Move day has come and gone and you’re finally feeling settled in. Most of the boxes are unpacked and the major living areas are coming together nicely. Even the kitchen seems in great shape. The pantry is organized, and your countertops and cabinets are clutter-free. If your Mayflower agent participates in our Move For Hunger partnership, perhaps you even donated non-perishables you didn’t feel like packing
Then you peek into the refrigerator and sigh.
With so much else to attend to, you really haven’t given the fridge much thought since you arrived. Between takeout containers, doggie bags, pizza boxes and the plastic-wrapped perishables you bought but never quite got around to using, it’s obvious the fridge could use a little TLC. Fortunately, it’s not a lost cause. Even the messiest fridge can be rehabbed quickly. It’s all a matter of organization. Let’s walk step by step through the process.
Satisfy Your Urge to Purge
Start by going through your fridge, checking expiration dates and tossing anything past its prime. If there’s any doubt about a particular item’s freshness, get rid of it now. Remove everything from your fridge shelves and drawers and put it in a portable cooler if you have one. Use a clean sponge and paper towels to wipe the shelves down with a disinfecting cleaner and let them air dry. Raise or lower at least one shelf to handle taller items and be sure to check the rubber seals around the doors. If there are any tears or cracks, replace the seals to improve energy efficiency.
Now, give yourself a pat on the back: The fridge is ready to restock.
Put Things in Their Proper Place
Did you know that different parts of your refrigerator are colder than others? In most cases, your top shelf and door will be warmest, while the middle and bottom shelves get progressively cooler. With this in mind, think of the fridge as having a series of temperature zones suitable for different types of food. In general, you’ll want to store condiments in the door, dairy products, eggs and spreads on the upper shelves, meats and milk on the lowest shelf and fruits and vegetables in the crisper.
Buy Some Clear Bins
Getting rid of plastic can rings, cellophane wrap and cardboard automatically frees up a lot of space. Remove the packaging around fruit, eggs, and soda cans. Then, use clear matching containers to organize your items by category—and label them. Hint: Consider using a small lazy Susan for everyday essentials like ketchup, mustard and maple syrup. It will help you see exactly what’s available and how much is still in each bottle or container.
Put Perishables Front and Center
It’s easy to forget about things like apples, celery and lettuce when they’re pushed to the back of a shelf. Items like these are better put into a colander or small fruit bowl to keep air circulating around them. Give them prominent space in their proper zone. This will remind you to use the perishables first and cut down on food waste. Hint: Many fruits produce a gas that can cause vegetables to decompose faster. You should always separate your fruits and vegetables with a divided drawer versus tossing them all together in the crisper.
Give Leftovers and Snacks VIP Positioning
Once the shelves and drawers are adjusted and your perishables are in their proper zones, look at what’s left. Make sure you have room for leftovers, snacks and similar items that need refrigeration. You’ll probably want to use them quickly, so whenever possible, place them at eye level so they’re easy to see and grab.
Get to the Bottom of Potential Leakage Problems
Meat and fish belong on the bottom shelf of the fridge. This way, if there’s any leakage, the juice won’t drip down onto everything else and cause spoilage. We recommend adding ribbed liners to the bottom shelf and crispers. It will help air circulate around your food and prevent possible mold and mildew.
Rotate and Replenish
Now that everything’s organized, rotate items regularly so that those nearing their end date are most visible. Plan weekly fridge grocery lists to restock essentials and meal prep items. It’ll take a few minutes a week but saves time and reduces waste in the long run.
Want some more organizing and decluttering guidance? Check out these articles for ways to keep clutter at bay, sprucing up your new space and organizing your garage. While you’re at it, take a look at Mayflower’s state and city guides, decorating ideas and a wealth of other helpful, time-saving information.
We hope your journey to Finding Home is just as well organized. And remember, no matter where you happen to be in the moving process, you can count on Mayflower to be with you Every Step of the Way®.
Moving or about to move? Get a no-obligation quote from Mayflower.
Oh, and did you know Mayflower has a channel on Spotify? Move and groove to tunes that get you to your new place — and settled in — in style.
