Are you the kind of person who gets excited about spring cleaning every year and bounces out of bed like a child on Christmas Day? Or are you quite the opposite?
Whichever group you fall into, there are ways to make pantry cleaning a much easier and faster job than ever. No one wants to spend all weekend cleaning up their pantries, right?
Read on to see 5 tips on deep cleaning your pantry.
1. Remove Everything Out of the Pantry First
Even if you think this is going overboard, the best way to clean and organize your pantry is by taking everything out of it first. Yes, it might take a bit of extra time, rather than perfunctorily cleaning around it.
But it’s well worth it when you see how organized and efficient your pantry becomes after. Remember that you are more likely to use the food in your pantry if it’s well organized and easy to reach.
2. Sanitize and Clean Your Empty Shelves
Once your pantry shelves are free and clear, that’s when you can wash and sanitize them with soap and water. You can either use a mild detergent mixed with warm water or use commercial sanitizing wipes.
You can even make your own sanitizing agent using bleach. But whatever you use, make sure to let your shelves dry before putting items back into them.
3. Check the Expiry Dates for Items
This is the one thing that you are probably not going to look forward to. Think about how many items you’ve purchased and never used that sit at the back of your pantry shelves, lonely and forgotten.
Ensure that you don’t skip this step. It’s quite crucial. Once you know how many items are still valid and not expired, you will feel like you’ve got a new lease on your kitchen.
Remember to test your spices as well, to see how fresh and aromatic they still are.
4. Use a Permanent Marker in the Future
To ensure that you stay on top of your pantry items, use a permanent marker to mark the top of your pantry items with the date of purchase.
And always place the older items in the front, so you follow the FIFO (First In First Out) rule of food management.
5. Don’t Store Food Items by Stove, Dishwasher, or Sink
Finally, if you have any pantry items stored in damp, humid, or temperature variant places, then remove them and place them somewhere else.
Remember that non-perishable food items should ideally be stored between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Pantry Cleaning Doesn’t Have to Be a Monstrous Task
If you are dreading pantry cleaning in the spring, remember that it doesn’t have to such an arduous and foreboding task. In fact, it can be quite a pleasant way to spend a few hours.
Think about how much money you would save in the future on grocery bills if your pantry was well-organized. That alone should motivate you to get started.
If you are still not convinced, then think about hiring a professional cleaning service that will take care of your deep cleaning and spring cleaning needs. Contact Lemon Blossom Cleaning Services today!
