Home Organizing Kitchen Organizing Before and After Refrigerator Makeover Who says cleaning out the fridge isn't a glamorous task? It's a makeover, people. By Allegra Muzzillo Allegra Muzzillo Allegra is the principal interior designer at ACM Interiors based in New York. She has more than 20 years of experience and has written about design for numerous publications including MyDomaine, Real Simple, Cottages & Gardens, and more. Highlights: * Former Real Simple writer and editor at MyDomaine * Former senior associate editor at Cottages & Garden Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on November 30, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: John Lawton See this side-by-side freezer organization comparison and use expert tips to organize your refrigerator. No more cold-clutter chaos! 01 of 07 The Refrigerator—Before John Lawton "It was out of sight, out of mind," says Rachel Weinblatt, a stay-at-home mom in Cooper City, Florida. "You couldn't see the mess with the doors closed, thank goodness. Nothing smelled funny, and food wasn't spilling out, so to me, it was an island unto itself. But I could never find what I was looking for, and it just seemed to be getting worse and worse." Before reorganizing Rachel's refrigerator and freezer, the first task was to go through the current contents to remove old items. Decluttering spoiled food and unused or duplicate items is important before restructuring the space in your refrigerator. 32 ketchup packets30 soy and duck sauce packets12 bottles of salad dressing4 tubs of spreadable margarine1 empty bottle of ketchup1 head of (brown) lettuce1 container of (very brown) chopped lettuce1 container filled with either some type of chocolate sauce or gravy½ glass of soda (in a 2-liter bottle)24 fish sticks bearded-over with freezer burn22 three-month-old Popsicles9 heels of bread, knotted in their bags ("to feed the ducks," says Rachel)3 six-packs of English muffins (from a years-old gift basket)1 near-empty box of soy "chicken" nuggets (one left)1 near-full box of soy "chicken" nuggets (one gone) The Ultimate Guide to Storing Every Type of Food in the Refrigerator for Long-Lasting Freshness 02 of 07 The Refrigerator—After John Lawton After learning about the family's food habits (Rachel and company are big fruit and vegetable eaters and always have leftovers), organizer Kate Parker repackaged the good stuff in easy-view containers and relocated items to the smartest spots. 03 of 07 Step 1: Transfer Drinks John Lawton Since Rachel buys in bulk, Parker transferred gallons into easy-to-pour carafes that make use of vertical space. The originals stay in a second refrigerator in the garage. Water bottles (second shelf) rest pyramid-style on a clever rack. If Your Cabinets Are Overflowing With Reusable Water Bottles, You Need This Organizer 04 of 07 Step 2: Place Items Properly Eggs absorb odors, so Parker put them in an airtight egg bin (Squared Away, $18; bedbathandbeyond.com) in the coldest part of the refrigerator―the center―rather than in the warmer door. Vegetables went in their drawer―except lettuce, which got its own moisture-draining home (Rubbermaid Produce Saver, $12; bedbathandbeyond.com). Cold cuts now all live in the deli drawer, individually contained. 05 of 07 Step 3: Label Containers John Lawton Parker put erasable, removable labels on many of the containers. Bins on low shelves have clear lids so contents can be seen from above. 06 of 07 Step 4: Coordinate Storage John Lawton In the freezer, bulky packaging was traded for compact, airtight plastic containers that stack. For freshness, Parker wrapped meat butcher-style, using Reynolds Kitchens Freezer Paper, then sealed packages with Scotch Freezer Tape. Stain-resistant glass is the right choice for storing microwavable leftovers; plastic works for foods you don't reheat. These Brilliant Storage Containers Totally Changed the Way I Freeze Leftovers 07 of 07 More Freezer and Refrigerator Organization Tips John Lawton In addition to the steps taken to reorganize Rachel's freezer and refrigerator, these general tips will help maintain a decluttered fridge space. Plus, your icebox will not only be functional, but it might also look a bit cooler in the process. (See what we did there?) 9 Rules for Decluttering Your Kitchen For Good Buy Smart and Good-Looking Storage Here are a few high-functioning items that helped inspire Rachel to maintain that just-organized feel, week after week. Acrylic jars with airtight lids have a smaller footprint (and a sleeker design) than gallon jugs. To buy: $20 (50 ounces), bedbathandbeyond.com. Clear glass stackers keep washed fruits and vegetables easy to spot. To buy: Frigoverre, $12; amazon.com. Stick a magnetic organizer on the refrigerator door to hold pens and food labels so they're easy to find when marking and dating leftovers. Use Crafty Containers John Lawton These clever designs work both in the refrigerator and freezer and out of it (clockwise from top left). Rachel's son likes cheese cubes packed in this tossable sphere. To buy: Boon Snack Ball, $6; juvenileplanet.com. Pour water into the base and the humidity-controlled pod will keep parsley, sage, and other herbs fresh for up to three weeks. To buy: Herb Savor Pod, $16 each or $32 for three; prepara.com. If you tend to forget to pack a fork for lunch, this box hangs on to its own. To buy: Silicone lunch container, $15; containerstore.com. Need something for a meal on the go? Divided sections and stay-fresh click-shut technology make portable lunch containers perfect for the car. To buy: Russbe 3-Compartment Bento Box, $13, containerstore.com. Leakproof, airtight, microwave- and freezer-safe containers are perfect for soup. To buy: Smart Seal Glass Mini Square Set (4-piece), $9, oxo.com. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit