Need help with pantry organization

**lilk** · 07-21-2009, 10:26 AM

I really need to make better use of my pantry. It measures 23 inches x 23 inches, yes I said inches. It has 4 full size shelves, and 1about 1/2 the size of the others. It goes all the way to the ceiling. The problem I have it's just as wide as it is deep. I have trouble finding things in there. Does anyone else have this problem? I can use all the help I can get.

**Debbie-cat** · 07-21-2009, 10:58 AM

Your pantry is exactly like mine except I only have 3 shelves. They measure the same as well.

On my top shelf I keep things like flour, sugar, brown sugar, rice, icing sugar, dried beans ect in jars.

On the second shelf is canned goods on one side and boxes (cereal, crackers) on the other side and put the items I don't use regularly in the back.

On the bottom shelf is potatoes, onions, dog and cat food, and extra flour, sugar in bags. It seems to be working but I have had to fudge the items around alot before I found something that worked well.

Good luck!

**Contrary Housewife** · 07-21-2009, 11:42 AM

You might put in a light, one of those stick-up closet lights that don't need to be wired in.

I'd also consider taking out the wood shelves and putting in wire shelving. Measure your pantry items and figure out how much space you need. For example, if you store boxed cereal, you want a shelf that is spaced 1-2" higher than the boxes, no more. If you store bottled soda, the shelf for that should be just 1-2" higher than the cap. If you are going to keep dog food or cat litter or heavy bins of flour on the floor, then the bottom shelf should be put just above them. This way I think you can get more than 4 shelves in that space. I would use the top shelf for paper towels and lighter objects so I don't drop them on my head trying to get them down.

You could also put in adjustable shelving so that you can rearrange it later if your stockpile changes.

**Ceashels** · 07-21-2009, 12:14 PM

I have one like that too. I store some of my lesser used kitchen gadgets on the top shelf.

I also posted a sticky note saying what is on that shelf for each shelf. So I and anyone else will know where to look for the flour, sugar, etc.

I also put smaller items (jello boxes, bottles of syrups, extracts, food coloring, sprinkles) in to small plastic square baskets I purchased at a dollar store. I can easily slide out the basket to get to items behind.

At the dollar store I also found stacking baskets with the front open like a bin. I keep my chocolate morsels, baking chocolate in the top and icing bags/tips in the lower bin with some other small items. It has made a difference as I have "2 shelves" in the space. and these are placed behind my plastic square baskets.

The use of movable baskets helps keep things from accumulating on the shelves and makes cleaning much easier.

**lilk** · 07-21-2009, 02:51 PM

I like the idea of baskests and bins, that might work. And wouldn't break the budget. It would be nice if dh would put in wire shelfs. I think I would have alot more space, and less wasted space. Thanks for the help.

**forHISglory** · 07-21-2009, 03:19 PM

There are kits that you can assemble on shelves to make them roll out; I imagine they are pricey, though.

I got boxes from Aldi's for free to put on my pantry shelves. They have really nice boxes that gravy packets come in. I spray painted the boxes and I store my own mix packets in them, and also things like chocolate chips, etc. There are several other sizes of boxes at Aldi's that are free for the taking and really work well for organization.