We don't often think about the state of our refrigerators until food spills and starts to get messy, or when you can't find that soda you just placed in the fridge a couple of hours ago. As you work to keep your house organized, the same principles apply to your refrigerator.
Fridge organization is not a light task as it requires a keen eye to keep food items in a neat way. Our article will guide you through the step-by-step process of re-organizing your refrigerator so you can keep a clean fridge without the hassle!
Organization Tools Needed
- Large cooler - for temporary storage
- Soapy water: 2 teaspoons of mild dish soap mixed with 1 cup of water
- Soft, microfiber cloth or Paper towel
- Clear, acrylic baskets
- Clear containers
- Paper liners - for the crisper drawers
How to Organize Fridge: A Step-by-Step Guide to Fridge Organization by Shelf
Step 1: Clear the Fridge
Remove all the contents from the fridge, and place them in large, separate coolers to avoid cross-contamination, while keeping food chilled while you organize your fridge. This may seem like a daunting task, but it is a necessary step to organize your refrigerator.
Step 2: Give the Fridge a Wipe Down
Wipe down the fridge with a soft cloth or paper towel dipped in the soapy solution to get rid of any stains, food spills, and kill germs that could compromise your food safety. Wipe everything from top to bottom, including the exterior of the fridge, as well as the back and underneath the refrigerator. Unplug your fridge before you start cleaning.
Step 3: Place Acrylic Baskets
Place acrylic baskets in your fridge where you think they would be useful. Clear acrylic baskets, which you can get from your local container store, can keep your food separate, while providing a window to the contents so you don't have to shuffle around your own fridge looking for specific food items.
Step 4: Organize Fridge by Shelf
Top Shelf
The top shelves and drawers have the most consistent temperature, so this is the level where you place food items that require constant chilling, such as deli meats, cream cheese, sausages, butter, dairy products, yeast, eggs, and more.
Middle Shelf
The middle shelf is where the ready-to-eat goods can be conveniently kept. The middle rack is at a general eye level for everyone in the household, and can hold packaged food and drinks, mason jars filled with soups and prepared salads, milk, cooked meat, and last night's leftovers. Using clear, airtight containers helps in keeping food fresh.
Bottom Shelf
The bottom shelf is the coolest area of the fridge, which makes sense to place perishables here. Place raw meat and chicken nuggets defrosting for food preparation on the bottom rack, with sheet pans underneath to catch any drippings. The raw meat should not come in contact with other food items, particularly ready-to-eat meals. They should be packaged in leak-proof containers.
Refrigerator Door
The fridge door is the least cool area of your refrigerator, so avoid keeping sensitive items here. You can keep condiments like hot sauce, ketchup, jams and jellies, mayonnaise, pickles, and other non-sensitive food items. Avoid placing heavy jars and jugs as they may weigh down the door, causing it to slowly break down over time.
Crisper Drawer
Keep your fruits and vegetables in separate drawers lined with newspaper or paper towels when keeping your refrigerator organized. This will prevent your produce from releasing and absorbing ethylene, which is the compound responsible for the ripening of produce. This will slow down ripening, keeping your produce fresh for longer periods of time.
Another great tip is to store herbs, carrots, and leafy greens in jars of water on the bottom shelf to keep them fresh longer. Place your veggies in a mason jar with the root side down, and place 2-3 inches of water depending on the vegetable. This will keep your veggies crisp, fresh, and green much longer than keeping them dry.
Step 5: Create a Magnetic Grocery List
Add a memo pad and a pen on the front of your fridge to write down notes, and slowly create your shopping list as the week goes by. This way, you'll know what items you still have in stock at home, as well as which items need replenishing.
Time for Spring Cleaning
Spring cleaning isn't just for spring! Clean up your home any time of the year, at any season with convenient and effective spring cleaning services from Luce! Our cleaning experts are well-versed in organizing, and they can assist you in your own fridge reorganization!
Give us a call today, and let's see how we can provide you the best housekeeping and home maintenance services!
