Hello Friends,

With temperatures hitting over 115 degrees this week, you may feel claustrophobic by being constantly trapped indoors with restless kids, surrounded by a cluttered home. 

Over the years, I've realized it is most difficult for parents to keep their kitchen organized during the summer months. When our routines change, it's easy to start letting little things slip through the cracks.

Between the kids rummaging through the refrigerator and pantry for endless snacks and trying to keep them entertained with various activities and DIY projects, the kitchen can start to reflect how you feel. 

In this newsletter, I'll share my favorite tips and tricks for creating and keeping an organizing kitchen, making the transition back into the school year a little easier. 

Enjoy! :)

An organized fridge can help you save money and help your family make better food choices. Did you know that parts of your refrigerator are warmer and colder than others? The top shelf and door tend to be the warmest, while the middle and bottom shelves get progressively cooler. Putting everything in its proper place can help your food last a little longer and avoid spending more at the grocery store.

I always suggest removing the packaging from your food and using clear matching containers to group and organize your items by category. After grouping, arrange the shelves by putting the items you want to consume first, front and center. It's way too easy to forget about things like apples, berries and eggs because they're hidden at the back of a shelf or under a lid. 

(Un)Package the Pantry

The kitchen pantry can be a battleground – things get lost, food gets stuffed behind other food, so you end up not knowing what you’ve got and buying more of the same thing. A key to pantry organization is keeping your foods visible.

A stair stepper for your canned food can be helpful to see all the cans. Pantries often have deep corners where things can get lost. Take advantage of every inch of your pantry with a lazy Susan. It allows you to utilize the corners without losing items in their depths. 

I also like to group everything in bins or baskets to help see what you have and find the things you need. I love to pull items, like snacks, out of their boxes and group them together in baskets. This lets me see when I need to restock and makes it easier for the kids to go grab items for themselves. 

Storing Spices

I love my spices and always want them easily accessible when cooking. I find cooking is much easier when I have them organized and ready to go!

Start by alphabetizing them. There's a reason that's how they're organized at the grocery store. Not only will it make them more accessible, but you are also less likely to purchase duplicates when you can see them. Try lining them up in a cabinet or drawer close to the stove for easier access. 

Pro Tip: Don't store your spices directly above a heat source or in direct light. Both can damage your spices.

Gadget Guru

Are you drawn to all of those shiny new gadgets at the store? How many of these gadgets are sitting in your drawer unused? Take the time to look in your kitchen drawers and pull out all those gadgets you thought would be so much fun. If you do not remember the last time you used it, set it aside for donation. This will make room in your gadget drawer for those that are helpful to you.

I’m always telling my clients that they only use 20% of their gadgets 80% of the time! That rule holds for everything else in your life. Remember the next time you see that shiny new gadget begging you to purchase it at the store!

Are you interested in some of my favorite kitchen organization gadgets? Check out my blog, Kitchen Organizers and Tips for Your Tupperware, Lids, and Pantry. 

Dejunking the Junk Drawer

Your kitchen junk drawer is the catch-all for things that don’t otherwise have a home, but that doesn’t mean it has to be disorganized. Start by emptying the drawer, so you can see what you need and what you can toss- like dead pins, broken pencils, etc.

You can see what organizational system will work best for your junk drawer. There are organizers that expand to the size of your drawer, or you could use different-sized bins that can be arranged like a puzzle to fit.

REMEMBER: Organization should be flexible to fit you and your needs.

Making Memories All Summer Long

The kitchen is the heart of the home. It's where you and your family make those memories that last a lifetime.

My team and I are organizing pros, and we can help you be on your way to memory lane. We can help you and your family by instilling unique organizing systems and techniques specific to your home.  

Give our team of professional organizing consultants a call at (480) 297-7355 to schedule a free consultation and Get Organized with Bridges + CO.

Quote of the Month

"If you can organize your kitchen, you can organize your life."

- Louis Parrish

LET'S CONNECT.

If you want to get more decluttering, organizing and cleaning tips, connect with me on social media!

Bridges Conner,

Owner & Founder of Get Organized with Bridges + CO 

480-297-7355     

getorganizedwithbridges.com