Tips and Tricks For a Clean and Organized Refrigerator
Spring has sprung, which means it’s time for a little bit of spring cleaning! There’s something so refreshing about starting the new season with clean, organized, and rejuvenated spaces. Spring cleaning doesn’t have to mean deep cleaning your entire home. It can be as simple as identifying and tackling a few “priority projects”. As you think through your priority projects, allow me to mention one of the most-used (yet overlooked) areas of a home: the refrigerator. At the beginning of spring, I always commit to a refrigerator cleanout. This means clearing out expired condiments and foods, and re-organizing the remaining items. Not only does this free up space, but it transforms your refrigerator into a more efficient and clean environment. There’s no comparison to a clean and well-organized fridge, so I thought I’d share my tried and true tips, tricks, and organizational products for a seamless refrigerator cleanout! Let the cleaning extend beyond windows and wardrobes, right into the heart of your kitchen!
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Refrigerator Geography
A well-organized and color-coded refrigerator saves time, money, and sanity! Knowing exactly what items you have will make meal organization and grocery shopping so much easier and efficient. One often overlooked part of organizing the refrigerator is the geography. This basically means making the most of available space and placing frequently used items front and center. When it comes to refrigerator geography, I have to note a few pro tips:
- Prioritize foods that you reach for most, placing them in an easily accessible location.
- When organizing, determine what makes sense for your family and the food item. For example, we keep milk and orange juice on the top shelf, eggs below.
- If you have shelves in the door, this is the warmest area of the refrigerator. Store items like condiments and butter here, items that don’t have to be kept as cold.
- Drawers are typically designed to hold produce at specific humidity levels, so it makes sense to store fruits and vegetables in this area.
- Always place fresh meats, that could possibly drip, on the bottom shelf or in bins.
Organizing Tips & Tricks
I love utilizing organizational tools in my refrigerator. I’ve found that using the right items makes all the difference in the accessibility and flow of your fridge. While I love walking the refrigerator aisle of The Container Store, but for the sake of time I thought I’d share my tried and true tips and finds.
- Group like items together. Place condiments and salad dressings together. Select clear organization bins and containers with handles to make these items easy to grab out of the refrigerator. This turntable has been the biggest game changer for my refrigerator, pantry, and even bathroom!
- Line your shelves. Using a shelf liner in your drawers makes cleanup a lot easier when fruit or vegetables are not as fresh. The same is true for your shelves. A liner isn’t always necessary but helpful in preventing spills and drips!
- Utilize clear bins. My refrigerator and pantry are both full of these clear bins!!! They make it so much easier to keep things organized and easily accessible.
- Keep it fresh. I keep one of these boxes of baking soda in the refrigerator at all times to absorb and neutralize odors. While I opt for the classic Arm & Hammer option, I’m eyeing this aesthetically pleasing option as well! Baking soda is a natural deodorizer, so it keeps the fridge smelling more fresh and free of unwanted odors.
- Invest in storage containers. This glass set is one of the most frequently used items in my kitchen. It keeps leftovers, ingredients, and other items fresh and organized so well.
- Invest in aesthetics. This might not be for everyone, but I love to remove boxes as often as possible for ease and aesthetic purposes. A few of my favorites are this egg holder, a cheese vault, these glass bottles for my coffee creamer, orange juice, etc.
Getting Started
Now that we’ve gotten all of our organizational essentials, it’s time to get started! Begin by removing EVERYTHING from your refrigerator and give it a really good deep cleaning. Spray the inside with an all-natural multipurpose cleaner and thoroughly wipe down walls, shelves, rubber door seams, etc. To address stubborn spills and residues, spray a mixture of white vinegar and water and let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe clean with a cloth. I also recommend wiping down any jars, bottles, and containers with a damp cloth to ensure everything is clean! Psst… these stainless steel wipes are a game changer for cleaning the exterior of a stainless steel refrigerator.
Organize and Adjust
Once your refrigerator has had a good deep cleaning, it’s time to restock! As you place your items back into the refrigerator, make sure to assess your inventory! Discard expired goods and start crafting your list of items to restock. I also encourage you to adjust your refrigerator shelves to best fit your items… it’s amazing what a bit of reconfiguring can do! Very few times have I gotten the perfect refrigerator setup right on the first try, but I like to live with it for a minute, and make adjustments as needed!
Tiffy’s Tips
- Always refer to the manufacturer’s instructions before starting the cleaning process on your refrigerator and freezer.
- I have had my refrigerator shut down after leaving the door open for too long. Learn from my mistake and check your manufacturer’s instructions!
- If you have an ice maker make sure you change the filters as needed. When your ice becomes cloudy, it’s time for a filter change.
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