Cleaning out any old or unnecessary items that are cluttering up your fridge will make organizing all the more seamless. It’s time to say goodbye to all those half-empty salsa containers you were saving for your next Taco Tuesday, or any sauces you bought for a specific recipe and haven’t used since.
We recommend repeating this step once a month, or even bi-weekly, to help keep things clean and organized. Once you get into a rhythm, that regular clear out will feel like a no-brainer. It’s also a great way to avoid food waste, as you’ll be on top of exactly what’s in your fridge, and what needs eating up.
3. Store food in the right place.
Before you start organizing your fridge, it’s important to know where to store foods to optimize freshness. This is because fridges actually have different temperature zones: some areas are warmer, while others are cooler.
The top shelf is one of the warmest zones, so it’s best for storing leftovers, ready-made foods, and drinks. Compared to interior shelves and drawers, your fridge door is more susceptible to temperature fluctuations, so it’s best suited to foods that won’t be affected by changes in temperature. Set aside door shelves for condiments, salad dressings, and sauces.
Meanwhile, the lowest sections are coldest, which is why your crisper should be used for fruits and vegetables, middle shelves for dairy, and the lowest shelf for meats. Keeping meat and fish on the lowest shelf will also ensure that any juices from these items don’t drip down onto the shelves below.
But if you do notice a spill, just reach for a Viva® Multi-Surface Cloth™ paper towel!
4. Adjust shelves to optimize space.
Now that you have a sense of what goes where, you can get down to organizing! Adjusting shelves is one of our favorite fridge organization ideas because it doesn’t require buying any new containers or storage systems. Simply moving existing shelves to different heights can help you make more of your fridge space, and create a designated area for different groups of items.
For example, if you want to keep tall soda bottles or juice cartons on your top shelf, shift it downward to allow more space. Or perhaps you have smaller items like yogurt and cheese that can live in a narrower section. Play around with different configurations until you find the one that works best for you.
5. Use bins to group similar items.
Once you’ve optimized shelf height, it’s time to bring in some tools to help keep everything tidy and easily accessible. If you don’t already use bins to organize your fridge, these handy containers are about to become your new best friends. Bins can help you group similar foods into different areas, so you can find what you need without having to root through every shelf.
We love these two-tier fridge organizers, as they keep things in their proper place and maximize space at the same time. Narrow fridge bins can also be super helpful for grouping together bottled items like sauces and condiments.
Beyond bins, there are a whole host of different tools, systems, and gadgets you can try out. One of the smartest fridge organization ideas we’ve discovered is this drinks dispenser, which pushes a fresh can to the front every time one is removed. Pretty nifty!
6. Label your bins.
As you sort all your produce into your brand-new bins and containers, you can even take your fridge organization to the next level by labeling bins with stickers. Write out labels yourself, or try these pre-written fridge labels to make everything look extra sleek.
Labeling the contents of different sections is one of the best fridge organization ideas for when you have friends over, or guests to stay. As they navigate a new kitchen, they’ll be able to easily find a snack or a refreshment whenever they like!
7. Remove produce from plastic packaging.
As you’re putting away your groceries, remember that many produce items stay fresher when you remove them from plastic packaging. That’s because packaging can reduce ventilation and cause a build-up of moisture.
You could even consider shopping at stores that sell loose produce. Try using cloth bags to gather items as you shop, saving these bags to keep your items fresh. Muslin bags are best for storing leafy greens, while cotton and linen bags are the perfect choice for bell peppers, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and eggplant.
We also recommend this TikTok hack for storing fruits, veggies and herbs. Just wash your veggies and immediately wrap them in a Viva® Multi-Surface Cloth™ paper towel to keep them fresher longer in your fridge.
8. Add shelf liners.
Shelf liners are a great solution if you want a little extra peace of mind when it comes to keeping your fridge clean. In addition to protecting shelves from spills, liners can be used to color code different shelves according to what you store there (e.g. green for produce, pink for dairy, etc).
These shelf liners come in three different colors. Plus, they’re wipeable—so if any little spills do occur, you can clean them up quickly with a damp Viva® Multi-Surface Cloth™ paper towel.
The world of fridge organization is truly a wonderland for anyone who cherishes a clean and tidy home. The best thing is, once you’ve taken the first step to create a fridge organization system, it’s super easy to keep things in check. Everything slots easily right into its place—the dream!
We hope you have fun finding your own version of fridge perfection, and enjoy that little spark of joy you get every time you open your fridge!
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