Do you struggle to keep your refrigerator organized?

I have found that refrigerators and pantries are two of the hardest places in the home to keep decluttered and organized because they are ever-changing. It’s unlikely that we’re buying the exact same ingredients every week when we go to the grocery store which makes having an organized food storage system somewhat of a challenge.

That’s why I encourage you to do a weekly refrigerator reset, and I’m walking you through the exact steps I take to make that happen every weekend in our home.

If after listening to this episode or reading the blog, you decide that you love the idea of resetting your kitchen, I want you to go grab my Simplify Your Kitchen decluttering tutorial. You’ll get over 30 step-by-step videos to declutter and simplify your kitchen so that keeping an organized home is as simple as a reset.

Now if you know yourself and you know you need more than just some videos to really make some changes in your home, I want you to email me to grab a free 15-minute phone call with me.

It’s an old fashion talk on the actual phone kind of call. And don’t worry, I am super easy to talk to. I just want to hear your story and see how I can possibly help you make some changes in your home.

I’ve been working with my client Tearra for over 3 weeks now, and I’ve successfully helped her declutter and organize both her kids’ bedrooms and her home office through our virtual coaching sessions.

Sometimes we just need a little help and accountability to create the kind of clutter-free home we really want. If this is something you want to chat about, again, email me to schedule a free consultation call.

Alright, let’s chat about how to declutter and reset your refrigerator on a weekly basis.

Step #1: Designate a refrigerator reset day.

Pick a day when the refrigerator is at its lowest capacity.

I usually declutter my refrigerator on Saturday or Sunday because I create my new meal plan, make my grocery list, and restock our food supplies with all the food that I need for the upcoming week.

Meal planning makes your life easier!

Meal planning will break the habit of overbuying and wasting food. It will also simplify your daily routines of meal prepping and cooking. You won’t have to wonder what’s for dinner.

If you want my worksheets and a step-by-step tutorial on meal planning grab my Simplify Your Kitchen online course.

Meal planning has simplified our evening routine and has helped me reset my kitchen in the evening as well. I teach you a simple evening reset in the Simplify Your Kitchen course so go check it out and get started today!

Stick with your weekly routine even if you have food leftover.

Even though you have a designated refrigerator reset day if you find that you did not eat some of the meals that you plan for, I would still reset the refrigerator on that day and only add a couple of extra meals into the plan that you’re creating for this week.

This method will keep you from overbuying and creating a cluttered refrigerator. Try to always reset your refrigerator on the same day of the week. Consistency creates habits!

Need help decluttering?

---

Step #2: Systemize your cleaning routine.

I follow three steps when I’m preparing for my refrigerator reset.

1. Clear off my kitchen counters to create a workspace.
2. Empty the dishwasher or start a sink of soapy water. I personally don’t use my dishwasher so it’s always handwashing for me.
3. Wipe down the outside of my refrigerator. It’s always easier to clean in a clean space.

Use a consistent system when you are decluttering and organizing your home.

Anytime, I am working with a client to declutter and organize their home, we always start with a clear workspace. Then, I teach my clients are two systemize their approach to decluttering.

My approach to decluttering is to always start from the doorway and work our way right to left or left to right. I use this same approach with cleaning. Outside to inside. Top to bottom. Left to right or right to left.

A consistent method or system helps people who can’t stay focused.

If you have a hard time staying focused so that you can complete a task, this approach to cleaning and decluttering is especially helpful.

In last week’s post, I shared with you how to organize your clothes for those with ADHD. Using a systematic approach to cleaning is helpful for people with ADHD or difficulty staying focused.

If you are someone who wants to increase your productivity and get tasks done completely or on time, you need to systemize your home management. It has been a game changer for me as someone who struggles to stay focused, and I know it will help you as well.

Again, the preparation for decluttering your refrigerator is to clear the counters, empty the dishwasher or fill up the sink with soapy water, and to wipe down the outside of the refrigerator.

Step #3: Declutter and clean the refrigerator.

Once you have completed the prep work for organizing your refrigerator, we are now going to clean out the refrigerator using the following steps:

1. Get rid of old or expired food. Most of the Tupperware containers with leftover will need to be removed, discarded and washed.
2. Wipe down the inside of the refrigerator. Since you’re going to be completing your refrigerator reset on a weekly basis, wiping down the inside of the refrigerator should be fairly easy.
3. Group all like or similar items and decide where they need to be stored base on food-safety and ease of use.

Refer to these graphics to see how I store food in my refrigerator.

Step #4: Access what you have for the week to come and create a meal plan and shopping list. 

Now that your refrigerator is decluttered and cleaned, make a list of all the meals you can make with the ingredients you currently have on hand. Add these meals to your meal plan.

Then, fill in the day with meals your family will enjoy. Make sure you take your family’s evening activities into consideration and plan accordingly. Even if you have sports in the evening, you can still have a home-cooked meal with just a little bit of planning and preparation.

If you want step-by-step guidance in learning how to meal plan, I walk you through my meal planning system in the Simplify Your Kitchen tutorial videos. You’ll also get my meal planning worksheets to print, fill out and keep in your home management binder. Grab that course and make meal planning a whole lot easier for yourself.

4 Steps to Reset Your Refrigerator Weekly

1. Designate a refrigerator reset day
2. Systemize your reset routine. Prepare a workspace by clearing the counter, emptying the dishwasher, and wiping down the front of the refrigerator
3. Declutter and clean the refrigerator.
4. Access what you have and plan your meals for the upcoming week.

pin it

I’d love to hear from you!

Do you have a routine for resetting your refrigerator? What is the biggest struggle you have with keeping your refrigerator organized?

You May Also Like

• The Best Digital Calendar Habits for ADHD
• Step #1 to Better Time Management for ADHD Moms
• How a Freeze Creates Better Spending Habits for ADHD
• 5 Simple ADHD Tips – How to Stick with Routines
• How to Make a Decluttering Plan – Basic Steps for ADHD Moms

This post may contain affiliate links in which case I earn a commission. You can read my full disclosure policy here.