Whether you’re in a rush to get a lunch made or dinner on the table, an overstuffed fridge can really slow you down. A well-organized fridge, on the other hand, can help food stay fresh longer, reduce waste and make meal prep easier. Here are some simple strategies to get your fridge in order.

Give Your Fridge a Fresh Start

Before you go on your next trip to the store, take the time to give your fridge a thorough cleaning out. Check all those condiment bottles, the bottom of the crisper drawer and the back of the fridge, and pull out anything that is no longer fresh. Once you’ve done this, wiped down the shelves, drawers and door, it’s time to get organized.

Use Bins and Trays to Keep Your Fridge Cleaner

Removable, washable plastic trays and bins make it easy to clean up when a container springs a leak — just remove the whole tray and toss it in the sink or dishwasher. Bins are great for corralling groups of items that you would like to store together.

Make it Easier to Keep Track of Leftovers

Keep a roll of masking tape and a felt-tip marker near the fridge for marking leftovers with the date, and you can tell at a glance whether something needs to be used up soon or tossed.

Organize by Temperature to Keep Food Fresh Longer

The door and top shelf are the warmest parts of the fridge. The middle shelves maintain the most consistent temperature, and the bottom back stays the coldest. The drawers usually give you some additional control for humidity, which can affect how long fruits and vegetables stay fresh.

What to Keep Where

◦  Upper shelves: Leftovers, snack foods and drinks

◦  Middle shelves: Eggs, dairy and deli meats

◦  Bottom shelf: Raw meat and fish

◦  Higher humidity drawer: Fresh vegetables

◦  Lower humidity drawer: Fresh fruit

◦  Door: Butter, soft cheeses, condiments, pasteurized juice and fresh herbs

How to Prep Produce

Washing produce when you get home from the market can be a great time-saver when it comes to making dinner on busy weeknights. However, since water can make fresh produce go bad more quickly, be sure to thoroughly dry all fruit and vegetables before putting them in the fridge.

◦  Whole, washed peppers, carrots and celery can be returned to the drawer after being thoroughly dried.

◦  Freshly washed lettuce should be dried as much as possible in a salad spinner and then gently wrapped in paper towels inside a large zip-top plastic bag or food storage container.

◦  If you plan to chop veggies or fruit in advance, store the cut pieces in airtight food storage containers and plan to use them within a few days.

How to Store Fresh Herbs

Ideally, we would all have pots of fresh herbs within arm’s reach of our kitchen. If you do have an herb garden, aim to snip only as much as you need at one time. If you don’t grow your own herbs, try these methods for keeping those bundles of store-bought herbs fresh for as long as possible.

◦  Fresh basil and cilantro can be treated like a bouquet of fresh flowers: Snip the ends, place in a glass of water and store on your counter. This works well with most other soft, long-stemmed herbs as well (such as parsley).

◦  Smaller bundles of herbs can be gently tucked inside a plastic bag, along with a layer of dry paper towels. Keep the whole bundle in the fridge door, where it’s warmest.

What Not to Store in the Fridge

If your fridge is overstuffed, it could be that you’ve been storing some items that would be better off on the counter or in a cool, dark pantry.

◦  Bananas, avocados and any fruit that still needs ripening should be left on the counter.

◦  Tomatoes, melon and delicate, farm-fresh berries taste best when left at room temperature and eaten within a day or two of bringing them home. But if you need them to last longer, stash them in the fridge.

◦  Keep oils, coffee, bread, potatoes, onions and whole heads of garlic in a cool, dark place.

Make Mini Clear-Outs Part of Your Weekly Routine

While planning what to have for dinner in the week ahead, it’s natural to check for ingredients in the fridge. Use this time to straighten up the shelves and do a quick clearing out of old leftovers and items that are past their prime.

With an entire new year is ahead of you, decluttering your home may not seem so hard. But after January, when that new year energy begins to fade, the prospect of tackling big projects tends to be overwhelming.

Try this month-by-month guide for clearing the clutter from each room of your house. Feel free to reorganize this schedule as you see fit.

No matter what, by the end of the year, your home should be feeling more spacious and you will be feeling more capable of maintaining a clutter-free space.

Getting Started: 

Turbocharge Your Decluttering

If you’re feeling inspired and motivated by the new year, take advantage of that energy and spend a few weekends clearing clutter throughout the house. Making noticeable headway will help motivate you to keep up the decluttering effort in the coming months. Try to get the other members of your household onboard — but if they are not interested, don’t try to force it. Hopefully they will see the positive changes happening around the house and help you!

Create a Habit: 

Keep an empty reusable bin in a closet, and use it to put in items you plan to give away.

January: 

Kitchen and Pantry 

Give yourself a fresh start for the new year with a clean kitchen, decluttered cabinets and a healthy pantry and fridge.

*  Toss worn dish towels or cut them up to make rags

*  Sell or give away specialty small appliances and tools you

    seldom or never use

*  Recycle or toss freebie cups and Tupperware containers

    without lids

*  Toss expired food and spices

*  Take stock of cookware and dishes; give away or sell pieces 

    you do not need

Creat a Habit: 

Clean out the pantry and fridge each week before shopping.

