Organize that Refrigerator with MINIMAL effort, using what you might already have!

Ok, so it's 2012 - the year is new, but some stuff in your refrigerator? Maybe not so much.

I want to share with you an organizing tip I employed last fall and I am about to expand upon this weekend.

You know all that pain-in-the-rear stuff you have to keep in the frig? Little bottles (the kind that sit below the rail if you put them on the door) and bags of whatever (in my case, cheese!)? Ever find them shoved in the back or, worse yet, you went out and spent money on more of what you had but didn't see it?

Look around your house for some plastic bins. Maybe they're in the garage, a craft room, wherever. Different sizes, doesn't matter, though I prefer the 7x10 or so size pictured here:

Entertaining in Minutes:
As you can see, this particular bin is being used to store all of our cheeses and specialty mustard, so all of those bags never get lost in the Behind Stuff Abyss in our refrigerator. Grab a box of crackers and you have a party waiting to happen!

Outdoor Dining made Easy:

I have another bin that I use during outdoor dining season. Ever get tired of hauling 'sweating' bottles back and forth from the deck or patio the frig? How about the awesome wet spots all over the table, too. Appetizing! Well, put all of your ketchup, mustard, barbecue sauces, relish, etc. in one of these storage bins and make setting your outdoor dining table an absolute breeze!

Create Calm Mornings:

Why not expand your thinking to the members of your family?  If you make lunch for yourself or others each day, why not make it one trip to the frig? Put everything in a bin - bread, sandwich meats, condiments, snacks, and drinks in an appropriate-sized bin and not only will you have one trip to the counter, but you just might improve the way your mornings flow each day. If you are feeling truly amazing, label the bins with laminated tags or stickers!

Need Bins?

Ask your friends if they have extras! You would be surprised how easy it is to get what you need by just asking. I bought the one above for 50 cents at the Salvation Army.

If you employ this organizational strategy in your refrigerator, post your comments & photos here! Thanks for reading!