If you have a small refrigerator (or a large fridge and an even larger family), you know how challenging it is to keep it organized.
After a long supermarket shopping trip, I always unload my groceries into their proper places in my refrigerator, though by the next day they’re somehow all over the place.
If you’ve ever spent more than five minutes searching for something in your fridge, you know how important it is for every item to have its own place.
It’s ridiculously infuriating to know that you put something in the fridge but don’t find it until it is past its expiration date.
With these hacks, you’ll never again be left thinking, I could have sworn I put that cheese on this shelf!
These tricks are definitely lifesavers, and they’re so easy that even your kids or grandkids will be able to figure them out.
Refrigerator Hack #1: Eat Me First Box
Janine Ngai for Little Things
Having an Eat Me First box seems like a no-brainer; it’s a great place to store all the items that are getting close to their expiration dates.
Instead of losing those old sauces and veggies at the back of the fridge, keep track of which ones are nearing the end of their lives by putting them in this simple box!
Refrigerator Hack #2: Desk Organizers
Janine Ngai for Little Things
Instead of just tossing things into the fridge and assuming they’ll stay in place, use office storage items to house all your perishable products.
These are especially great if you have any loose items like string cheese, yogurt, or single-sized fruits and veggies.
Refrigerator Hack #3: Shelf Liners
Janine Ngai for Little Things
Having things spill in your fridge is not only frustrating, it can also be gross if you can’t clean it easily.
Instead of crossing your fingers and hoping things never spill, or purchasing expensive premade fridge liners, use place mats to cover the shelves and line the drawers.
If anything spills, you can just pull out the place mat, clean it off, and put it back in the fridge!
Refrigerator Hack #4: Egg Cartons
Janine Ngai for Little Things
Instead of tossing empty egg cartons in the recycling bin, reuse them for this simple hack.
In addition to perfectly holding eggs, the cartons are also great for holding squeeze bottles ” they’ll even be upside down for easier use!
Refrigerator Hack #5: Binder Clips
Janine Ngai for Little Things
Storing bottled drinks is always a struggle: either they’re too tall to stand up, fall over, or roll away when you lay them down.
Instead of always storing them in the fridge door (which seems to be the only place they’d fit), use a few binder clips on a metal rack to hold the bottles in place.
Refrigerator Hack #6: Labels
Janine Ngai for Little Things
This might seem like a no-brainer, and it may even be something you already do without thinking about it, but labeling the fridge doors can help you keep everything organized.
This hack is especially helpful if you have kids who might put things back in a different place from where they found them.
Refrigerator Hack #7: Lazy Susan
Janine Ngai for Little Things
If you thought lazy Susans were only for the table, think again.
Using a lazy Susan in your fridge can help you reach things more easily. It also makes it harder to forget about items hiding in the back of the fridge.
Refrigerator Hack #8: More Binder Clips!
Janine Ngai for Little Things
Since freezers are often smaller than refrigerators, it’s important to use every inch of space well.
Instead of piling bags of frozen goods on top of one another, clip them to the wire rack using binder clips.
Refrigerator Hack #9: Storage Bins
Janine Ngai for Little Things
Storing similar items together in baskets helps remind you of which products you have and which might be running out.
This hack will help you keep track of the bins that need to be restocked when you go to the grocery store.
Before And After
Janine Ngai for Little Things
Stop rummaging around your fridge to find what you’re looking for and start using these simple hacks.
Most of them require little to no effort, so go organize!