Weekend Project: Organize a Messy Pantry
You know that feeling? The one where you open up your pantry door to figure out what’s for dinner, and everything is so amuck that you just close it and order takeout? This common problem of pantrymessitis is making you spend money on food when you have an abundance of it right in front of your nose. The secret is being able to see what you have so you can put it to good use. Here are five steps to help you use effective pantry design to reorganize your food storage.
1. EMPTY THE SHELVES
Before you do anything, you need to take everything out of your pantry. Clear the counters and table and spread it all out. You need to see what you are working with.
2. THROW AWAY OR DONATE
Obviously, anything that has expired needs to be tossed. If you have any unopened, but still safe to eat, items, set them aside to donate to a local food bank. You will be amazed at just how long some of the items have been lurking in the dark corners of your pantry.
3. WIPE ‘EM DOWN
Chances are there is a gathering of crumbs, spills, and who knows what harboring the shelves of your pantry. Spend a few minutes wiping these down so you can start your new pantry design out right.
4. USE CONTAINERS
Now you need to survey your food items and see what is not going to be airtight once it is opened (think cereal, pasta, baking flour). These items should be transferred to plastic or glass containers that can be sealed closed. This serves three purposes: the food will stay fresh longer, you can keep pests away, and you can easily stack the items, improving the aesthetics of your pantry design.
5. PUT BACK IN CATEGORIES
Now that you know how much food you have left to organize, you need to sort it into categories. The best pantry design is done in a way where you know exactly where everything is, and having it in categories is the best way to do this. For example, you can have a section for canned goods, baking supplies, cereal, snack foods, etc. As you place the items back in your pantry within their categories, consider labeling the sections so you always know what’s where.
Need help organizing your pantry? Let Harkraft help. We offer full design, pantry storage solutions, and installation services to get your kitchen and pantry organized. Lifetime guarantee on all products and labor! Give us a call at (763) 544-4478 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.