Eva's Edict: Clean Out Your Pantry

This post was inspired by today's news report about local food banks looking to increase their donations of food items.

The new economy gives us an opportunity to re-examine what we have in our lives and release what we no longer use.

Let's focus on our pantry, where we store our canned and boxed foods. (Perhaps you have a cabinet, cupboard, or shelf, rather than a pantry.

Or, you simply use your countertop or kitchen table top as a "pantry".

So be it. Time to clean it out.

No time, you say?

Like I say in my workshops, it's ok not to be perfect. Do it 5 minutes at a time (or 5 items at a time, like in my Friday Eva's Edict)

Here are some tips to get you started:

1. Do one shelf (or one section) at a time.
Start with the easiest area to get to right now, and clear off one section. Then STOP for today and get on with the rest of your day.

2. Keep going, 5 minutes at a time, ONLY if you have the time and energy to continue today.
Otherwise, it's ok to stop where you are and pick it up the next time. We want to avoid burn-out or creating a bigger mess that we're too tired to clean up.

3. Keep in mind SAFETY.
Ask for assistance if a shelf is too high or too low to reach, or if items are too heavy to carry out. Get an organizing partner to help (family member, friend, your friendly local Professional Organizer, etc.)

4. Have on hand a trash bag and a donate bag (or box).

5. Keep what you use. Really use.
Be realistic, will you really make that one day? Keep what you eat on a regular basis.

6. Toss expired or questionable items.
Look for expiration dates and throw away expired items, even if unopened. Not worth getting sick over.

7. Not sure of the expiration date?
a) Call the consumer telephone number on the item label to double check, or...
b) Simply throw away item if there's a chance it's very old.

8. Donate extra food items or never-used items to local food bank.
Again, be aware of expiration dates. Don't donate questionable or expired items. Look up local food bank online, through the local newspapers, religious organizations, contact local town or county offices, etc.

9. Wipe down, put away.
Wet a rag or paper towel and do a wipe down of the one shelf that you're currently working on. Then put the items that you're keeping, back on the shelf.

10. It's OK Not To Be Perfect.
Don't worry if it's not perfectly put back, or not in order right now, especially if you're short on time. Alphabetizing your spices and lining up labels in the same direction can be done when you have a larger chunk of time on your hands.

The main thing is, we want you to have a usable pantry area and release what you don't use anymore.

You may even find some bonus items that you forgot about and can use to stretch your meals and also save yourself a trip to the grocery store.

Remember:
One shelf at a time, 5 minutes at a time, do what you can, when you can.

Release, release, release.

Let me know how you do! Leave a comment below or Contact Me.

Helping you Sort Things Out, one step at a time!

Regards,

Eva Abreu, www.Sort-Things-Out.com
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