Let’s Clean Out Our Refrigerator Together!

Empty The Fridge

First things first, take EVERYTHING out of your fridge. As you take every item out of your fridge, check the expiration date. If it’s expired, I would suggest you throw it out.

Clean Containers

Chances are your milk carton and pickle jar aren’t squeaky clean. With a damp rag, wipe the bottoms of items and also clean any drips on the sides. If lid areas need a little TLC, tackle those too. You want everything you return to the fridge to be clean so you’re not spreading messes around. You can clean out leftover containers now, or wait until you’re done with the fridge

Clean Inside Of Fridge

Once your fridge is completely cleared out, take a rag with warm soapy water and wipe down every inch of that fridge. If you can remove drawers and shelves, that can make this task that much easier.

Return Everything To The Fridge

Dry off each shelf and drawer and return back to the refrigerator. Next, return items back to their respected areas.

Now Let’s Organize Your Refrigerator

Before returning items back to the fridge, let’s talk about each shelf/drawer. If you have a habit of squeezing your food in any available space in your fridge, now is the time to change. Organizing your shelves will help you reduce waste because you will know exactly where everything is. While you should find a system that works best for you (and one you’ll keep up with), here’s a good place to start:

The Top Shelf

This is one of the warmer shelves in your fridge, so avoid keeping any fresh meat here. Instead, consider designating it for leftovers and takeout—stuff you need to eat soon. It is typically the first shelf you see when you open your door, so it’s good to keep the foods you reach for often here.

The Middle Shelf

Here, consider storing dairy products or produce that can be left uncovered (such as berries). You also probably have the most vertical space here, so taller containers can be stored on this shelf as well.

The Bottom Shelf

Use your bottom shelf for meat or fish. Not only is this is the coolest spot in your fridge so there is less risk of spoilage, but you also won’t have to worry about accidental leakage over the rest of your food that causes nasty odors or contamination.

The Drawers

This one is pretty easy—try to fit all of your produce in the crisper drawers for maximum freshness.

The Door

Your door is the warmest part of your fridge, so store more stable items, such as condiments and jams, here.

Use Clear Containers

One easy way to ensure you stick to your system and keep everything in its place is to invest in a few shallow clear containers. These are super helpful at helping to corral your stuff and keep like items together. Label each one by type of food or expiration date.

Not only will clear containers to help you keep a solid framework for your organization, but they’re also much simpler to remove and clean than an entire shelf.

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– Townsend Realty Group