How to keep your fridge organised and clean

All too often our fridges get out of hand and are dirty and disorganised. How often do you need something fast to find it way at the back of the fridge?

Here are our tips on how to keep your fridge clean and organised:

Use plastic mats or contact to line your shelves, therefore any spills are easy to wipe over or just replace the liner.
The temperature of the fridge can fluctuate so it’s best to keep your milk and dairy out of the fridge door to keep it fresh longer.
To stop any unwanted drips keep your meat and seafood on the bottom shelf or put them on a plate to keep drips contained.
Turn fridge cleaning into a game for the kids; maybe the best job gets a reward!
Use baskets or containers to keep things organised and in place. The bonus is that baskets are easy to pull in and out of the fridge so it’s easier to find something.
You can even label the baskets or the fridge doors and shelves.
No more messy plastic bags. Use containers to store cold cuts.

Can’t find your salad dressing. How about a lazy susan for all your condiments and bottles.
If you are super organised you can use a washable marker on your fridge door to keep track of what’s inside. Or even create a chalkboard on the fridge door. A great way to keep track of leftovers.
If your shelves are wire racks grab a large bulldog clip and attach to the rack, this will help stop your drinks rolling around on the shelf.
Create an “eat me now” food box for the items coming close to expiry.
Remember certain foods such as potatoes; tomatoes and onions don’t need to be chilled.
How often do you buy something only to find when you get home you already have one. Take a photo of the inside of your fridge before you go shopping.
Keep some labels or tape handy and label the container with the open date.
Does your fridge have a strange odour? To help keep it fresh try activated carbon, you should be able to get this from your local pet shop.
To free up space and avoid any breakages put your eggs into the egg section of the door.

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50 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 04 May 2022
    10:42 am
Im the only one here now so its easy for me to keep the fridge clean

- - mom81879 said
  - 30 Sep 2015
    8:36 am
Ours is mostly clean and tidy. Gets a bit messed up,and over loaded on shopping days, but mostly good

- - mom81879 said
  - 05 Sep 2015
    12:41 pm
I so needed to read this! My fridge always needs a clean. Spillages, crusty fruit n veg in the crisper, forgotten leftovers shoved to the back. *sigh*

- - mom152736 said
  - 31 Aug 2015
    11:07 pm
Must read ..it was a pleasure

- - mom103920 said
  - 28 Aug 2015
    11:54 am
I like the lazy susan idea, thanks. I clean our fridge out at least weekly for “Leftovers night”. Also really pleased we invested in a door-in-door fridge with water and ice dispenser. Seems to keep our kids out of the fridge a lot more (and stop it becoming a room air conditioner), and they’re still drinking plenty of water. A good investment for our household.

- - jodiev1980 said
  - 28 Jul 2015
    10:12 pm
I really need to clean out my fridge and then stay on top of it

- - mom113055 said
  - 15 Jul 2015
    7:09 pm
looking so awesome

- - mom57665 said
  - 13 Jul 2015
    3:10 pm
I really need to clean and organise my fridge. Theres never time!!

- - mom113055 said
  - 07 Jul 2015
    4:12 pm
it s super

- - christial said
  - 29 Jun 2015
    9:33 pm
I love the idea of the eat me now box. Should save on wastage.

- - crystalangela said
  - 29 Jun 2015
    4:33 pm
I have been using a container for my jams and another for relishes and mustard’s for a few years now and it is great. I can always find them and see when they are getting old or nearly empty. Now I need one for sauces and salad dressings.

- - fairyfloss said
  - 29 Jun 2015
    9:51 am
thanks for the clever tips.

- - neddie said
  - 26 Jun 2015
    10:32 pm
I really need to keep ontop of keeping the fridge organised! I am not very good at it!!!

- - mom60450 said
  - 19 Jun 2015
    5:11 pm
Having clear containers helps so you can see what’s in the container without taking lids off and stops forgetting what’s in hem otherwise.

- - merlin2012 said
  - 19 Jun 2015
    11:35 am
Great idea with the eat me now basket, especially tossing veggies in that are due to go off

- - Lov'n'Life said
  - 18 Jun 2015
    5:36 pm
thanks in my house unless you are the one putting the groceries away it does not matter how organised you are the kids and hubby mess it up.

- - deb_gs said
  - 14 Jun 2015
    9:40 pm
I use vanilla essence in warm water with dishwashing liquid to clean the inside of the fridge. I place bicarb soda in a small bowl in the back of the fridge to absorb odours.

- - neddie said
  - 11 Jun 2015
    12:26 am
My fridge gets a good clean out about once a month – especially the last shopping trip of the month when I’m struggling to fit it all in!

- - rovermum said
  - 10 Jun 2015
    3:04 pm
My fridge tends to be organised and fine. It’s the freezer that’s a problem. It is so full. I do try and keep it organised, but then I add leftovers, many ingredients for the smoothies that my son now favours, and even dog food. We have two freezers, and they’re both full. They also both desperately need defrosting. That would make all the difference.

- - mom71820 said
  - 10 Jun 2015
    12:34 pm
Thanks for the tips, the fridge is often forgotten about!