Spring Cleaning 101: Refrigerator

Is that a common saying in your house? Do you often find family members leaning on the refrigerator door, wondering what to eat? Then you hear “nothing sounds good…”

Well, tough luck buddy!

The thing is, often our refrigerators are filled with so MUCH food, that we can’t even decide what to make. Or, we have so much food, but none of it goes together. For example, you may have lettuce, but no dressing. Sour cream, but no ingredients for tacos. Cream cheese, but no bagels. You get my drift.

Are the items that you are storing in your refrigerator purposeful?

1. Start by taking everything out of the refrigerator. As you pull items out, check the expiration date and also for mold (disgusting, I know, but you’d be surprised at what you find hidden in those corners!)

2. Wash out the inside walls, shelves, drawers, egg holders, whatever you have that is able to be washed.

3. Ask each item: AM I EVER GOING TO USE THIS ITEM? Before you put it back in your refrigerator, make SURE you have an actual use and PLAN for the item.

4. Toss or pass down to a friend, what you will not use; recycle what you won’t.

5. Put like items together and combine same items. For example, if you have 3 mustard bottles, combine them into one. If you have 2 bags of apples, make sure they all go in the same drawer.

6. Label everything! Start a labeling system if you have to, by using masking tape, an actual label, whatever you need to use, so that you know what an item is!

7. Put in the freezer, whatever can be kept longer and that you know you won’t use for awhile.

9. Wash the outside, bottom cover, and BACK of refrigerator.

10. Only put the pictures (if you have them) that you most appreciate, back up.