finally, introduce your family to your new system! Explain where everything belongs, and how to find what they are looking for. If you have kids, make sure they know which snacks--and how many--they are allowed per day. Let your spouse and older children know where backup staples are stored, and make a clear way for them to add an item to the shopping list. You should plan to move through your pantry system each month, restocking newer items to the back and moving older ones toward the front to avoid waste. If you tend to shop for groceries weekly, take a moment to look through your pantry and wipe down/tidy up about one fourth of it each week. If you are a monthly meal planner, do one big pantry and fridge edit per month. By keeping up with this habit, you'll be able to maintain a clean and organized pantry that avoids both waste and stress!

It is possible to have a peaceful pantry that works effectively for your family. Putting the right systems and storage solutions in place are the keys to success. A little work up front saves you hours and dollars, and that's a trade-off worth making.

If you need a professional to help cull the clutter in your space, be sure to reach out — I can't wait to meet you!

Cheers,

Karina