Less Mess, More Yes

How To Organize Your Refrigerator

This week's post is written by Professional Organizer Monica Friel, president of Chaos to Order based in Chicago and Atlanta. They have been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show and Hoarding: Buried Alive, as well as in Better Homes and Gardens, just to name a few. You can find them on the web at www.chaostoorder.com

Your refrigerator is not a permanent holding area for anything, not even those fancy mustards that have been sitting on the door for years! Clearing out your fridge and having the right containers are essential in keeping organized.
If you want to give your refrigerator a thorough clean-out, here's a step by step process:

1. Toss the Tomain. Anything that you’re not going to eat needs to go. Expired foods, leftovers gone grey, anything old is out. Food that is still good should be put on the menu. Have a "must-go" night tonight.
2. Empty completely. After you've eliminated what you don't want, empty everything else. Grab a cooler if things are going to be sitting out so nothing will spoil.
3. Sort. Put like items together, beverages, condiments, produce, meats, cheese etc… Once you have the items together, you can determine the best location and containers.
4. Wipe Down. Wash all surfaces with a good wet rag or paper towel with disinfectant cleaner. Make sure to get into the corners and under the drawers. Removing anything that's not stationery will give you the best results.
5. Contain. Find good containers that will not only keep your food fresh, but will also keep your refrigerator organized. These Ultra Seal food storage containers from Sterilite are terrific. Square containers work best as they optimize space.
6. Maintain. Remember, your refrigerator is a place where foods come to visit. Clearing out regularly is crucial to keeping safe, fresh food available to you and your family.

A clean, organized refrigerator will not only make eating healthy meals at home easier, it can also save time and money. Knowing exactly what you have and what you need to purchase will help make the most out of the groceries you buy and the food you make.

 

Battling the Winter Weather

by Jen Montbleau of Sterilite Corporation

During the winter months, many of us search for ways to keep our driveways free of snow and ice.  Here in New England, battling the blistery winter weather requires three simple tools; a snow shovel, sidewalk scraper and ice melt.  As a New Englander, you must become well versed in how to remove the snow and keep your family safe from falls. Having a few easy tips in mind, you will keep your pavement bare until the spring sun comes out of hibernation.

When the forecast calls for snow or ice, I sprinkle ice melt on my walkway and driveway using a dry food container. I find these containers to be more convenient than an expensive ice melt spreader and it’s certainly better than using your hands.  The purpose is to keep snow and ice from sticking to the ground. Because New England weather can be so unpredictable I like to keep a container full of ice melt next to my front door.
When the storm hits a lull or has concluded, I scrape and shovel as much snow and ice off the driveway as possible.  Shoveling only a path to your car and driving over any un-cleared snow will cause it to melt or compact and refreeze in the form of ice.

Once my walkways and driveway are clear of snow, I sprinkle more ice melt to prevent any further refreezing. As the temperature warms during the day and drops again at night, any untreated areas will freeze back into ice by morning. Having a dry food container full of ice melt by the door makes it very easy to manage icy spots you missed around the entryways, keeping your family safe from slipping in the morning.
When using ice melt to manage your walkways and driveways like I do, it’s important to be cautious around your pets. Traditional ice melts may be a convenient, cheap, and easy way to get the upper hand on the snow and ice, but if consumed it can injure your pets, especially dogs who love the taste of salt. I stopped using ice melt products in my back yard and gave that domain to my dogs. That way I know they are getting their exercise without having to worry about them licking the ground clean. When the season is over I store ice melt in a Utility Can in my garage or basement where I know it will be safe from accidents during the warm months when it won’t be needed.