It really does not matter how large or small your pantry; to make the most of the space you have, your pantry needs to be effectively organised. You need to be quite ruthless in determining what stays and what goes, and take advantage of storage solutions outside of your home (such as storage at a Fort Knox Storage facility), for items that are used infrequently or really do not belong in your pantry. Here are some great tips how saving space can be quick, easy and budget friendly.
Getting started…
Pull everything out of your pantry
To get really organised, you need to remove the entire contents of the pantry and commit to disposing of everything with an expired use by date. Items that are not out-of-date, but are open and look to be past their best, should go too.
Clean while the pantry is empty
With a completely empty pantry, you have the perfect opportunity to give the space a thorough clean. If drawers are a feature of your pantry, start by vacuuming them out, and then give all surfaces a complete wipe down.
Logically sort and group pantry items
With items still outside of your pantry, sort them into logical groupings, such as flour and baking items, tinned food, pastas, sauces and cereals. Before you return these items to the pantry, think carefully about how they can be best positioned and arranged.
Keep heavy appliances on trays
A great tip that has been practiced for decades, is to sit heavy appliances like food processors and blenders on trays. Doing so makes it easy to slide the appliance from the back of the shelf to the front where it can be more easily lifted out.
Saving space with tins and bottles
In most pantries, tins and bottles can be difficult to store, because of their bulky size and shape. It is now possible to purchase expanding racks for the pantry which are attached under the shelf. You will be adding extra storage and creating a space where all tins are visible and neatly organised.
Use containers for your dry goods
Stop the chaos and loss of space that results from opened boxes and packets falling over in your pantry. It’s far better to empty your dry goods into containers and containers that are clear glass or plastic are preferable, as they make it easier to find particular products.
To optimise space, use square or rectangular containers, rather than round ones which do not fit beside each other quite so well. Use labels for the easy identification of products and ensure that all containers have airtight lids.
Make the most of baskets
Baskets are an invaluable resource in a pantry as they provide a place for all manner of items, from cake sprinkles and food colouring, to garbage bags and aluminium foil. Save space and stay organised with baskets that are clearly labelled and logically arranged.
Generally speaking, space is at a premium in most people’s pantries. It really doesn’t matter how large or small your pantry is, it can be well-organised so that space is maximised and all items can be easily located and used. What are your tips to saving space in the pantry?
Disclosure: This is a sponsored guest post.