How to Organize Your Pantry in 5 Easy Steps

Is your food cabinet flooded with multiple open boxes of the same food and canned goods from last decade? If so, it may be time to purge your pantry. Use the five steps below to turn your kitchen catastrophe into an organized masterpiece in just 30 minutes!

1. Empty and clean your entire pantry. First things first – let's clear out your entire pantry to give you a nice clean slate. Place everything on an empty table or countertop to give yourself some room to organize. You can also take advantage of the empty pantry by dusting the shelves and vacuuming up any loose crumbs before moving on to the next step.
2. Throw all expired foods away. Sort through all of your food items one-by-one and throw away anything that has expired, will expire soon, or that you no longer have a use for. Eliminating all unnecessary items will clear up room for what is important and help make organizing easier.
3. Organize what is left into categories. These categories depend on your shopping and eating habits; they can be baking items, paper goods, condiments, canned vegetables, snacks, or breakfast foods. Everybody is different, so pick a system that works for you and stick to it.
4. Restock your pantry. After you have organized all of your items into separate categories, it is time to restock your pantry. Keep your most-used items in easy-to-reach areas and stick the foods you rarely eat in the back.
5. Keep it organized. Every time you come back from the grocery store and stock items in the pantry, take the time to place them in their proper spot. This will keep everything tidy and prevent you from performing another overhaul in two months!

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Tips for Organizing Your Home

Keeping a clean, organized home is easier said than done. If you are having trouble keeping your home neat and tidy, consider using the following tips to make your life easier. They are quick, easy, and don't require a very big budget to implement.

• Keep your footwear organized. Without a dedicated storage spot, the shoes of you and your guests can quickly take up your entryway. Mats, racks, shelves, and even baskets are all great ways to store your family's shoes.
• Bedroom nightstands can become cluttered if there is no method of organization. The top of the nightstand should only hold a lamp, alarm clock, and a resting spot for a book or phone. The drawers should hold things such as medications, remotes, and eyeglasses. If you don't use an item while in bed, it should not be in your nightstand.
• Utilize the space underneath your bed for long-term storage. Items such as sheet sets, duffle bags, and shoes are perfect for keeping tucked under your bed. Consider using a bed skirt to conceal these items if they become too noticeable.
• Dresser tops can turn into a big shelf for everything you own if you are not careful. Cosmetics and jewelry are popular dresser-top inhabitants, so buying a decorative jewelry box or cosmetic bag is a good way to keep everything neat and organized.
• Utilize vertical space in your closet to maximize storage. Stackable bins and multi-level shoe racks beneath the closet rod are a great way to take advantage of this space. Above, install shelves or cubbies to fit as much as possible.
• Leftover foods should be kept in square, stackable containers in order to make efficient use of your refrigerator space. Keep these containers at the front and center of your fridge to ensure they are always visible and less likely to be forgotten about.
• Stack pots and pans inside of each other to drastically reduce the amount of space they consume in your kitchen cabinets.
• Keep your bathroom counter clean by keeping everyday grooming supplies stored neatly in the medicine cabinet. Items which are used less frequently, such as cold medications and rubbing alcohol, can be stored in a hallway closet if you run out of room in the medicine cabinet.

The Maids of Dallas is a full housekeeping service which operates in the Metro Dallas-Ft. Worth area. We provide a variety of cleaning services, including one-room, multi-room, and whole-house cleanings. To get a free quote and receive a $50 cleaning voucher for your first appointment, call us at (972) 437-6253.