Organizing The Pantry – The Final Chapter

So after sizing up the mess and then dragging it all out, and then rearranging and labeling the end result looks like this:

Notice all the extra room when expired products are disposed of, and excess is sent to the basement?

Will it look like this in a month? Yes.

Will it look like this in seven months? Probably not. Hubby and I are usually good for six months before our slacker tendencies take over and the “plop on top” begins. If we would just take a moment to pull forward shorter dated products (like they do in dairy), and actually put products in their proper place, we’d never have to do the yearly shovel-out!

Here are a few tips and hints:

• Dispose of, or reuse, stale chips, crackers etc
• Anything moldy or otherwise spoiled must be tossed – do not try and reuse or eat spoiled products
• Store the minimum amount of necessary products on-hand if you have a basement or garage storage area
• Face off cans and boxes for easy reading (that means face the labels toward you)
• Rotate stock placing long dated items in back, short dated products in front
• Label, Label, Label
• If you have products that require directions, and you’ve transferred the container, tape them to the outside of the new container (hubby has a tendency to put the directions inside the container on top of the dry food which is gross IMO)
• Don’t plop, put the items in their proper containers or on the correct shelves
• Short on storage!? No basement or garage? Get creative… under the bed containers (properly labeled of course), an unused bathtub in a second bathroom and the attic stairs are just a few ideas)

Now it is your turn? What tips, tricks and hints do you have for keeping your pantry clean, neat and the food in-date?

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