Mom’s Pantry Cleanout
Two weeks ago I was in Texas with my mother, whose husband had just passed away. One of the tasks I was charged with was cleaning out and organizing the food in the kitchen. Simple, right?
Mom’s husband never threw anything out. Born in the 1930s, he grew up very poor on a farm outside of Austin. He worked hard and did very well for his family as an adult, but his upbringing encouraged extreme frugality. Let’s just say that he kept food that really shouldn’t have been kept; the fridge often smelled like unknown spoiled food.
I started with the fridge and moved to the freezer, disposing of lots of spoiled food in the trash and the mulch pile. There was stuff in there that clearly hadn’t seen the light of day in months if not years.
Next up: sorting through the dry goods that were stashed in seven different cabinets. I swear there was stuff tucked in dark recesses since the 1980’s. Expired canned goods, decades-old crackers, petrified sauces…you get it.
After the spoiled goods were removed, Mom reviewed what was left and identified several items that she would not eat, which we donated. The remaining items had to be carefully placed so that Mom, who has impaired vision, can see and reach them.
The final result is a kitchen that is much more functional and easier to manage. Mom has a clear understanding of what food she has in the house and will be able to stay on top of the inventory.
What’s lurking in your pantry? Are there old items that really need to go, or food you don’t eat that could be donated to others? Can you see and reach everything so that you know what you have and can use it? Those with senior relatives might be able to channel Spirit & Space to assist in their kitchens.
Remove spoiled food.
Assess whether the remaining items will be used by the homeowner; if not, donate them to your local food pantry.
Place items so that they can be seen and reached easily, organizing in a way that makes sense for those using the space.
Later this year I’ll share tips on organizing products that are game changers in the kitchen. A well-ordered pantry is so much easier to manage!