There are many systems out there for decluttering or organization, such as the KonMari method made famous by Netflix, but I begin by identifying the AREA I want to declutter or organize...for example, the refrigerator.
Next, REMOVE everything from the area, room, shelf, drawer, closet or appliance. In this case, empty the contents of the fridge. This would be a good time to wipe down all the shelves and bins and vacuum the coils in the back.
Think about the CAUSE of the clutter...is your refrigerator crammed with containers of leftovers turning into science experiments? Does it smell because fruit and veggies are rotting? Are your kids unable to find any snacks or drinks? Are your condiments all out of date? Perhaps the CAUSE is you are too busy to cook and fast food is cheap and easy. Maybe you don't have good storage containers, or don't know how to properly store fruits and veggies.
Next, tackle the SOLUTION to the clutter. Meal Planning is a great way to shop for just what you need. Make a menu that is consistent once a week- for example, Pasta on Monday, Tacos on Tuesday, Burgers on Wednesday, Soup on Thursday and Pizza on Friday. Everyone will know what is for dinner, and you can change up the basics each week. For example, penne with marinara one week, zoodles with alfredo another week, etc. Then, you have two nights to either plan a special dinner or go out to dinner. As you meal plan, check what you have in the pantry, fridge and freezer. Make a shopping list of what you need for a week's worth of meals and stick to that list. Prep all your fruits and veggies when you get home from shopping.
Create a small bin in the fridge that has snacks like cheese sticks, cut up veggies, small apples and baggies of grapes as a 'grab n go' area. Purchase a set of stackable storage containers with reusable labels- chalk labels are great for the contents and date of leftovers. Inexpensive containers with several compartments are great for prepping lunch for the week. Leftovers can be used as lunch and it's already portioned out for the week.
Now you can sort and properly store items in your fridge so they will be used in a timely manner. Make sure you have the right setting for humidity for fruit and veggie bins. Store your dairy on a shelf-not in the doors. Toss expired condiments and only buy the ones you use on a regular basis. If you need a specialty item, either see if you can share with a neighbor or friend or use up the entire container.
Pro Tip- have a whiteboard, or chalkboard or just a list on the fridge. When someone finishes something, they add that item to the list to be replaced. This will avoid buying multiples of the same thing.
As you can see, ARCS can be used in most areas of your home- I used the refrigerator as a good example. Have fun and be on the lookout for my next blog post!
Here’s a few photos of my fridge the day after shopping day...
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