How Do You Organize Your Pantry??

Updated on January 24, 2009
S.B. asks from Keller, TX
5 answers

My pantry is a mess! I feel like I am cleaning and reorganizing it once a week and I still can't find anything. Everything has it's place, but I run in to problems when I stock up. I have always been the type to stock up on something when it's a great sale. When this happens I find myself shoving the back up supply on another shelf crowding out what's already organized. It all fits, but it is a chaotic mess! Moving it to another location is really not an option. Any great suggestions or tips?

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S.S.

answers from Wichita Falls on

When I stock up, I hide the stuff I stock up in clear underbed boxes under my bed... under my coffee table (has a table cloth), under my kids' bed.. I write a note on masking tape and tape it under that item in my pantry with # of items and hiding spot, so when I run out I know where to go.

HTH
S.

2 moms found this helpful
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J.T.

answers from Dallas on

is your wall space maximized with shelving? we added a lot of shedding above and next to what was already there, and i use the higher shelves to store my excess(i'm a costco shopper).

1 mom found this helpful
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K.G.

answers from Dallas on

go through and discard all expired stuff
go through and if you haven't eaten any non-parishables in 3 months since you bought it
donate it to a charity/food shelter
try storing cleaning supplies t paper and paper towels in laundry/bathroom room shelves/ or get a shelf for the garage.
Use wire shelves to place on the reg. shelves/racks to double up the storage for the wasted "air space"
Group everything-- all can goods together. All boxed cereals /crackers etc... together all jars together.
for soft drinks get a wire rack to place cans in
use a lazy susan for all baby food/small cans.
for kids snacks for lunches etc... get wire /see through "drawers" to put snacks in and nix the boxes
happy organizing...
"google" organizing pantries and look on-line for maore ideas too....

1 mom found this helpful
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C.T.

answers from Dallas on

For cans you can buy those wire shelves that sit on your existing shelf. That way you will have a place on the shelf and under the shelf for your cans. For packets like muffin mixes, micro rice, sauce packets, etc., I use those rectangular plastic baskets that you can buy at Walmart for 3 for a $1. These sized packets stand up perfectly inside the baskets. I, also, use these for baby food jars. Lazy Susan's are a great way to organize jars, too. That way you can spin them around to see what you have. I use one for my spices in my cabinet. I, also, use them in the bathroom to store cleaners or my toiletries. Hope this helps.

1 mom found this helpful

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

I am a stocker upper and I use Costco. Fortunately, my pantry is HUGE (size of a small room) and fully shelved on 2 areas. I utilize my laundry area (storage above the cabinets) for costco paper towels, napkins, tissues, etc. I also utilize the area on top of the laundry room fridge.

I am with you...because after a shopping trip, I have to redo some things to keep the order. Items that I do not use much or are major stock up items get the higher and back spaces.

As you walk into my pantry, I have the spices, etc at my eye level and then one shelf down is crackers, breads, snacks, etc. I find that my daughter and her friends hit that area first so I keep that stuff in the front area to keep them from going through everything. Then on the same shelf as the breads, etc, deeper into the pantry, I have cereals, syrup. On the back side, I keep the extra stock of condiments, etc. I have all tomato products in 1 area (I use a lot of tomatoes), all canned goods are sorted, soups, veggies, etc.

I do go through every month or so, sort and throw out anything that needs thrown out and clean the shelves off. I had a repairman once tell me that he was going to send his wife to my house to grocery shop in my pantry. That said..I have enough stock in pantry and freezer to cover us about 6 months if the emergency arises.

I hope so see some other good ideas here!!!

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