Feeling hungry, you walk to the fridge for a snack only to paw at the items inside. Or, you could be in the middle of cooking and notice that an ingredient is missing—you then take out all the items in your fridge just to realize the ingredient you’re looking for isn’t there or has expired.
A messy fridge can be incredibly frustrating. So, if you find yourself consistently looking and not finding, or if you find yourself looking for something and find the remanence of last month’s meatballs, then it’s high time for you to clean and organize.
With these tips, your fridge will be sparkling clean and orderly in no time.
Empty Your Fridge
To properly clean and organize your fridge, empty out your fridge first. This may be a tedious task, but this will only make it easier for you to organize your food items. It’s also a way for you to check in on what’s inside your refrigerator. If you find spoiled or expired food, toss it out in the trash. Germs in spoiled food could spread to your refrigerator, so it’s best to nip it in the bud.
Give Your Fridge a Good Wipe Down
If you have a messy fridge, there’s a good chance that it needs a deep cleaning. With all the food you put into it, you might not notice that its surfaces and corners are getting grimy. So, after emptying your fridge, get a clean towel and a bucket of warm, soapy water so that you can start giving it a good wipe down. Rinse away the soap by wiping it again with clean water and then dry it off with a clean towel.
Organize Food by Type
Once you’ve cleaned your refrigerator, it’s time to return your food items inside. Instead of organizing them by height or color, organize them by food type. Food groupings can be dairy, fruits, vegetables, drinks, prepared meals, or condiments. By keeping these types of food together, you’ll have a much easier time locating specific items when you need them.
Invest in Bins and Food Containers
To better separate the food types from one another, you can buy bins and food containers so that you can pull the food groupings out to easily get to what you need. Similar to a refrigerator’s built-in container for fruits and vegetables, these added bins will help you organize your food better. Having clear containers will also help you easily find what you are looking for within the bin.
Place Food You Grab the Most at the Front
Once you’ve organized your food by type, choose the items you use most frequently. If you tend to grab a drink from the fridge often, place them somewhere accessible. If you have snacks you know you’ll consume soon, leave them at the front. The same rule should apply for the food items you don’t use much—leave them at the back so that they’re out of the way.
You should be consistent in cleaning and organizing your fridge. It may be tempting to leave it alone for months on end, but you’ll only be giving your future self a harder time. Do yourself a favor and organize your fridge at least once a month, and then deep clean it every four months to avoid grime and expired items from accumulating.
Trust me, your food and future self will appreciate it.
Oxford at The Boulevard Apartments in Corinth, TX