Step-by-Step Declutter
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Tips for Organizing a Refrigerator


Food safety should be taken into consideration when organizing a refrigerator. Just stuffing things in wherever they fit is not the best storage solution for many foods. Follow these guidelines to keep your fridge orderly and your food fresh.

What to Store Where


In the Door


When organizing a refrigerator, it’s tempting to put milk and other dairy products in the door. Many refrigerators even have special bins or shelves designed to hold these foods, but the inside of the door is the warmest spot in the refrigerator, so you need to be careful about what you store there.

Foods that are safe to keep in the door of your refrigerator include sodas and wine, condiments which are high in natural preservatives, and orange juice because it’s pasteurized and has a high citric acid content which hinders bacterial growth.
​
Foods that should generally not be placed in the door include milk and other dairy products such as butter or yogurt, eggs, and meat.
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Top Shelf


Remember that heat rises so the top shelf is slightly warmer than shelves lower down. This is a good place to store produce that won’t fit in the crisper as the temperature here is just about right for keeping produce fresh.
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Middle Shelves


The middle of the refrigerator is the best place to store butter, yogurt, cheeses, eggs, and so forth. The best place for eggs is actually in the carton they came in and not in the special egg container that comes with many refrigerators. They will stay fresher longer and be less susceptible to bacteria.
The middle shelves are also a good place for leftovers.
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Preserving Freshness


Always cover your food when you put it in the refrigerator. Many foods develop a crust or film when left uncovered which is most unappetizing. Others have a tendency to wilt or shrivel when exposed. In addition, open exposure makes food vulnerable to bacteria. ​
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Bottom Shelf


This is where the milk and the meat go since it’s the coldest spot in the fridge and these items are most affected by fluctuating temperatures.
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Crisper Drawers


Most refrigerators have two crispers designed for storing produce. Most fruits and vegetables can be stored together without a problem, but be aware that apples give off ethylene which will cause other fruits and vegetables to decay more quickly. For this reason, you may want to store them separately from other produce if you don't plan to eat them right away.
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Store Like Things Together 


A good practice to establish when organizing a refrigerator is to keep like things together. You can line related items up on a shelf or you can purchase bins to group like items together.  There are several advantages to grouping items according to type when organizing a refrigerator. Doing so makes it easy for everyone to find what they are looking for. In addition, it makes it easier for you to determine what you are out of when it’s time to go shopping. This can save you money and help you avoid waste by preventing double purchases. Best of all, your refrigerator will look great!
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Make the Most of Your Refrigerator Space


There are tons of great products on the market designed to increase the functionality of a refrigerator by  maximizing the space. Here are just a few samples to help make organizing a refrigerator fun and rewarding. 

​Note: These are affiliate links. 
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  • Home
  • About Sheri
    • Contact
    • Services >
      • FAQ
      • The Organization Process
      • Packages & Plans
      • Presentations
      • Results
      • Why Hire an Organizer?
  • Organization Basics
    • Declutter Your Home >
      • Basics of Home Organization
      • Household Cleaning Schedule
      • Tips for a Quick Declutter
    • Basics of Decluttering >
      • 4 T's of Decluttering
      • Clutter vs Decor
      • Coming to Terms with Your Clutter Personality
      • Conquer Clutter
      • Principles of Organization
      • The Proven Process for Organizing Everything
      • Purge Like a Pro
      • Rules for Decluttering
      • Steps to Declutter
      • Systems for Decluttering
    • Organizing by Room >
      • Bathroom >
        • Bathroom Storage Solutions
        • DIY Bathroom Wall Storage
        • Declutter Hair Accessories
        • Declutter Your Makeup
        • Declutter Your Medicine Cabinet
      • Bedroom >
        • Bedroom Storage Solutions
        • How to Declutter Clothing
        • How to Organize Your Closet
      • Entry
      • Home Office >
        • Declutter Your Files
      • Kids' Rooms >
        • Toy Storage Tips
        • Toy Storage Options
        • Maintaining Kids' Rooms
      • Kitchen >
        • Primary Kitchen Work Zones
        • Secondary Kitchen Work Zones
        • Movable Kitchen Storage
        • How to Declutter Kitchen Cabinets
        • How to Organize Kitchen Cabinets
        • Kitchen Cabinet Space Savers
        • How to Declutter a Refrigerator
        • Tips for Organizing a Refrigerator
        • Meal Planning
        • How to Organize Recipes
      • Pantry >
        • Pantry Inspiration
    • Storage Solutions >
      • Assessing Your Storage Needs
      • How to Create a Whole House Storage Plan
      • Storage Kits
      • Storage Unit Dos and Don'ts: An Organizer's Perspective
    • Information Management >
      • How to Establish an Information Management System
      • Declutter Papers
      • How to Organize with Lists
      • Deciding What Paperwork to Keep
    • Family >
      • How to Raise an Organized Child
      • Teaching Kids to Work
    • Productivity >
      • Stop Procrastinating and Declutter
      • The Myths of Multitasking
      • 7 Strategies for Single Tasking
    • Lifestyle >
      • College Prep >
        • College Packing List
        • Dorm Room Essentials
        • What Not to Take to College
      • Holiday Planning >
        • Declutter Your Holidays
        • Clutter-free Gift Giving
        • Give the Best Gifts
        • Organize Your Gift Giving
      • Preparing for Transition >
        • Aging with Grace and Purpose >
          • Estate Planning
          • Organizing for Alzheimer's Disease
        • Adult Children
      • Travel Planning >
        • Air Travel with Kids
        • Sightseeing with Kids
        • Tips for Care-free Travel
        • Traveling with Kids
    • Moving >
      • Creating a Household Inventory
      • Organize Your Move
      • Planning for a Move
      • Moving Options
      • Prepare for Movers
      • Working with Movers
      • Tips for Packing
      • Tips for Unpacking
  • Resources
    • Books >
      • Moving Made Easy
    • Free Organization Printables
    • Challenges >
      • Get Rid of 100 Things in 100 Days
    • Product Recommendations >
      • Organization Gems Every Girl Needs
      • 12 Amazing Organization Products for Men
      • Fabulous Farmhouse Storage Solutions
      • Crazy Cool Products That Will Make You Want to Clean
      • Best Board Games for Beating Boredom
    • Donate Your Stuff >
      • Donate Books
      • Donate Clothes
      • Donate Craft Supplies
      • Donate DVDs & More
      • Donate or Recycle Electronics
      • Donate Furniture
      • Donate Musical Instruments
      • Donate School Supplies
      • Donate Sports Equipment
      • Donate Used Toys
    • Recycling Resources
    • Sell Your Stuff >
      • Garage Sale Organization
    • Swap Your Stuff
    • Setting Goals
    • Tools for Organizing >
      • Furniture >
        • Organize with Dressers
      • Wall Storage >
        • Organize with Pegboards
        • Personalized Pegboards
  • Blog