National Clean Out Your Fridge Day
It’s November can you believe it? The holiday season is upon us and that means cold weather, festive drinks, and getting cozy by fire. I love this time of year! It also means that Thanksgiving is right around the corner. But Thanksgiving isn’t the only holiday in the month of November, National Clean Out Your Fridge Day is too!Today, November 15, is National Clean Out Your Fridge Day, and to celebrate I’m sharing how to organize and prep your fridge before turkey day.
Easy Steps to Clean out Your Fridge + Organize it
- Take Everything Out
Start by making space on your counter tops or table so you have room for the items you will remove. Place a towel or protective cloth down in case of spills or leaks from jars or bottles. If you have a fridge with removable shelves and drawers go ahead and take those out too.
- Check Expiration Dates
Check expiration dates on everything. Toss anything that is expired or moldy, especially fruits and vegetables that are past being ripe and are becoming mushy. You might be surprised to find a few of those salad dressings, or coffee creamers have overstayed their welcome as well.
- Clean + Wash
Once all items have been removed, give your fridge a good scrub. Be conscious of any harsh cleaners as you don’t want food items to absorb the chemicals when you return them to the fridge. Warm water and soap will do the trick. Don’t forget to wash the walls of the fridge where spills often occur.
- Sort + Categorize
While everything is out of the fridge sort and create categories by putting like items together. Consider grouping items in categories like dairy, meat, condiments, beverages, and snacks.
Combine any of the same condiments or dressings into one container if you have more than one jar, such as ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, and salad dressing. This way you eliminate any extra containers that might be taking up valuable real estate in the fridge.
- Put Everything Back
Be sure all the storage containers, shelves, and drawers you washed are completely dry before replacing them to the fridge.
Now you can take each of your sorted categorizes and place them back inside. Consider placing snack items and drinks at an easy to reach level if you have children in the house.
The bottom shelf and drawers of a refrigerator are often the coldest making it the ideal location for raw meats, fruits, and vegetables.
Doors are often the warmest part so be sure to store your least perishable items there such as dressings, condiments, and juices.
- Don’t Forget the Outside of the Fridge
It might seem obvious, but don’t forget to give the outside of your fridge a little scrub too. Wipe down the surface and handles to get rid of dirt and fingerprints.
Tips for Keeping a Clean + Organized Fridge
Being organized is great, but maintenance is key. To keep your fridge clean and organized be sure to go thru it once a month. Doing so will make the process so much easier and a lot faster than if you only did it say, twice a year. You will have way less mess and no weird smells.
Save your one-month clean outs for a time when your fridge is at its emptiest or right before a grocery shop. This not only allows you to see what you are out of and need to replace, but your fridge will be sparkly clean and ready for your fresh food.
Time to Celebrate National Clean Out Your Fridge Day
Now you have all the steps and tips you need to clean out your fridge and celebrate Clean Out Your Fridge Day. Not only will you get to enjoy a fresh fridge, but your Thanksgiving guests will be oh so impressed.
If you participate in National Clean Out Your Fridge Day, I would love to see your finished project in the comments below.
I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with loved ones, laughter, and yummy food!
Need some organizing help before the holidays? Contact us today so our team can quickly organize and prep your home before company arrives.
Holidays are busy, but command centers are a great way to keep the entire family organized. Do you have one in your home? Check out our blog post all about how to create a family command center in your own home.
Wandering if you need professional organizer? Get our guide here.
See you soon,
Audra
