Sometimes, it seems like kitchen pantries cause their own chaos. You just cleaned it last week, but somehow it’s back to being a complete mess. Fortunately, there are all sorts of methods that you can try out to keep your pantry organized throughout the week.
So, do you want to know how to maintain order in your kitchen pantry using accessories? Try out these five products:
- Sliding Baskets
- Wine Racks
- Shelf Dividers
- Spice Racks
- K Cup Organizers
Throughout this article, you’ll also learn about routine maintenance ideas to keep your pantry in order, as well as how to get the most out of your pantry, regardless of its size. All it takes is a few minutes per week to keep your pantry looking brand-new and organized. Let’s get to it!
Which Accessories Should You Get for Kitchen Pantry Organization?
There are dozens of accessories that claim to be the best on the market. Whether they’re massive tubs or low-sitting baskets, these items take the stress out of maintaining order in a pantry. That being said, not all of them are worth the money.
Here are the best accessories that you can get for your kitchen pantry:
Sliding Baskets
Sliding baskets are usually made out of wire or metal with a thin coating. This coating prevents damage to the basket, but it also saves your pantry’s lining. You can put all sorts of mason jars, canned food, and boxed meals in these baskets to separate them. You’ll be able to know where everything is without having to sift through the madness!
Wine Racks
Wine racks are another helpful suggestion that can get everything back to normal. Whether you prefer to buy your own wine or people are always giving you a new bottle as a gift, it can get hectic very quickly. Try out a wine rack to keep all of the bottles in one spot. You can even organize them by brand, grape, or year.
Shelf Dividers
Shelf dividers work perfectly in place of sliding baskets. If you don’t want to have to pull out a basket to access its contents, you can place shelf dividers throughout the pantry to keep everything separated. The great thing about shelf dividers is that you can adjust the size of space on each side of them.
Spice Racks
Spice racks come in all shapes and sizes, but there’s no denying the frustration of not having one. If you own a lot of spice jars and bottles, then you know how hard it can be to find exactly what you’re looking for. By getting a spice rack, you can spin it around until you locate the right spice, then slide it back into your pantry.
K Cup Organizers
Finally, K cup organizers are a worthwhile investment if you drink from coffee pods. Although not everyone drinks their coffee this way, it’s invaluable for those who do. Separate the pods by flavor, brand, caffeine content, and more. Some of them come in the form of drawers, while others spin like a spice rack.
Routine Pantry Maintenance Suggestions
Pantries can get congested overnight sometimes. Whether you have a bunch of kids running around or you can’t seem to keep it together by yourself, the accessories above will undoubtedly help.
That being said, we can all use a helping hand every once in a while. By setting a routine schedule (like this one from Housewife How-To’s), you’ll be able to prevent your kitchen pantry from getting messy ever again.
Try these five suggestions to keep your pantry in top shape:
- Set a day and time every week to wipe down the shelves. You can even pick one shelf per day, and it would only take less than a minute. Dust, debris, and food particles can settle in a pantry, so don’t let it accumulate for too long. Even your organizers need a bit of attention as well!
- Make sure everything is always organized. You can put breaded foods down below and canned foods up top, or switch it around however you like. The reason that organization is so important for cleanliness is that you might forget small items tucked in the back. They could expire or leak after months of neglect.
- Speaking of which, always read labels. Never let expired food sit for too long in your kitchen pantry. Aside from the health concerns that they present, expired food is just a waste of space. Who knows what you could do with all the freed up room inside of your newly organized pantry?
- Never store anything other than food and food-related items in the pantry. We’ve all made the mistake of leaving brooms, buckets, and other non-food items in the pantry. It’s important to remember that it’s not a spare closet. The particles from tools and other items can spread around and cause dirtiness and congestion.
- Set the rules for the kitchen pantry. If you live with roommates or your family, write down a list of organization rules on a whiteboard, so everyone’s on the same page. When you’re all working together, the pantry will stay clean.
How to Get More Out of Your Kitchen Pantry
Pantries are excellent if you want to store food and drinks, but sometimes they’re far too small. There are quite a few methods that you could try out to expand the usage of your pantry, including only storing a specific type of item inside.
Unfortunately, some of us get stuck with a tiny pantry that doesn’t have enough room for anything other than a few bottles of wine and some spices. You could combat this issue by getting a cabinet door organizer.
Some of these organizers are only designed for spice racks, while others have room for wine bottles or canned food. Get your hands on a few of these, and you can line your kitchen with several pantries.
If you do have a big pantry, then you can expand or reduce the space by placing and removing shelves. Some pantries have far too many shelves, while others only have one or two. Only you know how much space you need, so why not take the time to customize it?
Another suggestion is to remove everything from your pantry, even the shelves, and start anew. When you have a blank slate in front of you, you’ll be able to examine the dimensions and decide how you want your new pantry to look. This is also a good time to add permanent fixtures and organizers to the walls and shelves.
Note: If you don’t know how to DIY installation on a pantry, hire a professional or ask for help. The last thing you want to happen is to demolish your pantry and not be able to use it at all.
Conclusion
Kitchen pantries can be a blessing or a curse. If you know how to organize them, you’ll be able to get all sorts of organized space for your food and drinks. On the other hand, madness can ensue if you forget to clean it regularly.
Here’s a quick recap of the post:
- Sliding baskets, wine racks, shelf dividers, spice racks, and K cup organizers are the best accessories to organize your pantry.
- Creating a routine maintenance schedule will prevent your kitchen pantry from getting disorganized and cluttered.
- You can purchase new shelves or cabinet organizers to get more usage out of your pantry.
Source
https://housewifehowtos.com/clean/cleaning-routine-the-pantry/
