Tidy Up Your Pantry While Doing a Little Good in the World

Every client of mine has had a disorganized, messy, and overstuffed pantry they wanted help with. I bet many homes in America do, not just those of the chronically disorganized. My own pantry gets a bit chaotic from time to time. And certainly, our pantries serve their purpose of storing dry goods in a backlog for when we need them. But without a little maintenance, they can get a little crazy. That’s why I’ve got 4 easy steps to tidy up your pantry while doing a little good in the world.

At the heart of almost all clutter is abundance. Without worry over money, you automatically choose convenience over minimization. 

But if you’re going to the store every week without first taking stock of what you already have, not only is lots of extra money being unnecessarily spent at the checkout line, but you also get an overabundance of food.

That is the #1 reason why your pantry is a chaotic mess.

So, here are some easy tips to get your pantry orderly. 

4 Easy Steps to Organize Your Pantry

Step 1: Empty your pantry, section by section

In an ideal space, your pantry would be visually divided into categories. For instance, Canned Goods on one shelf or in one area, Cereal and Breakfast foods on another, etc. If it isn’t like that, then that is your goal.

Step 2: Purge each section 

First, throw out expired foods. Then, take stock of what you have and plan some meals to use these items. Have 4 jars of spaghetti sauce? Make a plan to have spaghetti, lasagna, and chicken parmesan this month to use them.  To keep yourself accountable, write down on your list what else you would need to make those dishes.

Step 3: Donate food to a local Food Bank

Set aside foods that are still good (as in unopened and not expired) for your local food bank. Perhaps it is something you have too much of, are not likely to eat, or do not like. For these cases, put them in a box for a local food pantry.

While donating to a food bank is always a great way to help your fellow Americans, it is especially needed at this time due to the pandemic. In 2020, 54 million Americans are going hungry. According to a census survey from the Fall of 2020, “one in eight Americans reported that they sometimes or often did not have enough food” (article from BBC). Since 2019, data around US households show that food insecurity has doubled.

Perhaps grab a few extra cans of stuff you will use, but donate them anyway---a can of green beans or tuna, or spaghetti sauce. Personally, this year when I grocery shop, I always grab a few extra things I intend to donate such as a box of Hamburger Helper or box of pasta and some soup. But if you feel like what you have to donate is too meager or small, you can also accompany it with a small financial donation via the local food bank’s website which they always appreciate.

Step 4: Put things back by category with the labels facing out.

After dividing into sections and purging, categorize the sections. Here are some suggestions:
- Canned Goods
- Cereal and Breakfast Food
- Baking Goods (Flour, Sugar, Baking Mixes)
- Pasta, Beans, and Rice
- Snacks (Crackers, bars, fruit snacks, etc)
- Drinks

Finally, Buy a few containers to corral and pretty up the space!

Top 7 Favorite Organizing Products for Your Pantry

Just so you know, I only recommend items that I love and use. I’m also including some insightful tips and suggestions for each product that I’ve found helpful. These recommendations are affiliate links, and again, I only recommend items that I love and would not suggest them otherwise. Thank you for your support!

The Best Lazy Susan For Your Pantry: iDesign Linus turntable

If you know me, you know Lazy Susan’s are my #1 favorite Organizer. They allow you to easily see and have easy access to your stuff, and they corral it all together, too! Use these turntables for:

-  the kitchen for oils and vinegars
- the pantry for canned goods
-  the fridge for condiments or drinks
-  the bathroom for hair and beauty products
-under the sink for cleaners
- the garage for car or lawn products

Glass Spice Bottles: Kitchen Almighty spice bottles

This set of spice bottles and labels by KITCHEN ALMIGHTY is the solution to the endless spice search. Because all the bottles have a uniform color and shape. Even better, this set comes with two different types of labels, placing labels on the glass bottles or lids, so you can see the labels clearly. Another tip, I have mine roughly alphabetized so I can find things more easily. 

Stair Stepper: mDesign stair stepper

Place your new spices on this stair stepper by mDesign. I love how it is adjustable so you can expand to fit the width of your space. It also has four tiers that will fit all your spice bottles without having any hanging out on the side.

Airtight Food Storage Containers: Vtopsmart Food Storage Containers and Marbelous 50 oz Mason Jars

Store pantry and baking staples such as Flour, Sugar, Beans, Pasta and more with Vtopsmart’s Food Storage Containers. With 24 chalk labels and a marker, you can decide what to store. Just make sure you have a clean and consistent view or style. 

For a more Rustic look, check out these 50 oz Mason jars. These jars are perfect storage solutions for snacks, coffee beans, flour, etc. 

Rustic Baskets: Hyacinth Trapezoid-Shaped Baskets

I recommend these pretty Hyacinth Trapezoid-Shaped Baskets by GRANNY SAYS Hyacinth can be used in nearly any space, and their sloped design lets you see what’s inside while corralling the items. 

Stacking Shelves: YouCopia Box Organizer

Maximize space and use the vertical stacking method with this Box Organizer by YouCopia. The three layer organizing “shelves” are great for storing foil, saran wrap, and ziplock bags.

Small Wire Shelves: Made By Design Steel Cabinet Shelf Organizer

Small Shelves are perfect for creating additional space by utilizing height. So in the same space you can have double the amount of storage. Marshalls is a great place to buy these wire shelves. Target has a metal shelf that is sturdy enough for heavy-duty storage like pots and pans.

Use them for:

- Coffee mugs in the kitchen cabinet
- Baking dishes and baking sheets
- Art supplies and games
- Canned food and snacks in the pantry

Get Your Pantry Organized

The pantry is a great place to start when tidying up since it’s an often used area. Once you’ve decluttered and organized your pantry, then move on to another space in your home that could use some decluttering, organizing, and a bit of love. Check out my FREE guide that lays out 10 Tips to Get Your Organized Today.