February: 

Home Office — Digital Documents and Papers

Get a jump-start on tax time by getting your files (paper and digital) in order.

*  Sort through random stacks of paper; file, shred or recycle everything

*  Streamline your files, shredding any documents you no longer need

*  Use one calendar to keep track of all events

*  Switch to paperless bills and statements if possible

*  Clean out computer files and back up everything, using cloud-based storage and an         external drive

Creat a Habit: 

Sort your mail at the door, tossing junk immediately into a recycling bin.

March: 

Clothes and accessories 

The seasonal transition is a good time to sort through clothing. Sort through winter clothes before storing, and pare back spring and summer clothes as you begin to wear them.

*  Donate or sell clothes, shoes and accessories in good condition

*  Have winter clothes laundered or dry-cleaned before storing until next year

*  Try on all clothes for the upcoming season and give away or sell any items that do not        make you feel good

Creat a Habit: 

As soon as you wear something and notice it doesn’t fit, has a hole or doesn’t flatter you, toss it in a bag in your closet. When the bag is full, donate it.

April: 

Bath, Beauty Products and Medicine Cabinets

Give your daily routine a spring cleaning by sorting through all of those bottles and jars hiding in medicine cabinets, on counters and in drawers.

*  Toss expired makeup and skin-care items, as well as anything you do not use or like

*  Clean drawers and shelves before returning items

*  Store heat- and moisture-sensitive items (medications and some skin-care products)          away from the bathroom

Create a Habit: 

Keep a list of your favorite bath and beauty products and order them online rather than shopping in person. This helps avoid overshopping and impulse purchases.

May: 

Laundry Room, Linen Closet, Cleaning Supplies

Cleaning routines are much easier and more pleasant when the supplies you need are neat and orderly. Sheets, towels and other household linens do not last forever — go through them this month and make some space.

*  Recycle worn-out and stained towels, washcloths, sheets and tea towels at a textile            recycling center.

*  If your child has graduated a bed size, donate the old bedding to charity

*  Clean under sinks and in any cupboards where cleaning supplies are stored. Get rid of      empty containers and products you tried but did not like

Create a Habit: 

Don’t downgrade old towels and sheets to “guest” status. Only keep linens you would personally want to use — get rid of the rest. Your guests deserve better!

June: 

Family Room, Playroom, Media, Art and Schoolwork

The end of the school year is a good time to review collected artwork and school papers, and choose a small number of special pieces to save in a portfolio or document box.

*  Edit schoolwork and art from the past year

*  Gather a bag of DVDs, books and CDs to give away or sell

*  Sort through toys and games; get rid of those your family no longer enjoys, as well as        anything missing key pieces

Create a Habit: 

At the beginning of each school year, pick up a simple art portfolio. When your child brings work home, enjoy all of it for a while, but choose only a few special pieces to put in the portfolio.

July: 

Yard, Shed, Garage and Tools

Being outdoors in the summer makes this a good time to get outdoor tools and equipment in order.

*  Get rid of broken tools and those you no longer need

*  Sort through gardening supplies

*  Toss worn-out outdoor furnishings and decor

*  If you’ve been collecting items to sell, hold a yard sale this month. At the end of the           day, take unsold items to a charity donation center

Create a Habit: 

Keep everything in your garage or shed on shelving, not on the floor. This helps prevent accumulating a pileup of junk and keeps your gear cleaner.

August: 

Photos

Photos seem to be one of the most problematic items for many people to keep organized. Use the lazy days of August to sort through old photos and make books or prints from new ones.

*  Choose a few favorite photos from this year and have them framed

*  Edit digital photos and back up using a cloud service as well as an external drive

*  Make a photo album or book from recent photos

*  Sort through any bins of loose photos and put them in acid-free photo boxes or simple        albums

Create a Habit: 

Take a few extra moments to tag favorite digital photos each time you upload. Then when it’s time to print or make an album, you can go straight to your favorites.

September: 

Mudroom, Entrances and Junk Drawers

Embrace the back-to-school spirit by getting the busiest zones of your house clutter-free this month.

*  Put away stray items in entrances that belong elsewhere

*  Add extra hooks or shelves if you need them

*  Sort through junk drawers, baskets, trays and any other spots that accumulate random      junk

*  Invest in drawer organizers or a wall-mounted organizer to keep small items neat

Create a Habit: 

Do an end-of-day tidy-up of the entryway, putting shoes, coats and random items back where they belong.

October: 

Dining Room and Entertaining Supplies

With the big holidays coming up over the next few months, October is a good time to get ahead of the curve and sort out your entertaining arsenal.

*  Get rid of worn-out and stained tablecloths, placemats and napkins

*  Count your dinnerware and serving pieces and consider whether you have enough, too     much or too little for the amount you entertain

*  Get rid of decor, table linens and serving pieces that you don’t like or that no longer fit        your lifestyle

Create a Habit: 

Just like creating a wardrobe with lots of pieces that work together, think of creating an entertaining wardrobe that you can mix and match, rather than having lots of distinct sets of dishes.

