I highly recommend that every spring you take the time to assess your food pantry. Set aside a few hours to take inventory, check dates, and of course clean the shelves.
I typically take about 2 hours to do a full purge of my pantry closet. Depending on your storage you might need more or less.
I started doing this after having an extra stressful week. I would go to the pantry to get a specific item or try and make a shopping list and would get frustrated. Cans fallen over, boxes dented or with holes, and a total disorganized mess.
That year I went on a wild cleaning spree – got it organized and never let it get that way again. In the long run I am saving money, and aggravation – so an annual pantry cleaning marathon is the ultimate life hack.
1. Admit you have a problem
If you don’t see an issue with your pantry then these ideas aren’t going to work. If you think your pantry is “not that bad” – then close this article and be on your way. You have to admit you have a mess before you can clean it. Ask me how I know this.
2. Clean all shelves and floor
Start by removing every item from all shelves. Use a mild cleaning solution and wipe down every shelf and if your pantry is a closet – do the floor too. Make sure you get in the nooks and crannies.
Tip 1: One reader gave a great recommendation about oils. If you find that your oils always seem to have some kind of drip – you are not alone. Reader CTY recommended using a lid from sherbert or other container as a base for oil storage. Place the lid on the shelf and put your oils on top. It can be easily removed for washing and repeated use. I am sure a plate or small cutting board would work too.
Tip2 : Use 2:1 water/vinegar + a couple of drops of tea tree oil as a cleaner. It will help freshen the pantry. If you have grease or grime on your shelves, add a bit of dish detergent.
3. Take stock of storage bins and shelving
Are your organizational tools helping you or hindering you? Could you use baskets to collect the small pieces? Would you be better off using glass to see your food?
You do not need to spend a lot of money to be more organized, there are many creative and affordable hacks out there. For example, I use a spaghetti holder hack to keep my boxes and bags of spaghetti in order.
You can find organizing bins at stores like Target, Walmart, dollar store, or Amazon.
4. Labels are your friend
I use a Dymo Label Maker to label my reusable storage containers. They can easily removed when I change out items and they are easy to see. I love that it needs no power – meaning, I can use it no matter what.
These will help prevent confusion when you want to use corn meal and not cous cous. Yes, I have been confused when these two were side by side and not labeled.
5. Dust or wipe down every item
You cleaned your shelves, the last thing you want to do is put dirty boxes or jars back in there. If your home is dusty like mine, then you know how many layers of dust can land in even short amounts of time.
Before putting anything back in my pantry I take a moment to wipe it down with a damp cloth. If there is grime – I will give it a deeper cleaning.
6. Check expiration dates.
This is a good time to check for expiration dates on all of your food.
As you put things back, put the newest items in the back, oldest in the front, and make sure that you have an easy rotation method for bringing in new food.
If it’s a struggle to rotate your canned goods, see if you can find a different way to store them that makes it easier for you. I use soda can dispensers to keep my canned vegetables and fruits in.
This is also a good time to donate food you know you won’t eat, or throw away food that is not worthy of being donated. Don’t put it back on your shelf if you know you’re never going to eat it!
7. Take inventory
Once you’ve put everything back in your pantry – or while you’re doing it, take note of what you need to replenish. It is also a good time to see what you have too much of.
I use an Excel Spreadsheet that I created for myself to make shopping lists and quick pantry inventory easier. Looking at the reorganized shelves, I can quickly see what I need to replenish that I may have missed in the chaos before.
I see holes where stock should be, so I can add it in and make note if it’s immediate or long-term replenishment.
Please just ignore the big can of Kilz, that’s what I’m using to paint the shelves! I forgot to remove it for the picture.
Notice the extra spaces on some shelves?
That’s where I know I need to restock. Behind the Kilz can is where I normally keep a hefty supply of canned soups. Yes, I know they are bad for you, but until I get this canning thing under control, I buy canned soup for a backup if I don’t want to make it all from scratch.
However, after the flu we had this year, we decimated our soup supply and I seriously need to stock more!
8. maintain the order
One of the biggest problems with an organized pantry is how quickly it can become disorganized. Having a system in place to do a quick once over is a way to keep it clean and tidy.
- Wipe up any spills immediately.
- Keep a pad of paper and pencil for a shopping list.
- Rotate as soon as you bring new stock in.
- Put new products in their proper places to keep like foods together.
If you can maintain the order of your pantry throughout the year – the annual cleaning will feel like nothing.
Your Thoughts: Do you have an organizational tip that makes keeping your pantry clean and organized easier? Share it with us!
