Ways To Declutter Pantry Spaces: Tips You Need To Know

Are your pantry items starting to pile up? It may be time to start decluttering some of your canned goods, spices, and unused boxes. Clearing out pantries can help you stay organized and make kitchen goods easily accessible for your entire family.

Still, where should you start?

The decluttering process may seem simple on paper, but it can be challenging without the right tips. Below, volunteers specializing in donation transportation explain everything you need to know about decluttering your pantry. Consider the following information, then schedule a bulk item pickup for a charity near you.

Why Do You Need To Declutter Your Pantry?

Have you ever had snack containers or other objects fall on you while digging through an overstuffed pantry? If so, you probably understand why it is important to declutter your food cupboards.

People sometimes feel overwhelmed after purchasing new pans, spices, or baking items from the store. They may worry that they do not have the space to keep these products in their kitchens.

A decluttered pantry space helps you organize snacks, Tupperware, and other kitchen appliances without stress. French chefs even have a term to describe kitchen storage discipline – mise en place – or “Everything has its place.” Enjoy the cooking process, knowing you will not cause a mess when you go to grab something off the shelf.

A clean pantry also helps you locate and remove items well past their expiration dates.

What Is the Easiest Way To Declutter a Pantry?

So, you’ve decided it’s time to start clearing your pantry. You may wonder, “What is the easiest way to complete this task?”

Some people choose the nuclear option: throw everything out and start from scratch. However, getting rid of all your items can be wasteful, especially if you have food or containers in their original packaging. Instead, consider taking the process slowly.

Depending on how much you own, you may be able to declutter your pantries within an hour, or it may take a couple of days.

Steps To Decluttering Your Pantry Space

Follow these seven simple steps to make your decluttering experience hassle-free:

Plan Before You Begin

Open your pantry and look at the current layout. Count shelves and create a written outline of how you would like to organize all your items.

For example, you could categorize your pantry into sections. Designate canned goods, storage containers, and snacks to their own shelves. This way, the whole family can immediately find what they need just by opening the cupboard.

However, as you create your decluttering plan, you may notice a problem: You don’t have enough shelf space for everything. In this situation, you’ll need to purge your pantry.

Take Out the Stuff You Won’t Use

Do you have ingredients in your pantry that you will never use again? Perhaps you have extra containers that are accumulating dust. Why keep these things in your cupboards?

Check the best-by date on all your containers and throw out any expired food. Also, clear shelves of utensils or items you could store in a kitchen drawer instead.

Before you fill up your trash bag, set aside items that you could donate to those in need. Many charities accept unopened food cans, clear containers, and other helpful kitchen items like plasticware and paper towels.

Check Plastic Dishes and Glassware

As you declutter your pantry, you may encounter broken or chipped dishware. It’s worth recycling these items if they are unfit for use. If you have older mugs, plates, and bowls, consider getting rid of a few and seeing how you get along without them.

Some people have a sentimental attachment to their dishware. However, it may surprise you how much space these items can take up in the house. If you only have four or five people living at home, you don’t need to keep a dozen plates or more.

Hold on to a few extra dishes for guests, then recycle or donate the rest.

Don’t Forget About Your Appliances

Many people keep large appliances in their cupboards. However, these objects sometimes take up the most shelf space. Consider moving blenders, coffee makers, and bulky items to other storage containers.

For example, many ovens have bottom drawers to store items like pots and pans. It’s best to put compact items, like snack boxes, on smaller shelves while saving room on larger shelves for appliances.

Some people keep daily use appliances, like toasters, on their countertops. This strategy may help you declutter your pantry, but avoid putting too many things on cooking surfaces. You should have the freedom to navigate your food preparation space without appliances getting in the way.

Dust and Clean Your Pantry

Once you have your items organized, clean the inside of your pantry before putting anything back. These spaces can become very dirty after months or years of neglect.

Dirt, dust, and grime can accumulate on food at the back of your cupboards. If you leave expired food in the pantry, you may also find mold while you declutter. Use soap and warm water to eliminate these unhealthy elements.

Remember that pests, like cockroaches and mice, can hide in cluttered spaces. Keep your kitchen clean to discourage these little trespassers from making your pantry their home.

Temporarily Label Shelves

If you struggle to figure out where things go after reorganizing, create small labels for your shelves. This strategy helps you and your family keep things in the right places while getting used to your new setup.

Think of Ideas To Maximize Your Pantry Storage

Converting an unused closet or rolling cart into a makeshift pantry can be helpful if you don’t have room in your existing cupboards. Spend some time shifting things around and being creative with your kitchen to maximize your available space. You may discover room on your walls for a new shelf or cupboard.

Benefits of an Organized Pantry

Reducing clutter in the home can be challenging, but well worth the effort. Enjoy access to more shelf space and save time during the day with fewer kitchen items to clean.

Clutter can be embarrassing when guests come over. Pantry work eliminates the worry and keeps your home looking its best.

Lastly, organizing your pantry gives you an opportunity to give unused items to others. Even a few canned goods could be helpful to a family that struggles with food insecurity.

How To Keep Your Pantry Organized

If you think decluttering a pantry is a difficult task, keeping it organized can be more challenging.

Are you someone who accumulates a lot of dishware and food over time? Breaking away from this lifestyle habit takes dedication. Try to avoid collecting more stuff than you need while shopping.

Ask yourself, “Do I have space for this in my pantry?”

If you must buy new items, consider replacing older ones at home to save room on the shelf. After decluttering, you may find it easier to clean your pantry more often. Inspect your cupboards every two or three weeks to see if you can get rid of anything.

By checking for clutter now and again, you can expend less energy keeping your pantry organized.

What To Do With Unwanted Items From Your Pantry

As we mentioned above, you have two options for discarding unwanted items: throw them out, or give them to a charity.

If you plan to give away large quantities of pantry items, make sure your chosen donation center accepts every product. Some non-profits will not accept certain donations due to storage limitations.

After decluttering a pantry shelf, thoroughly check packaged items for details that indicate damage. Holes, dents, and tears may disqualify pantry food for donation. Most charities and homeless shelters provide lists of accepted goods and other helpful donation tips on their websites.

Who Can Pick Up Your Donated Items?

Once you organize your donation pile, you need reliable transportation. Your vehicle may not be the best option if you have a large donation. Fortunately, many charities allow you to schedule a pickup at your door or a local delivery hub.

If you need help organizing transportation, consider reaching out to third-party volunteers.

Is Free Donation Pickup Available Near Me?

Many charities require you to drop off items at a local donation center. However, depending on your location and schedule limitations, it may be impractical to complete this task without help.

Non-profits like Easy Donation Pickup in Los Angeles will organize free transportation for many of your pantry goods.

You can place your donation at your doorstep and sit back and relax as the team loads up your donation to be delivered to an American veterans’ charity.

Most organizations that provide free pickups also accept other home items, like clothing, toys, and furniture. See what else you can give away before booking transportation.

Let Us Help You Clear Out Your Pantry or Food Cupboards

Decluttering your kitchen isn’t always easy. Still, nothing feels better than knowing you have an organized pantry when it comes time to cook. At Easy Donation PickUp, we help you clear out your pantry with fast and friendly bulk item transportation.

Our veteran volunteer crew ensures that your items go to a needy family. Use our scheduling tool to book a pickup today. We have 34 years of experience supporting our local community.

Don’t wait for another sign to start decluttering.

Schedule your next donation with Easy Donation PickUp. Call us at (855) 628-8387 for more information. We service most areas of Los Angeles and Orange County, CA.