If you follow me on Instagram, you may know that I have been going through a massive apartment clean-up. The area I most recently tackled is my pantry. I thought I would share this complete pantry cleanout that I followed along the way.
Introduction (Skip to Step One if you want to get straight to the cleaning process)
I feel the need to say this each time I begin discussing this, but my apartment truly wasn’t bad. Sure, I knew that I would have a few clothes to donate, and a few places to simply tidy. Even so, take the time to really look at everything you own. Make your goal of getting organized and ridding yourself of unnecessary items a priority. You’ll come to find that you see the items in your home with new eyes. All this to say, this had become a longer process than I initially planned. 8 large garbage bags worth of donations later, and I am breathing easier.
I want you to know that you’re not alone when it comes to possibly feeling overwhelmed by your home. To help you feel more at ease and to trust me when I say that I truly come with these tips judgment-free, here’s a photo of my cupboards before I tackled them:
See? It’s not exactly magazine-ready, is it? While I love watching YouTube videos of people cleaning and organizing, it can be quite eye-roll inducing at times. You can’t help but think how if you had a home that nice, you’d love cleaning it too. Not everyone lives in picture-perfect homes, and that’s okay. We’re here to make the space that we do live in more comfortable. Do I wish I had a house? Sometimes. However, I am not embarrassed by my “on the small side” kitchen. The same kitchen has been the setting for many treasured memories and a place to cook delicious meals for my family. In the grand scheme of things, that’s all that I really need.
It doesn’t matter what your home consists of or what you have to clean; if it’s one specific area that is giving you some anxiety, or if your entire house needs a bit of TLC. It doesn’t matter if it’s just one pile of papers or a roomful. You can tackle whatever your situation looks like. You’ve got this.
I don’t know about you, but when I begin a task, I get into it. There is the saying, “Do it right, or don’t do it at all”; I disagree with this. Do we ever do anything 100% perfectly the first time we do it? Most often, it takes time and practice to reach that 100% and even then, there is usually space for improvement. Let’s get rid of the pressure to do it “perfectly”, and encourage the act of trying in whatever capacity realistically fits your situation. As long as you don’t give up, it’s a sign of progress and growth- be proud of that! With that being said, let’s begin our pantry cleanout!
1. Empty The Pantry
That’s right, take everything out.
We also have a “Junk and Snacks” portion in our other set of cupboards on the opposite side of the kitchen. This mostly held granola bars and popcorn for movie nights. Another cupboard located on top of our refrigerator holds our cereals. It only made sense to tackle all of these cupboards at the same time. Therefore, I also took everything out of these areas too.
Hopefully, you won’t encounter any surprises along the way, such as moths, or flour beetles. If you do, this post may be helpful.
2. Check Expiration Dates
As I took each item out of the cupboard, I checked the expiration date and placed them on the counter in categories. If I came across anything that was expired or nearing a “best by” date, I either put it in the garbage/recycling or put it to the side*.
I don’t like food waste, so if something was a tiny bit past its prime, I kept it. This, of course, depends on the item in question and on your personal preferences. There are also meals that can be made with the foods often seen during pantry cleanouts such as this. Epicurious even did a Pantry Clean-Out Challenge with this idea being the theme. You can read more about their experience here.
You may come across some items that don’t have an expiration date. In order to know which items are still okay to use, you can follow the following information courtesy of LoadUp:
Pantry Staple Lifespans
- Dry Pasta: Two years
- Whole Wheat Flour: Three months
- White Flour: One year
- Spices: Two years
- Baking Powder: One year
- Brown Rice: One year
- Oil Sprays: One year
- Coconut Oil: Three months
- Vegetable/Olive Oil: Two years
*I kept a small bag next to me in case I found items that I could donate to my local food bank if permissible. If you have unopened items that are still good, consider reaching out to a food bank in your area rather than instantly throwing them in the trash.
3. Clean The Cupboards
Now that you have everything removed from the pantry cupboards, take this opportunity to thoroughly wash the shelves. With a bit of dish soap, a sponge, and/or a rag, this can be done quite quickly.
I discovered a hardened puddle of what I believe to be chocolate. (How there was melted chocolate is beyond me. I can only think of chocolate syrup being the culprit). This spot simply did not want to come off with my basic cleaning supplies. Therefore, I boiled some water to loosen it. I also made myself a cup of tea. This reminds me- be sure to eat and stay hydrated throughout your cleaning process!
If you do come across surprise spills that need to be cleaned, the entire process may take a tad longer. Understandably, this may be an annoyance. Trust me when I say that it feels amazing and it is worth taking the time to do.
Honestly, I couldn’t believe how messy my cupboards were. Sometimes, all it takes is one evening spent cooking to cause disarray. Don’t feel embarrassed or put yourself down because of the state of your cupboards. You’re taking care of them now and that is all that matters. Life can be messy- it’s only natural for things in our life to get equally as messy.
After washing the shelves and the pantry doors, dry each surface well.
4. Make An Inventory List
Once you’re done cleaning, it is time to assess your available space. Take note of the food that requires storing. If it helps to make a physical list of your inventory, do so. This will also help you in the future when it is time to restock.
