Well I made great strides last weekend on my Pantry project. This post is Pantry Re-Organization phase 3. You can see phase 1 here and phase 2 here. You can also see the recipe box I re-purposed for use in my pantry.
Pantry Re-Organization Phase 3
I decided to get into the thick of things last weekend with this pantry re-organization.
I started by reigning in the plastic grocery bags and our re-usable grocery bags. We needed to keep some of the plastic bags. We use them when we scoop the litter boxes. I am not sure of a better way but I am trying to think of something. I don’t like the thought of filling the land fills with these bags. I know that Peggy uses a product that is similar to a diaper genie. This could be a good option.
The re-usable bags are a little out of hand but I need to keep some in our vehicles so that will help filter the ones in the pantry.
I don’t even think I had a picture of the area of the grocery bags and the re-usable bags from before. They were overflowing onto the floor and on the the shelves.
After the bags were cleared out I was able to move some things around and make room for the baking sheets and muffin pans. I used a metal file folder to stand them upright next to the trays that were already there. The difference is that now you can see things and find them easily.
The mixer and blender were on the top shelf before. Since we don’t use them THAT often I moved down one shelf.
I re-arranged the dishes a little bit and removed some items that were never used. So this side of the pantry now looks like this.
This was the before picture. Things are just a bit more organized.
Once this side was done I started on the other side with the expired food. I had no idea some of it was as old as it was. WOW!
Then I rounded up all of the empty Tupperware containers. If you remember from my Phase 1 post I was struggling with purchasing new containers or just adding more tupperware. I am so glad I didn’t buy more because I found a lot that I can be using. This picture includes some of the new found Tupperware.
Here is the before pic.
Things are just more organized and I can see what I have.
I found these green baskets at the Dollar Tree and purchased the 11 they had in stock. I got lucky because they fit perfectly across this shelf. They are great for snacks and canned foods that we like to be able to see and get to easily.
I can tell you that if is hard to get out or to put away, we won’t keep it up. These, so far, have been easy to deal with.
I still have a lot to do as you can see in the photo below there are still some problem areas.
I will be addressing these areas next and removing some items into my kitchen cupboards and moving some things from the cupboards into the pantry. I think I have opened a can of worms. But it really needed to be done.
I am definitely getting there on my pantry re-organization but it all takes time.
Be sure to keep stopping by so you can see the final, organized pantry when I get it done! I am happy with my progress so far.
Thanks for visiting,
Michelle
airbnb property management
Wednesday 14th of August 2019
It’s this struggle between the keeping and letting go of the things you often use and see at home.
Michelle
Wednesday 14th of August 2019
This is always a struggle. Sometimes you have to make choices.
Barb M.
Saturday 28th of April 2018
I agree that the large pantry would be an excellent selling point--most women would love to have it! My pantry is just 3 1/2' wide by about 6' long, and sloping back under the stairs, actually a coat closet, but I'm thankful for it. I didn't find a lot of expired food, just a ton of food as I'd kept buying things on sale that I already had that were buried--so now we're eating out of the pantry and freezer.
My daughter-in-law showed me the roll up trick for things too from packing a small bag when she was in the National Guard after high school. Very handy, but I know I'd never have the patience to do that with the bags! LOL I do use it in my undies drawer though and it makes a big difference. Also on the rare time I take part in a bag sale at a thrift/rummage, it really packs the stuff in. I use the fabric and trims on them for sewing. Have a great weekend too! I'll be on the bleachers at a grandson's baseball game at 52 degrees and windy tomorrow but will bundle!
Michelle
Saturday 28th of April 2018
Sounds like a fun time. It is cool and breezy here today as well!
Barb M.
Thursday 26th of April 2018
I read all three parts of your pantry reorganization. What a wonderful pantry and love how you've organized it! I have the same dollar store plastic baskets in red in my deep freezer--very sturdy. My pantry is just an under the stairway closet but I redid it this past winter. It was just stuffed to the doorway and I went through all the food, appliances and misc. junk. It's still full, but at least organized. As we use more of the canned/boxed goods up that were just hidden all over in there, I'll be able to put more appliances and things like that back in.
I really like the diaper box idea! I also recycle plastic grocery store bags, that I get when I don't have my recycle bags with me, for "kitty presents" we call them and small wastebaskets. For your bags, what about just using an entire diaper box including top, covered in the paper with a hole made on top and one in the front for your grocery bags? Stuff 'em in the top and pull 'em out the front. Maybe velcro it to the shelf on the bottom to hold a little better when you pull a bag out. I have a really nice stainless bag holder that I got from Amazon when I got sick of the fabric one I've had for umpteen years, but it's gone up by 50% since I bought mine two years ago. I now use the old fabric one when I have garage sales to keep the customer bags in instead of stuffing them all in a box or one of the bags. Works great as they don't all come flying out when you pull on one!
Michelle
Saturday 28th of April 2018
Oh I like these ideas for the bags. We have a lot of them. My sister-in-law showed me a nice trick for rolling them up so they are super tiny. Then they are very manageable but I get lazy and don't always do it. LOL! Your pantry sounds fun under the stairs. I do love my pantry. I wouldn't trade it for anything. If we ever sell this house I think that would be a big plus! I appreciate you looking at so many of my posts and am so glad you like them. Your comments are great too! Have a good weekend!
Kelly
Friday 4th of March 2016
Oh my goodness! That's so awesome, Michelle! I wish I had a pantry to reorganize :D I think you're pantry is bigger than my kitchen!~
Michelle
Friday 4th of March 2016
Haha. It was a storage room that stored nothing before we finished it into a pantry. I do love it. It just gets out of hand from time to time. I consider myself very lucky to have it. Thanks Kelly!