It’s Organizing Week here at House Outlook! Get ready for decluttering techniques, space-saving solutions, and efficient storage ideas. Our goal is to help you go from overwhelmed to organized, one practical hack at a time.
Pushing the boundaries and straying from tradition is something you often see in the art world, from Picasso’s abstract paintings to Ai Weiwei’s avant-garde sculptures. But there are also those who push boundaries in the kitchen, specifically when it comes to organizing their refrigerators. KC Davis, a licensed professional therapist and TikTok creator (@domesticblisters), sorts her fridge in an untraditional manner that cuts down on food waste in a major way. Here’s how you can do it too.
Eat With Your Eyes
The idea behind this organizing method is keeping perishable food at eye level or in plain sight. For instance, store fresh vegetables on the door shelves instead of tucking them away in a drawer, where you risk forgetting about them. Being reminded of these foods helps you use them before they spoil, saving you money and reducing waste. Here are some other sorting tips to encourage you to use what you have on hand.
First, many people store condiments on the shelves inside the door, but all those jars and bottles take up valuable space. This is why you should relocate condiments to one of the lower drawers. Condiments typically have longer shelf lives than produce, so you don’t need to worry about them spoiling as quickly. When you need a condiment, you’ll know it’s there and go looking for it, rather than being reminded of it each time you open the refrigerator door.
With all of that space freed up inside the door, this is where you should store any fruits or veggies that may soon go bad. Although this spot experiences temperature fluctuations, if your veggies always end up rotting in the crisper drawer anyway, putting them where you can actually see them might be more effective.
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Similar to condiments, meat can also be stored in a dedicated drawer. Since it’s the main ingredient in many recipes, you’re more likely to seek it out. Plus, a drawer helps contain any leaks, making cleanup easier.
For everything else, try to avoid stacking food too deeply in the fridge, even if you have the space. If you tuck drinks and snacks behind other drinks and snacks, then you may forget about them. As a general rule, place perishables as close to eye level as possible without any visual obstructions. Adding lazy Susans allows you to store more items within easy reach at the front. Automatic drink dispensers, divided snack bins, and rolling egg holders also keep items in sight, encouraging you to use them.
Use This Hack Elsewhere
The benefits of keeping items at eye level and in plain sight extends to other rooms, too, such as the bathroom or den. For example, place skin care products front and center in your medicine cabinet so you’re reminded to use them (this is especially helpful if you often forget to apply sunscreen). Or put that book you’ve been meaning to read in a prominent spot on the bookshelf so you see it whenever you walk by.