“But, I just took everything out of the pantry. I already know that everything will fit back”. This is, of course, true. However, do you plan to put everything back exactly how you found it? This would defeat the point of the cleanout! Therefore, think of exactly what you need to properly store the remaining items. There are many products that can help you maximize the use of space available to you. These products do not need to be expensive; it’s amazing what you can find at your local dollar store. Amazon also has amazing deals on these items.
I can understand how taking a quick look at Amazon can lead you down the path of an unplanned shopping spree. Be careful! Make a list of exactly what you’re looking for and do not stray from this list. If you do see something that you think will be helpful, but it’s not in your budget, save it to an Amazon shopping list for later.
I have been using this method to stay within my budget, and it has saved me a lot of money. I often look at the shopping list months later and if the item is no longer something I want or need, I remove it from the list without purchasing it. It just goes to show- impulse buying can be detrimental. Take your time, and do not rush- it will save money down the line.
5. Organize Herbs and Spices
About a year ago, I purchased a spice rack to organize all of the seasonings and spices I use for cooking. I had organized my spices then, but I had a few bottles that have since emptied. I spent some time refilling and condensing the stock of spices I already had.
By using a spice rack, I was able to recycle several plastic bottles of spices. Since then, we only buy refillable spice bags rather than purchasing a whole new bottle. Not only is this cheaper, but you get more for your money by buying the bags.
The only times we do buy a bottle of spice is if we were buying that specific spice for the first time and we have no empty spice bottles available. Another option I find extremely aesthetically pleasing and functional is the container option below.
While I am tempted to get these in the future, the bottles that we already have are perfectly fine.
6. Organize Items Before Storing Them
Since every item was out of the cupboard, I was able to easily see which items took up the most space. Canned items (soups, beans, coconut milk, etc) and boxes of broth stood out immediately. In the future, I may purchase a holder for these items. For the time being, this isn’t a priority. Therefore, for budgeting’s sake, I am going to hold off from purchasing this and simply keep the cans we do have in order.
7. Bigger Pantry Items
The one purchase that I did make for this project, was a new set of containers. They come with aesthetically pleasing labels (seen below) and are the perfect size for assorted goods. This facilitated transferring the food contents (Rice, pasta, flour, sugar, etc.) into clear containers.
If you want to get rid of the bags and boxes of these items but are concerned about forgetting the preparation instructions, take a photo of the information you need! Or, simply keep the instructions copied in writing on paper in a recipe book. You can also cut out that portion of the packaging, and keep it in the storage container. I did this for a few items and it’s incredible how liberating it feels.
My point is, there are several solutions! Finding one that suits your habits and space is worth it. Trust me, removing the assorted bags and boxes alone makes a massive difference.
BPA-Free Plastic Airtight Pantry Storage Container with Lids for Cereal, Flour, and Sugar, Includes 24 Labels & Pen
Depending on your preference, you may not enjoy using clear containers such as these. This is understandable, but personally, I appreciate being able to see the contents of the container. It makes creating shopping lists easier by visually seeing what I am running low on versus what I won’t need to restock for some time.
Even the labels that came with these containers were exactly what I was looking for. If need be, similar items can be found at the dollar store, Walmart, or Amazon. With how I chose to store things, the labels won’t need changing often. They’ll simply need some maintenance here and there. Of course, unforeseen circumstances may arise. In this case, the labels are easily replaceable if need be.
At this stage, you’re probably looking at an empty (but clean!) pantry and a bunch of items on your counters.
It can be hard to find the energy to complete the task if you have found the process to be difficult up until now. If you need a break, take one. No one is timing you to see how quickly you can accomplish this task. Watch one episode of your favorite show, do a crossword, and then get back to it. You’re almost done organizing your pantry and now it’s time for the fun part.
8. Arrange Items Neatly As You Refill The Shelves
When it comes to how you place items back into your pantry, there is no rulebook. If you’re like me and have immovable shelves, then this part of the process has been decided for you. Some items merely won’t fit where you would love for them to go. In these circumstances, move things around until you find a system that pleases you. Perhaps, you’re able to place the items according to what you use the most, ensuring certain items are easily accessible. Or, maybe, according to their size and weight.
If you’re lucky enough to be able to move the placement of your shelves, you have a bit more freedom. This way, you’re more likely to be able to place whatever you want wherever you want. One idea that I really like, is using baskets as storage. Since my pantry isn’t large enough to hold such things, I won’t be using this idea. However, if you have the space, you can easily use this photo from Jar of Lemons as inspiration. Mind you, cleaning these items may be more of a hassle and more expensive. Will you need to buy liners for easy cleanup? Will they fit into your space? Be sure to weigh the pros and cons!
The End Result
Once you have placed the items in the manner that makes the most sense to you and your needs, you should be looking at a much neater, cleaner, pantry. You’ve done it! You’ve made it to the end! If you have some recycling/garbage/food donations to take care of, tend to that now if possible. If you need a break, I think it’s well-deserved; the recycling can wait for tomorrow.
Hopefully, having some order to things will encourage you to continue being mindful as you remove/add items to your pantry. This will prevent needing to do another big cleanup. At least, it will for a little while. This is not to say messes won’t happen, or that it will forever be tidy from here on out. However, celebrate the work that you have done today. Look at what you’ve been able to organize, get rid of, donate, and clean. It’s a big deal and you should be proud of yourself.
Now, what should we organize next?
Related:
How to Clean and Organize Your Kitchen For the Best Results
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