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I had to chuckle when I realized on the last video I said I’d be sharing “tips”…this is more of a survival-type cleaning rather than a cute little series where an organized mom shares her organizational expertise–I’m so not that woman!
So the tips I do share will likely be tips I *know* to do and doeth them not.
The refrigerator wasn’t the most exciting area, but I figure I’ll slowly desensitize you to the messier parts of my house 😉
My tips for keeping the refrigerator from walking off?
- Designate one day of the week to do a quick cleaning, instead of waiting until it’s such a major job. This goes for every other area too, but the fridge is a good, small place to start.
- Have a “left-over” night. This is a frugal tip from the Tightwad Gazette and actually serves to help keep the fridge tidy too. Choose one day of the week that you pull out all the left over bits and make it a meal!
- If it’s still good but doesn’t fit into the left-over meal category (like chicken broth, maybe), label and freeze it.
By the way, I will NOT be posting the “25 or so more areas” 😉 in case you got nervous.
13 comments
I dont think I would *ever* have a weekly time wqhere I could organize my fridge. BUT, I have done a quickie wipe down when its almost empty. After a ‘grocery’ trip, before I put the new stuff in I sometimes (I stress sometimes..)wipe down a few shelves that are messy. And of course do the throw outs.
I heard someone say the day before groceries they get out all leftovers for a lunch or dinner and lay it all out on the counter “buffet style”. Then at a certain time its buffet, and the kids have learned if they arent on time for the ‘buffet’, they end up eating the leftoverds of leftovers, and all the goody leftovers are G O N E. LOL. It sounds like a great idea.
One tip that may help:
Plain hot sauces (like Tobasco, for ex) don’t need to be refridgerated. They can go in the pantry, as they’re mostly vinegar and salt. Also, despite the “refridgerate after opening” mark on the ketchup my family/I have always kept it in the cupboard (that’s over 30 years of safe ketchup), as it’s largely vinegar, sugar, and salt. Also, salted butter does not need to be refridgerated either, as salt is a wonderful preservative. Of course, this all may make issues for the pantry or cupboards! 🙂 What a lovely “after shot”. You are so brave and sweet for doing this!
AM, I like the buffet day idea too. But usually I’m the main person to eat leftovers. (And that’s ok with me.)
I absolutely HATE cleaning the fridge, probably because I realized how much money I wasted by not using things up.
one idea i have… we have decided in my office that not one of us is too picky or snooty to eat someone else’s leftovers! some of the bachelor guys in my dept. and the surrounding offices are especially thrilled with this. hmm, half a meatloaf that we probably won’t finish? gee, we’re going out of town for the weekend and this half aloaf of bread won’t keep? throw it on the ‘snack cabinet.’ if it doesn’t become someone’s lunch, it goes home with someone. (i work in a college library.. so even if we don’t eat it, a hungry student will). this is a great way to use what you have, or get something you don’t (i brought home some really nice apples the other day, a guy in circulation was going on vacation and didn’t want them to go bad). before we leave on friday, someone pitches what didn’t get taken (usually not much) or eatne on the spot. this is also great in the summertime when everyone who gardens brings in produce! i realize that most of you ladies don’t work, but maybe in churches, school groups, or your husbands offices there are likeminded people? it’s not just a great way to keep from wasting food, it’s kind of a community builder. and it’s sort of fun!
Shanie 81 – LOVE that idea!
Thank you for taking the time to share.
Love it! Good job! And most of us can relate….
The refrigerator always intimidates me too, but I have finally started doing like AM does and try to wipe it out before new groceries and that has helped. It gets disgusting when spilled juice gets left there so long you thought it was syrup.
Oh and Shanie, another idea to piggy-back off yours. I have an older lady next door that I can share portions with. She is old and alone and it’s harder for her to feel like cooking for one person. So occasionally I send my son over there with stuff and she appreciates it.
I am going to clean the fridge today and I have to say my before doesn’t look nearly as good as yours. But, I will press on. Looking forward to your other videos.
Hi
I heard of 2 ways to do it that I am trying to implement:)
THe first is doign it weekly before you head out to get gorceries
The second is every day just wipe down one shelf-the great thing about this is you are constantly seeing what you have/need to use/etc. and it is constantly being kept up.
Jeaneen
Uuuuhhhhh. Yeah. I clean out my fridge when we move, which tends to be yearly. LOL!
This almost… ALMOST… inspired me to do mine! But yours looks great! way to go! =)
You’re a brave women to share your “before” pictures of the refrigerator. I like that your refrigerator is large. We have an extremely small one, so it gets crowded very quickly, and it gets on my nerves! I try to do a “quick clean” once a week, but the refrigerator is not one of my favorite places to clean. However, once I clean it, I feel SO much better. I just feel bad sometimes, when I find-out how much food I end up wasting when things get shoved to the back (frowns).
Hey Kelly,
You mentioned that it is ideal to clean it out once per week.
My garbage man keeps me accountable to this. I hate the idea of all that food, old milk and stuff spending the night in my outdoor garbage can, so I clean it out and rush it to the can first thing in the morning on garbage pick up day as he comes to my house early.
That is my routine.
I am still hoping to hear tips on how to store out-of-season clothes.
you inspired me, THANKS!