November: 

Hobbies and Crafts

Get ready for holiday crafting and gift wrapping by clearing out your stash and organizing supplies this month.

*  Clean out gift-wrapping supplies, tossing empty tape dispensers, out-of-ink pens and          shreds of gift wrap and ribbon

*  Downsize your craft stash by donating spare fabric scraps, yarn, scrapbooking paper          and other materials — many organizations: schools, retirement centers etc. are happy      to accept donations of craft supplies

*  Keep works in progress together in bags, bins or boxes

Create a Habit: 

Take the time to put away your craft supplies neatly when you are done working. A messy stash makes it more likely you will buy something you already have simply because you couldn’t find it!

December: 

Holiday Items and Decor 

With so much going on around the holidays, it’s wise not to expect too much of yourself when it comes to clutter-clearing. That said, with all of the new gifts coming in, it does make sense to do some paring back to preserve balance in the house.

*  Give away holiday ornaments and decor that you did not use this year, or that you no          longer love

*  Toss broken ornaments and recycle strands of lights that no longer work

*  Exchange or give away gifts you received but know you will never use, and do not like       — don’t keep things out of guilt. The one exception to this rule may be hand-knit                 sweaters. The knitter will never forgive you; that’s just how it is.

Create a Habit: 

Tell friends and family who ask (in advance of the holidays) that you and your family would prefer gifts that are experiential or edible. Most people honestly want to give you something you will like, and are happy for the guidance.

Happy De-cluttering!

As fall is just around the corner, it is time to start transitioning out or our summer clothes and into our fall and winter ones. Now is the perfect time to clean out and reorganize our closets.

Sort

The first step is to take everything out of the closet and make four piles: the Now Pile, for things used or worn often; the Someday Pile, for clothes you might fit into again or might use if an occasion arises; the Never Pile, for things you absolutely never reach for; and the Seasonal Pile, for things used seasonally. Be honest and remember your goal: a clean, well-organized, easy-to-use closet.

Donate

Donate all the garments that no longer fit you and the clothes you don’t wear but hang on to because you paid a fortune for them. Take them to a consignment shop or sell them on an online store. Check your local thrift store to make sure they are accepting donations and how many you can take at a time.

The next step is a tough one. Move everything from the Someday Pile into the Never Pile. This is the hardest step. But you can do it. 

Sort Again

For most people, the Never Pile is often much bigger than expected. It’s normal for the Never Pile to amount to 40% or more of the items in your closets, that’s a lot of closet space wasted.

At this point, the purge is not quite finished. Once we see how much space we can free up by eliminating unwanted, unnecessary and unused stuff, we’re often motivated to go further. It’s time to look for “never” and “someday” items hiding in the Now Pile.

Think Fast

Act quickly, while motivation and resolve remains strong, place everything from the Never Pile in large trash bags for donation, resale or sharing. Be strong. Keep moving forward and trust your first instincts. Next, get the bags out of your way by temporarily relocating them to the garage, guest room, basement or attic.

Seasonal Strategies

Pack up seasonal stuff in clear plastic bins with big, easy-to-read labels that let you know what’s inside. Store them out of sight in an easily accessible place.

When storing seasonal clothes, wash and dry-clean out-of-season clothes before you put them in storage, because antiperspirant, cologne and makeup residue attracts insects. Make sure items are dry before you store them. Dampness leads to mildew and a musty smell. Never store clothes in plastic bags like those from dry cleaners. Store them in cotton zip-up bags. No mothballs. No exceptions.

Home Stretch

Dust or vacuum before you put anything back in the closet. Dust mites destroy fabric, and they are horrible for people with allergies.

After the closet is empty and clean, you’re heading for the home stretch. Don’t repeat old mistakes. Wooden, plastic, padded or flocked hangers are best for maintaining the shape of a garment. Make sure you shop for hangers with a nice, elongated hook and contoured shoulders. The longer hooks will help keep your collars in shape. The contoured shoulders mirror human shoulders and will help keep the garment in shape. Keep in mind, too, that slim hangers create more space on the rod.

Choose clip or clamp-style hangers with felt or foam cushioning to hold skirts and pants in plush fabrics such as corduroy, velour or velvet. Tube style, open-ended hangers are a great choice for pants.

Group Think

When it comes to determining what goes where, group “like” things together for ease and simplicity. Long-sleeved shirts, short-sleeved shirts and sleeveless shirts all belong in the shirt section. Bottoms such as skirts and pants also get their own section. You can also group clothes according to color, function, work or occasion.

One More Thing

After a week or so of appreciating how much quicker and easier it is to live with a well-organized closet full of things you actually use, it’s time to deal with the sequestered bags from the Never Pile. But it’s important to remember this: Do. Not. Open. Not even a peek.

Can you remember what’s inside them? The answer is probably no. These items have served you well, but it’s time to move on. Resist the urge to open the bags one last time. Drop them off at a thrift store, recycling them or sell them online. Let them have a new life with people who will use them. Then move on.

Enjoy your newly organized waredrobe!

• Will I read or use this again?
• Does it have sentimental meaning to make it worth keeping?
• Do I want it here so visitors can enjoy it?
• Do I know someone who would like/could use it?