Our fridge has been a disorganized mess for a while now. Every time Bryan looks for a bottle of mustard (we have a LOT), he gets frustrated because it’s all the way in the back. I’m the culprit of buying pounds of veggies and completely forgetting that they’re in the crisper. Something needed to change ASAP.
This past weekend I decided it was time to tackle the good ol’ fridge. It needed a cleaning badly, so I figured it was the best time for a little reorganization as well. Don’t cringe too much, but here are the before photos. See how hard it is to see the stuff all the way in the back?!
Steps to cleaning and organizing the fridge:
1. Empty your fridge. Get ready to work quickly so your food doesn’t spoil!
2. Create cleaning solution. I don’t like using harsh chemicals in my kitchen, because it comes in close contact to where I place my food. For the fridge, I created a quick and easy cleaning solution using: 1/2 teaspoon dish soap, 1 teaspoon baking soda and 2 cups warm water.
3. Wipe down all bins, shelves, walls and doors. I like using a micro fiber cloth and the cleaning solution to clean the inside of the fridge. Make sure to do the walls! It’s often an area left untouched and you wouldn’t believe the mess these can be.
4. Group all similar foods and place in bins. I purchased three from Target ($2.99 each). I use one for jellies and butter, one for ketchup and mustards and one for yogurt. I chose these for the bins, because I typically have multiples. You wouldn’t believe how many different types of mustard we have.
5. Label the bins. I used the Brother PT-1290 label maker and pretty washi tape from Target.
6. Keep milk off the door! The fridge doors tend to get the warmest, so I keep my milk on the bottom inside shelf.
7. Keep frequently used condiments on the door. We keep salad dressings, hot sauces and BBQ sauces here. The condiments we don’t use as often are kept on the inside bottom shelf next to our drinks.
8. (Optional): Prep all lunches ahead of time and keep in glass jars. I absolutely hate making my lunch in the morning, so I decided to pick up some glass mason jars this weekend to hold fruit salads and veggie salads. This way, all I need to do is grab and go!
9. Use drawers for meat/cheese, extra veggies and fruit. I like cutting up extra veggies into sticks and placing in little bags for lunches and snacks. It makes healthy snacking a lot more convenient!
I hope you enjoyed this post! Happy organizing!
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Love, Love, Love this!
Thank you!
For this reason I love the Dollar Tree, a friend told me I should have bought stock in it, but seriously when I see such a mark up on thing I purchase and find it for a dollar there I am in heaven. I like the idea of a tray may have to try that. For a little color use plastic placemats as shelf liners
Great ideas. I am amased how much I have to
Throw away when I clean my refrigerator. I am going to have a container for my leftovers so t
They don’t get “lost”
Cleaning out the fridge is on my list of chores for this week. These ideas will make it fun! Thanks so much for the tips. Excellent ideas which I will be using in my fridge organization.
Instead of bins I bought a bunch of flat plastic serVing trays. They function like drawers so that I can pull them out to get what is near the back without having to move items one at a time.
That’s a great idea, Doreen!
I also use bins (baskets) which I find very useful but I hadn’t thought to go that extra step and label them! A great idea which I shall copy. Also the cleaning mixture. Thank you for the useful post.
Thanks for reading!
Great advices! You inspired me to clean my fridge. I am going to do it this weekend. Last time when I cleaned I forget ice cream outside. Don`t do my mistake. Happy cleaning!
This is a great post. I love an organized fridge, if only it could stay that way all the time.
I thought I had a little fridge (which I love, makes me not hoard stuff and buy fresh frequently) until I saw yours. Just goes to show that you can lose stuff in a shoebox! Love your organization. Especially the bin idea. Thanks!
I didn’t know the door tends to be warmer. I always keep my milk there. Thanks for the tips!
I’ve tried so many times to keep our fridge better organized but it never works out because no one ever puts anything back the same place twice! Maybe basketed would help them 🙂
~Meaghan
I have one of those full size fridges (my freezer is in the garage) and one bad thing about it is you can store more food, never thought about using bins, what I cool idea..
I never thought about putting bins in my fridge. good idea. I also love using mason jars! Great post!
Me either! I was brainstorming ways to keep all my stuff from flying all over my fridge and was like.. BINS! PERFECT!
I keep promising myself AFTER we move I will be so so so kitchen organized.
maybe 🙂
can you come to my house and organize…. every room?