The Great Pantry Cleaning Adventure of 2009

Sunday morning, I woke up determined to clean the mess otherwise known as our kitchen pantry. It was disgusting me to have to work so hard just to find simple things... and it had really gotten out of hand. (This is something highly unusual, as I am somewhat OCD when it comes to organization.)

In my efforts to clean, organize and consolidate; I remembered my mom had given me a wooden canister set she had when she and my dad were first married. (This set has been around for almost 45 years now!) I found the three canisters that weren't in use, dusted them off, and set them on the counter in waiting for contents.

Then I started the real adventure. I call it an adventure, because there are often situations in which we have to sample items in the cabinet to make sure they are still somewhat fresh before we move on. Roughly 2 hours later, I had 3 bags of crap to toss out.... and another of recycling items... and my cabinets were sufficiently organized.

Now, there is not much room in them yet, mind you. But, in the effort at getting things cleaned out of the cabinet, I discovered available storage space for items that had been taking up counter space. We don't let things sit on our counters by habit, but sometimes we just don't have the available time to dig and find a sufficient space for this or that, so they sit until used. The "sit here until used" items from this past weekend's grocery trip now have homes in the cabinet. Yay!

I love it when one organization project spills over and reaps benefits in another area. I feel I've accomplished so much with one simple little project. Now I have to make sure my vow to not let that cabinet get out of hand ever again doesn't get forgotten in the abyss of other random vows I've made in the past (we all have them, don't laugh.)