the endless pantry

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Forum -> Household Management -> Organizing

The endless pantry

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SingALong

Sun, Aug 22 2010, 8:47 pm

so I'm having difficulty organizing my pantry. my developer put in this HUGE closet so I B"H have tons of space, but I really don't know how to sort everything. it a huge closet with the wire shelving.

last year I got these cheap shallow plastic bins to put everything in and labelled each one for ease but the system doesn't stay, things always get messy after about a month. also the bins are hard to keep clean, they get full of crumbs and stuff.

any ideas how to organize it? to get it done professionally like with a closet company isn't in the budget right now, so I'd really like to try something on my own that wont cost too much.

in my pantry I keep drinks, plastic cups/plates, etc, cans, baking stuff, cereals, oils, pastas, crackers, nuts, wine bottles, breadcrumbs, oatmeal, bread, rice, beans, all the non-perishable food things basically.

louche

Mon, Aug 23 2010, 12:33 pm

SingALong wrote:

the bins are hard to keep clean, they get full of crumbs and stuff.

So will ANY system you use; that's the nature of the beast. At least the bins can be taken out one by one, emptied, and rinsed. Much easier than unloading an entire shelf.

chocolate moose

Tue, Aug 24 2010, 8:57 pm

I keep fruits on one side and veggies on the other side. does that help you ?

SingALong

Tue, Aug 24 2010, 9:36 pm

I keep my fruits and veggies in the fridge

calmmom4

Tue, Aug 24 2010, 10:37 pm

Start by trying to tackle only one shelf at a time. This can be spread out over time or in a few days. DO NOT OVERWHELM YOURSELF YOU WILL BE DOOMED FOR FAILURE B4 U EVEN START. DO NOT ATTEMPT PERFECTION EITHER. Trust me, I've learned the hard way.
If doing one shelf at a time is too much, try to do 1/2 shelf at a time. The main thing is to organize in increments so when you feel bursts of energy you can actually accomplish. When we tackle too much, we throw in the towel and give up. Whatever system you do use will always be evolving according to your needs and will have to involve upkeep. Try to keep the items that you use more frequently on the front of the shelves and where they are easily accessible. The problem with bins is that you cannot see through them. If you do choose to use them, you must label them so that everyone can find them. I personally love Tupperware for the ease of use and the fit in the cabinets.

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