Welcome to Day 17 of the 30 Days to Less of a Hot Mess Challenge. Today we’re focusing on refrigerator organization — decluttering, reorganizing, and creating a fridge that actually works for your life. If this is your first time joining the challenge, you may want to start at the beginning. Affiliate links used for your convenience.
**************************************************************
Refrigerator organization is one of those household tasks that feels small but makes a big difference. For years I simply shoved items wherever they fit, and then spent time hunting for things. This project took about an hour or two and left me with a clean, functional fridge where food is visible, accessible, and lasts longer.
My refrigerator is a side-by-side freezer and fridge. If your model is top-freezer, bottom-freezer, French door, or drawer-style, the exact layout will differ, but the organizing principles are the same: clear everything out, clean, sort, and return items in logical, accessible groupings.
While cleaning, I even found odd things I didn’t expect — like half of a ripped blank check — which is a reminder that a quick clear-out can reveal surprises. Regular maintenance helps prevent this: I do a fridge sweep every Sunday night before my Monday grocery run to discard obvious leftovers, wipe up spills, and start the week fresh.
Steps to Cleaning Out & Organizing the Refrigerator
1. Remove everything from the fridge.
Start by taking everything out. Pull food and containers from shelves, drawers, and door bins. This gives you a clear view of what you have, what’s expired, and what’s redundant. It also makes it easier to clean every surface.
2. Wipe down every surface as best you can.
Remove removable shelves and bins if you prefer a deep wash, or do a quicker clean with a well-designed microfiber or envirocloth. Wiping down all surfaces removes sticky spills and odors and makes putting things back more pleasant. I’ve found that cleaning tools designed for quick, efficient wiping can save time and still get the fridge very clean.
A little cleaning goes a long way — especially when you can see all the surfaces clearly.
3. Consolidate contents and discard duplicates, expired items, and “science projects.”
Sort items into categories (dairy, condiments, drinks, leftovers, produce, proteins, baking items, etc.). Toss anything expired or that you know you won’t eat. Condense duplicate items — for example, keep the newest jar of mustard and recycle the older ones. Removing clutter makes the fridge easier to navigate and reduces food waste.
4. Put everything back in an organized manner.
Use clear bins and containers to corral like items. Grouping things visually makes it faster to find what you need and keeps smaller items from getting lost. For example, keep drinks together on the door, dairy in one bin, condiments in another, and designate drawers for produce and proteins. Put frequently used items at eye level and reserve the top or bottom shelves for less-used containers or overflow.
Here’s how I organized mine: drinks and bottle items on the door so they don’t take up shelf space; a bin for baking-related refrigerated items like certain butters and cream cheese; a bin for dairy products such as sour cream, yogurt, and creamers; and one bin for sauces and frequently used condiments. I keep eggs in a small middle drawer along with pastry dough when needed. The bottom drawers hold produce and deli-style items like cheese and meats. Arrange drawers in whatever way suits your household — do what makes it easiest for your family to grab healthy snacks and ingredients.
If a storage piece takes up too much room, swap it for a smaller version. I replaced a bulky lettuce keeper with a smaller salad spinner to free up space while still keeping produce fresh. Don’t hesitate to change storage solutions that aren’t working for you.
Reserve space for leftovers in a couple of easy-to-reach spots. Because we eat many home-cooked meals, having designated zones for leftovers helps us use what we already have and reduces the temptation to overbuy.
Products I used in my fridge:
- 8″ Fridge Organization Bin
- Medium Kitchen Pantry Organizer Bin
- Small Kitchen Pantry Organizer Bin
- Salad Spinner
At some point I’ll make labels for the bins and drawers using my Silhouette cutter to make the system even clearer. Labels help everyone in the household know where things belong and make putting items away quick and consistent.
RELATED: How to Create Pantry Labels
The Messy Work: Tackle your fridge today — it only took me about an hour to get everything sorted and put back. A well-organized refrigerator saves time, reduces stress, and helps you use the food you already have.
In the mess with you, Laura
More Posts You Will Love:
- How to Organize a Pantry
- Bedside Cord Organization Ideas
- How to Decorate Kitchen Counters {Decorating 101}
- How to Organize a Messy Garage
- How To Display Kitchen Cabinet Wreaths