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Let's Get Organized
What’s up ya’ll? I know during this time of quarantine because of the COVID-19 virus, it is pretty easy to get caught up in your own head sometimes. So hopefully with these tips on organization, you can take time to organize your home and keep your mind busy on other things. For me personally, organizing things and cleaning up makes me feel so much more productive and maybe it will help you too. Whether you decide to start with your kitchen, pantry, bathrooms, bedrooms, or even your garage, just start somewhere.
Let’s dive right in with the kitchen and the pantry!
Kitchen:
- Keep all silverware together. If you don’t have a silverware utensil drawer separator, it’s time you get one (or make one). Keeping all knives, spoons, and forks with one another is the best place to start.
- Keep all cooking utensils together in one space. You can have them all in a drawer or a jar on the counter. Whatever you like, just keeping those altogether makes it easier on yourself and you never have to ask, “What did I do with those tongs?” again.
- Pots, pans, skillets, lids. If you have multiple sets of these, maybe it is time to set them all out and decide what you use regularly and what hasn’t been touched in months. Then getting rid/donating those that you haven’t used in months to others or selling them. Designate a space to store these items and keeping them altogether.
- Cutting boards, cookie sheets, cake pans, muffin tins, pizza stone, etc. If your oven has a slide out bottom or if you have a cabinet directly underneath your oven, this is the perfect place to keep your cookie sheets, cake pans, muffin tins, pizza stone or pizza sheet. Otherwise, design a cabinet (if you don’t already have one) to have sections or slots for each of these items. Or if there is room in your pantry, add in storage bins to house those items.
- Tupperware, Rubbermaid, Pyrex. Whatever your food containers may be, store them together. A good tip is to keep both bowls and lids in one place. Maybe that can be an added pull out shelf with sections or a basket/storage bin of your choice.
Pantry:
- Keep all like items together. Sorting each of them if there are multiples. For example, putting all canned black beans in one line, all canned tuna in another, all canned pineapple together.
- Put your opened flour, sugar, pasta, rice, nuts, oats, etc. in labeled airtight containers. Placing your unopened bags behind the containers. If you have kids that eat certain things all the time like gold fish or pretzels it might be a good idea to have an airtight container for those as well.
- Create a space in your pantry, in a drawer, or in a cabinet to house all your spices. If you can utilize a Lazy Susan, it makes things a little easier; not just with spices but with all pantry items. You might even consider using a Lazy Susan in your refrigerator.
- If your pantry is large enough, store all your appliances there. If you have room for a bottom shelf or cubbies, add one in to set smaller appliances on so they don’t take shelf room from food or sit on the floor.
- Have a clear bin to put all your mix packets in. Anything from gravy packets to Kool-Aid drink mixes. You might even consider using one for protein bars or snack packets. If you have children, try creating a clear bin within their reach, filled with snacks you approve of them having. For example, applesauce, string cheese, small bags of pretzels, juice boxes, etc.
- Have you ever thought to yourself, where can I store all my produce that stays out of the way and off the counter? Well I am here to help! There are so many different options for you! From labeled baskets in the pantry to do it yourself (DIY) corner storage bins! Others include DIY rack with wire baskets attached to plywood, produce stands with two or three maybe even four tiers, and lastly, my personal favorite is a smaller wooden ladder with each “step” a wire basket is attached with a chalkboard sign.
Do you plan on getting organized during this quarantine? Share your thoughts, tips,
or pictures with me on Facebook!