Refrigerator
Here goes Day 1 of my Top 10 Home Organization Challenge! Â This month, I’m working on getting 10 areas of our home clean and organized. Â If you missed the first post, you can go here to catch up. Â The refrigerator is a logical first place to clean out for the new year. Â As we start thinking about treating our bodies right and taking steps to get healthier, maybe cooking more and eating out less, having a good, clean refrigerator will help you do that. Â It doesn’t make for the most exciting blog post, but it’s a great step towards starting the new year off right. Â And after I publish this post, I’m off to the gym!
It’s embarrassing to share the before pictures, but for honesty’s sake and in pursuit of good blogging, here ya go:
I’ve always felt like we didn’t go a great job picking this fridge, it’s really small and narrow, but we make the best of it. Â To get started cleaning, I always begin by clearing out all of the contents of the inside shelves and drawers. Â You can see in the upper right hand corner all the leftovers that needing tossing and that a good trip to the grocery store was in order.
The good thing about our fridge is that all of the shelving and drawers can be removed for easy cleaning and a nice scrub with warm soapy water gets all the nasty spills up. Â Then, once the shelves are all clean and dry, I wipe down the inside walls.
Sparkling clean!
And then time to put the food back in a more organized way.
And go grocery shopping!  We don’t have the healthiest fridge in the land, but it’s all clean and organized! And so funny when you send a man to the store- I don’t think we’ll run out of Gogurt anytime soon! 😉
As for the refrigerator door, I washed it with soapy water to get all the ick and fingerprints off. Â Then, used about two tablespoons of olive oil on a cloth to wipe it shiny clean. Â Works great!
So, there’s one thing checked off my Top 10 Home Organization Challenge! Â Next up, the pantry. Â And I can’t say I’m looking forward to that one- I just know it needs to be done!
Update: You can see the organizing challenges I’ve completed so far here:
FRIDGEÂ |Â PANTRYÂ |Â TOYSÂ |Â MEDICINE/BATH DRAWERSÂ |Â PAPERWORKÂ |Â MUDROOM/CLEANING SUPPLIESÂ |Â KID CLOTHES
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I'm working on organizing our kitchen this month and you are making me want to add the fridge to the list asap! It looks great!
A good kitchen clean out is perfect for January! Here's to 2015!
that looks awesome! I need to show this to my mom. she wastes so much space in the back bc she doesnt put anything back there because she doesnt want to reach lol ugh
xo Ellen from Ask Away
http://www.askawayblog.com
That's the problem with this type of fridge- it's small so you have to utilize all the space. The clear organizing drawer I use for James helps because I can take it all the way out if I need to.
We have that fridge. It is super narrow. We didn't have space for a wider one, but I wish we did.
We actually do have space for a wider one, I didn't realize how small this one was when I looked at it in the store. In retrospect, I really wish I had researched fridges better- such an important appliance in a home! Our pantry has a hook up for an extra fridge, but we haven't really found the need to put another one in there now.
I deep clean our 3-4 times a year. But, each week when I meal plan I clean it out. Discard what needs to be discarded, wipe down shelves/bins/doors, and take inventory of what we need. This makes such a huge difference. It never gets out of hand. And, it saves us money in the process…we don't waste as much.
You are good girl!
First of all I wish a very Happy 2015!
Great organization post! I just did mine before New Years Eve! My biggest home organization challenge is paperwork and a small junk closet I've got! The oil for the fridge doors is the best !
Happy 2015 to you too Maria! Oh the paperwork! It's a never ending process!
The fridge looks great. I just did mine too. My worst thing is the closet. I really need to tackle that one.
My pantry was the worst! Feels great to have gone though it last week!
Hi Megan!
Not sure if you are using olive oil for being completely natural in products, which is a great idea! But, my favorite product to clean our Whirlpool fridge is Weiman stainless steel cleaner. It brings out a brilliant shine! No streaks, no greasy residue and has a light scent. I've used other products and methods and this one has worked phenomenal! I used to have a cleaning lady and that is what she taught me to use!
I haven't heard of that cleaner- thanks for sharing!
Great organization post Megan! My husband surprised me on New Year's Day and tackled ours. I did a happy dance when I saw it. The best feeling ever having a clean and organized frig! I have to try the olive oil on the doors. That is a great tip!
What a sweet hubby! Do they realize how much it means to us when they clean things at home?!
Ugh! I soooo need to do this!! You've inspired me. I'll get it done this week!
Okay, it's been a few days since you commented- did you get your fridge cleaned out?! 😉 Happy 2015 Andrea!
Boy does your fridge look great. Doesn't it feel great to throw out and clean up?
Yes! Feels so good. And we've been working to keep it clean too!
Clean the fridge each week on the day before you do your grocery shopping.
Rubbing alcohol (either in a spray bottle or simply on a rag) will clean stainless steel, remove fingerprints, give it a wonderful shine, and you won't have spent $$$ on a specialized cleaner and you won't have an oily residue on your fridge.
A clean, organized fridge is a sight to behold!
Rubbing alcohol- never heard of that! Thanks for sharing!
I cleaned out our frig for the 1st time in 2 years (hangs my head in shame) right after the New Year and let's just say I found things I didn't want to find. But every time I open the frig now, I smile haha I didn't know about the olive oil so thanks for that tip!
Linh
Hi girlie! When are we going to Brasserie 19?! 🙂
I recently just did this as well. Love my fridge bins for easy storage. and i love that you labeled James' drawer, so smart!
Happy 2015 Andrea! Can you believe how big our kiddos are now?!
Goog job, fridge seems really good and organized…but to be honest also before the hard work seemed good, maybe now is a little bit more in order:P
Ha! Thank you! I spared you the photos of the nasty spills and such! 🙂
Megan, thanks for the push to clean out the refrigerator. Usually I just wipe it out but this time I removed the shelves and drawers like you did and it seems so much cleaner, particularly underneath the produce drawers. I also found a few items to discard.
Looking forward to the rest of your organizational challenges!
Yes, it's easy to "skimp" and just sorta clean the fridge, but taking everything out, including the drawers and REALLY getting in there and doing a deep clean is well worth it.
Ok, I'm doing this today! My fridge still has the holiday blues – there's stuff in there from before Christmas! And yes, you never know what you'll get when the hubster goes to the store. But as for those go-gurts. I keep them in the freezer! They're perfect in lunch boxes.
I know! My guy buys so much stuff to really stock up. Totally different than how I shop. I never thought of freezing the go-gurt! Thanks!
Looks great! Have you ever used Norwex cleaning rags? They are my FAVORITE rags ever. Seriously, amazing. Have a beautiful day, friend!! ?
I googled those and I think that's what I have- the pick up so much dust and do work great for cleaning.
I just found your blog and have been on for hours!!! LOVE!!! Where did you get your calendar on the side of your fridge??? I NEED to do something like this to show my husband how busy we actually are!!!