Got a small pantry? Here's how to clean, organize and maximize your pantry in 6 easy steps – no matter the budget you're working with!
How to clean and organize your pantry
Step 1: Clean out the shelves.
Take everything off the shelves, then clean them out and wipe them down.
Step 2: Go through and see what you can get rid of.
Throw out anything that's expired or that you no longer need. The goal is to eliminate clutter!
Step 3: Group items into categories.
Organize all your pantry items into different categories like snacks, canned goods, dry goods (like flour and sugar), condiments, cereal, beans and legumes, grains, pasta, etc.
Step 4: Determine what containers and bins you need.
Figure out what kind of storage containers you'll need. I find that clear containers are best because you can easily see what's inside! Once you've figured out what bins you need based on your categories, go out and buy them.
Step 5: Add everything to the containers.
Add your items into the various bins based on the categories you determined earlier (so all the grains in one bin, canned goods in another bin, etc.)
Step 6: Add items back to shelves in organized groups.
Add the bins and containers back to your cleaned-out shelves and voila!
Small pantry organization
When you have limited storage space to work with or a smaller pantry closet, organization is key to making sure you’re maximizing all the room you have. If you don't have a dedicated pantry in your house, you can easily put open shelving or a bookshelf in a corner of your kitchen or another room close by, which is what I did in my apartment. It’s a simple and cost-effective pantry solution!
Having dedicated sections and groupings will keep your small pantry organized. You want to make sure that everything has its own spot, especially when you're dealing with a smaller space, so you don't end up with one big jumbled unorganized mess. It also looks a lot more aesthetically pleasing, which is especially important when you don't have pantry doors or drawers you can hide things behind.
Pantry organization bins
Bins help a lot when it comes to keeping your pantry organized. Instead of having everything sitting loose on the shelves, you can group your items together in bins. Keep all your legumes in one bin, your rice and quinoa in one bin, your pasta in another and so on.
Bins are especially handy when you have a pantry with deep shelves. Instead of having to rummage around on the shelf and move things around, you can pull out the bin and easily find what you’re looking for. I recommend getting clear plastic bins so you can see what’s inside while you’re looking around your pantry. If your shelves are really deep, you can place your bins on pull-out organizers, which will make it easier to reach things that are at the very back of the pantry.
Pantry organization containers
Containers will make your pantry so much more organized and help you maximize space. Instead of doing pantry Tetris and trying to make a bunch of different-shaped boxes and canisters fit together, empty everything into dedicated food storage containers that will fit together seamlessly.
I find that clear containers work best because you’re able to easily see what’s inside. I splurged on the OXO Good Grips pops containers, but there are plenty of affordable options out there.
Just make sure that whatever container you’re using seals properly and is airtight so you can extend the shelf life of your items. There’s nothing worse than buying a big bag of something and then finding out it’s gone bad because it hasn’t been stored properly!
Here are a few of my favourite containers and bins:
Organizing on a Budget
You don’t need to blow your budget when it comes to pantry storage and organization. There are tons of affordable options out there that you can find at the dollar store or online.
Mason jars are one of my favourite budget-friendly items. They’re great for storing nuts, seeds, legumes, rice and other dried goods and they’re super affordable. You could also use old pasta glass jars or Greek yogurt containers as a DIY alternative. Just make sure you label anything you can’t see through so you know what’s inside.
What you can get at the dollar store
The dollar store is a great place to stock up on pantry organizing essentials for less. You can find tons of great stuff there like mason jars, bins and containers of all shapes and sizes. Plus, they’ll cost way less than they would at a dedicated storage solutions store.
How do you organize a lot of spices?
You can keep your spices in your pantry, but I personally prefer to keep them in the kitchen where they’re easily accessible. That way when I’m cooking, I don’t have to run over to my pantry and rummage around for the right spice. I store mine in a bin in their resealable package so I can clearly see what spice it is.
If you do decide to keep your spices in the pantry, store them in labelled containers on a spice rack or a lazy susan. You can group them by usage, with the spices you use most towards the front, or alphabetically. It all depends on what works best for you!
Frequently Asked Questions
There’s no right or wrong way to group your pantry. It all comes down to preference and what will be the most efficient for you. A helpful tip is to think of how things are grouped together at the grocery store by aisle (pasta and rice together, canned goods together, condiments together and so on).
I like to use the top shelf of my pantry for overflow items and stuff that I don’t use on a regular basis. This might include protein powder, extra kitchen items or anything that doesn’t find into my pantry’s normal groups.
Clear bins are the way to go when it comes to organizing a pantry with deep shelves. By organizing everything in bins, you’ll be able to maximize your shelf space and access things more easily. You can just pull the bin off the shelf instead of having to rummage around and try to grab something all the way at the back.
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