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While words may be helpful to some, others may respond better to pictures or color coding. And consider different labeling options, says Richmond. If you’re always searching for nuts, for example, label the bin you store them in, she suggests.
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You can label everything or just certain items, depending on your needs. Try Labeling: Larger families or those creating an entirely new system often find labeling helpful because it communicates where everything is located, Gail notes. This often-unused space is good for jars and cans, and it opens up more space on pantry shelves. Use Your Pantry Door: To create more storage in the pantry, Gail suggests adding an over-the-door rack or shoe holder. Keep them, and spices, in a pantry away from light and heat. Marlowe prefers Mason jars for storing grains, legumes, and other foods you buy from bulk bins, because they’re pretty and their airtight lids help keep food fresh. Keep Food Fresher Longer: If and when you invest in new storage, glass is a great option because you can see what’s inside, and it’s got staying power. They’re affordable and come in a variety of colors, which is helpful for zoning different foods and ingredients. Shop The Hardware Store: Once you’ve determined that your system works and you’ve used up all the storage items you have, Gail suggests buying stackable tool bins-the ones that are open in the front so you can easily see and access what’s inside-to corral smaller items. Plus, if you infuse your storage with some of your own personal style-a pretty ceramic bowl you bought on vacation or a tray in your favorite color, for example-you’re more likely to stick to your new system. Both are attractive and make it easy to see what you have on hand. Make it Accessible: Along with using boxes, Richmond suggests repurposing trays and bowls for storage. Test your new system out for a few weeks and then evaluate whether you need new storage solutions, so you don’t spend unnecessarily. There’s no rule that says you have to keep all of your spices in one place all together.ĭon’t Shop For New Containers: When you’re starting a new system, use the boxes the food came in, shoeboxes, or whatever you have on hand, Gail says.
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If you use others for grilling or baking, group those in one place. If you use particular spices for marinating, store those together. Rather than thinking about how you can possibly store all those small canisters neatly in one place, Gail recommends thinking about how you use them and store accordingly. Separate Your Spices: Spices are one of the trickier items to store. This can be especially helpful for families with young children: If you establish a designated spot for kids’ snacks, they can learn to help themselves and gain independence in the kitchen, Richmond says. If you and your family love to bake, for example, gather all those supplies and create a baking zone. Group Like With Like: Think about how and when you use different foods and group them accordingly, Gail suggests.
HOW TO ORGANIZE YOUR LIFE IN 2017 HOW TO
Use the cleaning-out process to find patterns that lead to unhealthy eating or food waste and consider how to change them. Toss Mindfully: “When you’re emptying out, you learn a lot about yourself or your family and how this space functions-what’s there and what’s not being utilized properly,” explains Declare Order’s Leslie Gail. When you find foods containing ingredients you wouldn’t buy on their own, such as high-fructose corn syrup, as well as foods that list sugar as the first or second ingredient, get rid of them. Look At Ingredient Lists: If healthy eating is a priority, use labels to decide what to toss, suggests Maria Marlowe, an Integrative Nutrition coach in New York City and author of The Real Food Grocery Guide. Toss them without guilt or regret they’re just taking up space. Think expired condiments, old produce, or that artisanal jam you can’t figure out how to use. New York City-based organizing coach Maeve Richmond of Maeve’s Method recommends her “Toss Five” approach: Open the fridge and pantry and identify five items to discard. To avoid being overwhelmed, begin with one simple task. Toss Five: One of the hardest parts of getting organized is simply getting started.
HOW TO ORGANIZE YOUR LIFE IN 2017 PROFESSIONAL
To help get you started, we spoke to professional organizers and coaches who shared their best advice on cleaning out and shaping up your fridge and pantry, including creative and unexpected ways to solve your biggest storage dilemmas. It’s all about creating systems that work for you. The truth is, there isn’t one “right” way to be organized. Feeling daunted by your over-stuffed fridge and that disaster zone you call a pantry? Fear not: Getting organized doesn’t mean you have to submit to a Pinterest-fueled cleaning frenzy.