Friday, July 1, 2011

Cleaning out the Pantry

One of the first steps in my pantry challenge (you can read about it here) was cleaning out the pantry. Novel idea, isn't it? I've toiled away most of the morning, here is pretty much what it looked like when I started:




It's a picture I took a few weeks ago but it gives you an idea of what I started with.  Cleaning the pantry is always a little overwhelming and creates a plethora of emotions.  I'm disgusted by our wastefulness.  I'm frustrated with my inability to manage something seemingly so simple.  Seeing our leftover Gingerbread House supplies brings a smile to my face.  I feel ambitious when I see all the things I could bake if I had 100 hours.  Need I go on?

Here are some of the things I've discovered buried in the depths of the pantry.

2 opened (large) bottles of cinnamon
2 opened (large) bottles of Pepto Bismol
3 (yes - 3) packages of toothpicks. 
3 packages of muffin tins
6 half filled packages of dog treats
2 cans and 4 sticks of Crisco (which I rarely use)
1 can of tuna - can you believe it after the stack you see in the before picture?

Need I go on?  The good news is I have cleaned out the pantry and feel like I have a fresh start.  We'll see how good I am at keeping it this clean.  Maybe I should have a weekly posting on the status of my pantry.  Nothing keeps you on your toes like strangers seeing your pantry!  Here is my after picture.




I'll be linking this over at A Slob Comes Clean,  I'm an Organizing Junkie and Organize with Sandy, I'd encourage you to go over and check out those sites.

What are your tips for keeping your pantry clean?

5 comments:

  1. Hi! I came over from the Pantry Challenge. Loved looking at your pantry. Can't help but wonder why you have Pepto Bismol in your pantry, LOL!

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  2. Doesn't everyone keep their Pepto Bismol in their pantry? :) We keep all of our medicine in the pantry since we don't have any medicine cabinets in the bathrooms. It's the easiest, most convenient place to keep it. The downside is it gets lost in our pantry mess!

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  3. another simple way to help organize would be to put a back of the door clear shoe organizer up to put all your baking accessories and/or spices in - puts all those little things in an organized place!

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  4. That would be a good idea. I've been struggling with the spices a little. Every time I turn around my husband is bringing a new seasoning into the house without finishing the others!

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