Spring pantry declutter

Spring is in the air YAY!!The winter blues are over, the sun is shining and I can’t wait for summer! Now is a great time to start getting organised and to declutter some of those areas that have been forgotten and abandoned over the cold and long winter months.

Here are some great tips for organising your pantry

1 First of all, I always start on the top shelf of the pantry and make my way down, pulling everything out and taking a good look at the expiry dates of items. Do this shelf by shelf, cleaning as you go and dispose of dated goods. Questions to ask yourself:

• Has this expired? If yes, throw it out.
• Do I use this? If no, throw it out.
• Do I like this? If no, throw it out.

2 As you go through the process of checking your goods, are there any spillages? Start putting aside these items – storage containers are going to come in handy for them in a minute.

3 Once you have sorted and disposed of your goods, start thinking about which items you would like put into storage containers. Flours, seeds, nuts, pasta and rice are definitely good items to store as they are easy to see and find and it stops the spillage factor from flimsy plastic packaging.

4 What kind of containers will you use? Howards, The Warehouse and Storage Box all have affordable options, ranging from plastic click clack containers through to glass screw top ones which I really like. If you need to go shopping for these, at least you will know how many you will need. I never buy storage until I have decluttered the area first.

5 Label maker time!! One of my favourites for the pantry especially. I have a Brother…. it’s great and really easy to use. So once you have sorted and stored your items, get labelling!!

6 Now before you start putting your items away, think about which items you use on a regular basis, and which ones you use occasionally or not as often. Firstly, keep the items you use most regularly in your prime pantry real estate. This means the space between your shoulders and knees. It’s easier to reach and easier to put back after use. I recommend items you buy in bulk be stored in the bottom of the pantry (because these items are typically heavy), snacks be up top so you have to reach for them, and everyday items at eye level. Also,group similar items together – i.e.: nuts and raisins, pastas and rices, crackers and biscuits, bread, butter and spreads – you get the idea! Not only will this look logical in your pantry, it makes sense for cooking, too.

7 Now your pantry should be looking more ordered and organised, the benefits are many!

1. It looks better!
2. It is easier to put the groceries away as you know where things go – everything has it’s place.
3. It is easy to find items which means that you are not doubling up on things.
4. Also kids can find things – they can find their own snacks and lunch items.
5. It saves money – ultimately you will only buy only what you need, reducing wastage with things going out of date.

So give your pantry the makeover it has been waiting for – get creative with it and make it work for you and your family. Happy organising and happy spring!!

Note: Please think carefully about how you dispose of your goods and their packaging – can they be composted? Recycled? Dispose of your goods intelligently and environmentally wherever possible.

 

Here is a before photo of a pantry I did recently – the smallest pantry ever for a family of four!

Most of the containers were empty and taking up wasted space in the pantry! Everything had to be pulled out in order to be cleaned and replenished.

Six hours later the end result! A usable pantry where goods are now easy to see and find 🙂