We are organizing the fridge…again. My fridge stays fairly organized until the holidays. During the holidays every system that I have in place goes out the window and the priority becomes making space for the ham or the casserole. This is how my fridge looked after hosting Thanksgiving, a Christmas Day brunch, a small New Year’s party and a New Year’s Day brunch. My fridge needed some love (and soap!).
The picture below was taken at night so the lighting is horrible. I wasn’t intentionally trying to make the before pic look bad. Totally off-topic, but isn’t it funny how people always have to look miserable in those before pics before they start a diet? They are never smiling. Can’t they also be happy pre-diet?
But I digress.
So the next morning I decided to empty my fridge and give it a good clean. I spot clean the fridge all the time, but sometimes deep cleaning is necessary, and this was one of those times. Almost all the drawers, bins and shelves in my refrigerator are removable and they are easy to clean. I am always surprised how much food falls through the back of the bins in between cleanings.
Once the refrigerator was clean, I added some FridgeCoasters to line every bin and shelf. I have been purchasing these for years and they really help to keep the fridge clean from spills and (almost more importantly) they are so cute! I change them out every year and chose a new color. This year I ordered 2 different colors (gray and blue) and I think I will do that from now on because I love how they look!
Note: There is a FridgeCoaster giveaway and discount code at the end of this post!
When the fridge is empty is a great opportunity to move the shelves (if adjustable) to the best positioning for the items that you purchase. So many times we leave things the way that the manufacturer placed them, instead of taking advantage of the adjustable shelving.
Once the shelves are where I want them, I add all the food back. I had not shopped for our regular food items for a few weeks, since I was making space for all the food I needed during the holidays.
I also added fridge bins
I did get rid of a few condiments that were expired and I tried to put back the good ones into the fridge with like items. Fun fact – I don’t even like mustard. I do use it for cooking sometimes but my husband is a mustard fan and apparently he has enough to last for the rest of 2016.
One thing that I purchase frequently is asparagus. I always keep a wide-mouth cup with a little water to store it and it seems to last longer. Also, I like that I see it and it doesn’t get lost in the crisper bin until it’s past it’s time.
This refrigerator model originally came with 2 bins on this side and a butter bin (the one with the little retractable door). I eventually got rid of that butter bin since I prefer to keep my butter in the deli drawer and I ordered another regular-sized bin online. There are a few websites that you can input your appliance model/serial number and then choose what you would like to purchase. In this case, I added the top bin that I use for chicken stock cartons.
Another shot of this organized fridge so that I can at least document that once upon a time all the cans faced forward.
I know that not everyone keeps oranges in the refrigerator but since I often juice them, I like to keep them cold. Also, I keep a bin within the drawer to separate items. Otherwise, everything in that big drawer ends up mixed. Also, this keeps produce from getting damaged by heavier items.
I have a fridge bin
Here is a closeup of the deli drawer. There is so much butter and cheese that was left over from the holidays! I can’t possibly consume that much leftover cheese? Just kidding. I can and I will. Then I will go on a diet, but not before taking a before picture with a miserable look on my face. 🙂
One more exciting detail…a giveaway! FridgeCoaster will be giving two winners – two Fridge Packs of their choice! Follow the prompts to be entered into the giveaway. You do not have to complete all the prompts to enter the giveaway, but each one will better your chances of winning, since you will have more entries. So no worries if you don’t have an Instagram or Pinterest account, you can still enter by leaving a comment.
If you want to order them for your fridge, they have also generated a special discount code for all Graceful Order readers – just enter SWEET16 at checkout and save 16% off your order!
Thanks for the Fridge coaster idea, those are easier I’m sure to pull out and clean when needing to wipe a spill than having to pull a whole bin.
Hi Stacey! The coasters are extremely absorbent but they do eventually get dirty and have to be replaced. I only do it once a year and it keeps my fridge free of spills. When I change my fridge water filter, I change them too.
I like the fridge coasters, too. I’ll also see if those dividers will fit in my deli drawer.
There is nothing better than an organized fridge! I wish the rest of my family agreed with that so I didn’t have to do it so often! 🙂
I’m so glad you posted this! I spent a half hour this morning searching Amazon for fridge liners and the only hits I got were either plain white or kind of ugly. I kept thinking “I know I’ve seen cuter options than this!” Once I saw your post, I searched instead for Fridge Coasters and there they were!
Glad I could help. I love those clear containers for the fridge!
Your fridge looks great! Those fridge coasters are too cute!
Thank you, Emilie!
Now you have me motivated to go organize my fridge!
Yay!
I love these! And I really need to try the bin idea. SO much more organized.
What a great looking fridge. I need to get some of those supplies and do the same thing to mine.
I just love an organized fridge! Yours looks great, and i’m inspired to freshen mine up now.
I love these. We recently had to purchase a new fridge and I’ve worked hard to keep it looking pretty and organized. These would be wonderful!!!
This is motivating me to clean up our fridge! My husband does most of the cooking in our house – so I’ll have to run it by him first 😉 Great post!!
Thank you! Having the fridge organized makes cooking easier.
1-How can you not like mustard? 2-I LOVE the presentation of the asparagus! 3-The defrosting bin, genius, need to do this ASAP.
Haha! Well, the dijon, just a little. #ImWeird
Great tips! I’m totally using your asparagus idea!
I need to do this so badly! I love the defroster tray.
Your fridge looks great! I LOVE the organization! I’m in total organization mode and getting a new fridge and would love have some help keeping my fridge organized! I love the FridgeCoaster products!
Looks amazing…now to do it!
Haha! You can do it!
You have the same fridge as me and I’m always looking for new creative ways to stay organized. I love the turntable idea in the fridge. I have a spare one and I’m totally giving it a try.
That is a great idea to move the shelves around. I need to do that more often. Great way to utilize the space.
Looks great! I’ve always wanted to try the fridge coasters since they are both functional and decorative.
Such good ideas! I am going to get a defrosting/thawing bin tomorrow!
Nice fridge clean up – I just tried to do the same, but my fridge is way too small. Getting rid of excess is the only answer. The problems of apartment living…
These would be great!
LOL!!! You have the same mustard issue as us! I did this fridge post a little while ago and had to actually add labels to my fridge to contain the mustard. Insanity! http://missfrugalfancypants.com/an-organized-fridge-less-waste/
And I just realized I completely forgot to mention the fridge coasters and the lazy susan…oops! Although, I’m beginning to not love the lazy susan. We still have too much stuff so things fall overboard when you spin it. 🙁
I love the liners, they look awesome and bet they help keep the fridge extra clean.
I just did an organising fridge blog post as well …
http://livingorganised.blogspot.com.au/2016/01/organising-fridge.html
I would love to know the website you used to get the extra door drawer I wonder whether they post to Australia?
Thank you, Kerry. I just saw your post and I love the before and after pictures and how you labeled your bins! Also, the website that I purchased the extra drawer from is http://www.partselect.com and I don’t know if they ship outside of the U.S.