"Good Morning America" is celebrating the arrival of spring with the "Spring Cleanup" series, which will help get your closet, your pantry and your plate organized for the season.
You've finally worked up the courage to tame your kitchen pantry. It may seem like a daunting task -- and it can be -- so we tapped Ashley Murphy, one of the co-founders of NEAT Method, a luxury home organization company, to help. Here, she shares tips for how to organize your pantry in less than a day so that you can better see what you have, use older products first and have an overall sense of comfort in your own kitchen.
To get started, pull everything out of your pantry and other food storage areas.
While everything is empty, give all the surfaces a quick wipe down and sort all of your items into categories.
Sort items into categories that work for you (i.e. "breakfast," "kids’ snacks," "lunch prep," "dinner prep," "baking," "sweet treats," etc.). Tip: Don’t over-categorize, as doing so can make it more difficult to maintain your system.
(MORE: How to tackle closet chaos and get Instagram-worthy results)Once you have your categories set up, check all of the expiration dates, tossing any products that are expired, duplicates or items you bought to try but no one liked, etc.
Then, determine where your "prime real estate" is located and place your categories appropriately based on your lifestyle. For example, we typically suggest making your breakfast station an easy-to-reach drawer or shelf because mornings can be hectic. But place your "sweet treats" on a higher shelf to discourage frequent snacking. If you love smoothies, create a smoothie station so it’s easier for you to make them every day.
(MORE: How clutter affects your health)As you go online and scan Instagram to gather ideas for organizational products you like -- such as drawer dividers, turntables, risers, baskets, plastic or glass jars and labels -- take into consideration where you think they will live within your space and how they will be used.
Before buying any of these organizational products, measure drawers, shelves and other spaces where these products will be used.
And take pictures of your space to the store with you to help choose the products that will best work for your space.
Now, don’t just purchase something because you think it looks helpful -- stick with those you’ll actually use and that make your pantry functional and beautiful.
And finally, implement your new products and labels -- and then stand back and congratulate yourself on the beautifully organized space you’ve just created.
(MORE: I pledged to get rid of 496 things from my home. Here is what happened.)But periodically reassess your space and your system. Your lifestyle may change and when it does, you should take a look at your space and your processes to make sure they're still optimal for how you’re living.
1. Make the switch to transparent food containers, especially for leftovers. This way you will know exactly what you have at all times. This will also help you when you need to create a grocery list so you don’t over buy.
2. Touch-up your refrigerator with your weekly grocery run. It will only take a minute or two. Take a quick glance to ensure items are in their correct zone and place new produce behind older produce so it doesn’t get wasted.
3. For cabinets and shelving above your head, consider placing items in a basket. It will be easier to access without a step ladder and lessens the risk of things getting lost in the back and forgotten.