Every Spring, the Girl Scouts leave a plastic bag tied to our front door requesting donations for a local food pantry. It's the perfect, annual reminder to Spring clean the pantry and donate what is not going back on the shelves.
The pantry in this kitchen is small but mighty! Storage space was carved out between studs, it is a mere 20"wide x 20"deep. The narrow space reaches from floor to ceiling and is equipped with wire shelves for storing dry goods and small appliances. Even a small space, over time, can become crammed with goods in no particular order, making it difficult to see at a glance what's available. It is 'Face-lift' time for the hard working pantry to repurpose it and refill it with the dry goods and small appliances most frequently used. This hard working vertical space is going to undergo a transformation and become more efficient. (Thank you, Girl Scouts for the annual reminder to get it done!)
It is our hope that you can glean a few tips from our weekend project. We stretched it out over 2-days but it could easily be accomplished in an afternoon.
Let's get to it, shall we?
First, empty the pantry! Set up a folding table next to the counter (it keeps counters free for cooking and serving that still goes on in the midst of projects!) Empty the contents of the pantry onto the table. Remove shelving, if possible and clean thoroughly.
Thoroughly scrub or paint the walls and ceiling. Best closet color is always BRIGHT WHITE because it reflects light making the contents of the pantry/closet more appealing and visible. Ultra pure white paint (eggshell finish - hides wall imperfections and is still scrubbable), a brush and mini roller are all that is needed. The closet can be trimmed twice, rolled twice, finished and dry in an afternoon.
Keep & Organize
(food that will actually be eaten in the next month & small appliances frequently used)
Give Away
(rarely used dishes, gadgets, small appliances and food you really won't eat...
like that can of sardines in mustard sauce we purchased for Grandpa)
Toss
(anything expired, stale or past its prime... empty & toss contents; recycle the containers)
Restructure & Organize. Once the pantry is clean and/or painted, it is ready to restructure by changing shelf heights and reorganizing shelves and bins. Setting up the pantry with user-friendly systems means shelves are arranged according to frequency of use and by designating areas for 'like items'.
The bottom levels holds 'quick-grab' items like snacks and chips. The floor is usable space as well with a deep basket for chips and popcorn. The basket slides out easily with contents displayed at a glance and for a quick sweep of the floor as needed.
The middle levels hold 'staples': Pasta, canned goods, breakfast and baking items. Baskets and bins can be used to keep small items upright, organized and visible.
The top shelf holds 'one-grab' items: The coffee pot, blender, and other small appliances.
Don't forget the door! What a great place to store items used every day! The narrow shelving unit mounted on the door provides space for oils, spices (well labeled and eye level for an easy grab) and a couple of shelves for every day desk supplies.
Two little shelves can serve up a desk-full of items: An address book, take-out menus, pencil cup, sticky notes, tape, white-out, paper clips, rubber bands on a carabiner, house keys on an S-hook, and a recipe card file that holds business cards for quick access to physicians, restaurants, home services and misc. membership cards.
Labels. They create convenience and help all those who use the pantry to keep shelves 'user-friendly'. They also serve as a gentle reminder that this area is off limits for 'dumping'.
The bottom levels holds 'quick-grab' items like snacks and chips. The floor is usable space as well with a deep basket for chips and popcorn. The basket slides out easily with contents displayed at a glance and for a quick sweep of the floor as needed.
The middle levels hold 'staples': Pasta, canned goods, breakfast and baking items. Baskets and bins can be used to keep small items upright, organized and visible.
The top shelf holds 'one-grab' items: The coffee pot, blender, and other small appliances.
Don't forget the door! What a great place to store items used every day! The narrow shelving unit mounted on the door provides space for oils, spices (well labeled and eye level for an easy grab) and a couple of shelves for every day desk supplies.
Two little shelves can serve up a desk-full of items: An address book, take-out menus, pencil cup, sticky notes, tape, white-out, paper clips, rubber bands on a carabiner, house keys on an S-hook, and a recipe card file that holds business cards for quick access to physicians, restaurants, home services and misc. membership cards.
Labels. They create convenience and help all those who use the pantry to keep shelves 'user-friendly'. They also serve as a gentle reminder that this area is off limits for 'dumping'.
Set up your kitchen well
and you'll be set to cook and eat well!
and you'll be set to cook and eat well!