For parents, fridge organization is a little like sleeping in on weekends—you dream about it, you attempt it once in a while, but it’s pretty hard to keep it up on the regular. The good news is that with a little bit of cleaning, a few storage bins and a few tricks to keep everything in rotation, refrigerator organization can be a reality. From stackable storage bins to giving the kids space all their own, we’ve got 11 organization tips to help you get the job done. Keep reading to see them all.
Start with a clean space and adjust your shelves.
Take out all the food, and clean your refrigerator. It’ll give you the chance to throw away things you don’t want, and you'll be able to visualize the space. Also, make sure your shelves are set up at the right levels to maximize your fridge space.
Use clear storage bins.
If you can’t see it, you might forget about it. Knowing what's in your fridge helps keeps things in proper rotation. Plus, with clear food storage containers, it's more likely you'll want to keep everything straightened up. This set of six can be used in the refrigerator or freezer!
Put the same type of food in the storage bins.
Make sure all your fruits, veggies, meats, cheeses, snacks and condiments are in the same place—it's a simple way to keep things organized.
Label everything.
Knowing where things go is an important part of fridge organization, and labels will help make this happen. Get a label maker or invest in a Cricut.
Buy plastic bottles for your sauces and condiments.
All your condiments will be the same size, which makes it easier to keep the side shelves of your refrigerator tidy. We like these bottles for their flip tops.
Put a Lazy Susan in the fridge.
You’ll be able to easily access food this way, instead of having to dig to the way back of the fridge. You can buy them just about anywhere, and we love this one that includes a non-slip mat.
Buy stackable storage bins and use drawer organizers for the veggie bin.
You’ll be able to take advantage of vertical space that doesn’t get used very often, as well as free up shelf space for smaller items. We like these stackable wine holders from The Container Store. You can also take your fridge organization one step further by creating separate spaces for different vegetables by installing these drawer organizers.
Create a snack section just for the kids.
You can organize all day long, but when kids rummage through the fridge for food, you can bet everything will be in disarray in no time. Give kids a specific area for their own snacks, so they know where to go every time.
Create an “Eat Me First” bin.
Be sure to have this bin be right at the front of the fridge, so the items that need to be consumed will be visible to the whole family. You can download a sign to use by clicking here!
—Gabby Cullen
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