A Simple Guide to Cleaning and Organizing Your Pantry

Is just opening your pantry door a scary idea? Does that nice plastic container hold Bisquick or pancake mix? Why are there three open jars of crunchy peanut butter?

Organize your pantry? Sure! A clean and clutter free pantry will get you started down the road to kitchen satisfaction. You may not be the best cook in the world, but at least you'll be an organized one.

First, get absolutely everything out and wipe down the shelves. Now, get rid of anything that doesn't belong in the pantry. Don't keep the toolbox on the pantry floor. Your little girl's toy stove doesn't go there, either. And when you're husband tries to shove his muddy winter boots inside the door, grab him.

Be ruthless when it comes to food items, also. Check expirations, and discard anything past its due date. If that can of gumbo has been sitting there for more than a year, chances are it will still be there for another. Just like clothing, some food purchases are a mistake. Don't let them sit there reminding you of money spent. Get rid of them. If they're still edible, you can donate them to your town's food bank.

Use plastic bins to categorize. Put all your sauce packages in one, all your rice mixes in another - you get the idea. You can even get these bins stacked on wheels. Stock a large plastic container on a low shelf just for kids' grab and go snacks that are mother-approved goodies.

Group like items together. How about the middle shelf for cake and brownie mixes? Store all your canned vegetables together. Do you like cooking with different vinegars? Corral them into one section. It's a lot easier to cook, not to mention making a grocery list, with this system.

If you have to keep seldom used items inside your pantry, at least store them on the top shelf. You shouldn't have to move the bread maker you use twice a year to get to the coffee you perk every day. Or maybe those infrequently used pieces need to go to charity. How many times do you really need a coffee urn that makes 100 cups?

Kitchen and closet companies make all sorts of storage pieces, including roll-out drawers, door mounted spice racks and cereal containers that are just like the ones at hotel breakfast buffets. You can spend a lot of money on ceramic and stainless steel organizers, or you can spend very little and get plastic ones. Make sure you label containers. And don't forget wall space that is often overlooked. Hooks can hold everything from bread baskets to the kitchen broom. The inside of the door is frequently left out, as well. Try a clear hanging shoe bag for spices. The inside door space is also a good place to keep an on-going grocery list.

For serious simplifiers, here's an idea to really clean out your pantry and get a fresh start. Try a grocery store ban. That is, don't go shopping until you've eaten everything in your home. You might want to make some exceptions for items such as milk, bread and juice. But for everything else, stand firm. Your family will definitely complain, but you'll have some creative meals and a really clean pantry!