I need some help in my pantry. It is such a mess. When going grocery shopping we end up having multiples of items because I have no idea if we already have the stuff – or not.
Meal planning is a real chore and it has gotten expensive because I have no idea what I have on hand and what I need to purchase. Gadzooks!!
The first thing I did was look online to see what videos are available to give me some guidance into this matter. I found a very helpful video I would like to share with you. A word of caution. This is something that takes a lot of time to do. Like several hours, in fact.
Video link about organizing a pantry.
As the lady says…begin by emptying your pantry.
Empty the pantry
Holy COW!! All of this stuff was behind that door?!
All over the counter
Every flat surface is covered
The items that don’t get used frequently, and are large go on the floor. That means Joe’s wine stash is the first stuff to go back in. After the racks, bottles, and boxes have been wiped down of dust.
Oh, I also cleaned off all the shelves first, then swept and mopped the floor.
Wine by color
I don’t drink wine so I have no idea what each of these are. I think I will stack them by their colors. The racks are from IKEA and we have had these for a number of years.
Joe has a penchant for the wines from Casa de Fruta in Hollister, California. Every time we are near there we have to stop. Joe doesn’t drink much wine but he sure likes to collect it. Don’t ask me why, he just does and I’m not going to complain….just yet 
The wines are back in the pantry on the floor and under the bottom shelf.
Wines put away
Now THAT was the easy part. The hard part was next. Sorting through the mess and putting things in “like” order. Canned goods, baking goods, cooking items, spices, beverages, and so on.
I started with the canned goods.
Canned goods
Next is to check all the expiration dates on each can. Sort the out dated cans from the mess.
Can of pumpkin
Ooops. Quite a bit out of date this can of pumpkin is.
Out of date
There was not a lot of canned goods that were out of date. I was surprised.
Out of date cans
The next part was to sort the cans into what was inside them. Putting like with like. I also watched for the expiration dates on the cans and put the ones with a longer use by date at the back with the ones to be used first in the front or on top of similar cans.
Canned goods back on the shelf
All cans stored
The next shelf I determined would hold the things I use more frequently. Pastas, sauces, cooking oils, and things like that.
Pastas and sauces
I did the same with all of these items as I did with the canned goods. Check the expiration dates. The fancy items had expired.
Expired items
Expired for quite some time. I thought about keeping the jars for storage in my craft room but changed my mind. I already have a flaming mess in there and I’m not going to add more junk to it.
Really expired
I have several bags of opened noodles. Currently they fall off the shelf when I take something out and I have to chase them down. I also have a ginormous glass jar that is free since I went through our “medicine cabinet” a few days ago.
The stray packs of beans and opened bags of noodles would fit well in that big jar.
Opened bags of pasta
Opened bags now contained
I found a bottle of vinegar that has expired. I’m not going to toss that out just yet. I’ll put it to use in clearing my kitchen drain.
Vinegar
Expired vinegar
1/4 cup of baking soda poured down the kitchen drain.
1/4 cup bakin soda
Pour baking soda down drain
Followed by salt. Salt will act like an abrasive as it gets worked through the drain. Scouring away the built up grease in the pipes.
Scant 1/4 cup salt
Pour the salt over the top of the baking soda down the drain.
Pour salt into drain
Make sure you have the drain open in the other sink before you add the vinegar. Things are going to get foamy.
1 cup of vinegar
Any vinegar will work. This particular kind had expired is why I’m using the Cider Vinegar and not the white vinegar.
Pour the vinegar atop the salt and baking soda.
Pour the vinegar over the salt and baking soda
Let it bubble up and leave it do the magic until you hear, and see, the mixture go down the drain.
Pour all the vinegar down the drain
Leave this mixture sit to do its work. Do not add any water. You will hear the mixture make a “glug” sound and you will see it finally emptying.
Let the drain empty on its own
If you drain cooking fats from your pans down the sink it is advisable to have a tea kettle heating up to boiling with clear water in it. Once the drain empties pour the boiling water down the drain to melt the fat solids that have taken up residence in your pipes.
I don’t let fats or oils go down my drain. I dump them out into empty cans and then put the cans in the trash. So I will run the sink with hot water then quickly pull the plug. Ouchy.
Fill the sink with hot water
Then flush the drain with the hot water.
Flush the drain with hot water
Here is the BEFORE shots.
Before shot 1
Before shot 2
And now AFTER:
After shot 1 top
After shot 2 top
After shot 1 bottom
After shot 2 bottom
The door
Now, I think I will go take a nap 
That whole exercise just wiped me out. All I have to say is “Thank goodness THAT is done”.
Joe has left today for Dallas, Texas and he will be going to Akron, Ohio. It is strange not having him around in the house. It is too quiet and we aren’t bumping into each other in the kitchen.
Honey Bunny…if you are reading this blog post I have a message for you. “You take care of my Man and come home safely. I love you and miss you already”.
He whacked himself instead of the board. Don’t tell him I’m giggling right now or it will hurt his feelings 
