How to Clean Out Your Pantry Without Losing Your Shit
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You know that moment when you open your pantry and think…
How the hell do we have three jars of peanut butter but somehow NOTHING to make for dinner?
Or you buy another box of pasta because you swear you’re out… only to discover four boxes shoved behind a Costco-sized bag of something nobody in your family even eats.
Yeah. It’s time for a pantry clean-out.
And before you start buying all the pretty bins and matching containers (trust me, I love that part too), we need to deal with the stuff you already have.
Because organizing more stuff isn’t the answer.
Getting rid of the shit you don’t need is.
So grab a trash bag, a donation box, and maybe a coffee. We’re doing this.
1. Take It All Out
I know.
You were hoping I wasn't going to say that.
But yes, take everything out.
Trying to organize your pantry while everything is still shoved inside is basically just rearranging the chaos.
Pull it out and group similar things together as you go:
Snacks
Breakfast
Pasta + grains
Canned goods
Baking
Sauces
Kids' stuff
Backstock
Whatever other random category your family somehow has 47 of
And don't panic when your entire kitchen suddenly looks worse than it did before you started.
That's part of the process.
Once the shelves are empty, wipe them down. You might as well. When else are those things ever completely empty?
2. Check the Dates
Here comes the slightly horrifying part.
Start checking dates.
You're probably going to find something from 2022.
It's okay. 😂
And before you automatically throw everything away, remember that “best by” and “expiration” aren't always the same thing. Check the packaging, condition of the food, and appropriate food-safety guidance.
As you go, make five piles:
Keep
Donate
Compost
Recycle
Trash
Don't create a sixth pile called “I don't know, so I'll just put it back.”
We are not doing that.
3. Stop Keeping Food You're Never Going to Eat
This is a big one.
You bought it.
Nobody liked it.
And now it's been sitting in the pantry for nine months because throwing it away feels wasteful.
But keeping something you aren't going to use doesn't magically un-waste the money.
It's just taking up space now.
If it's unopened, unexpired, and appropriate for donation, give it to someone who will actually use it.
Check your local food bank or community pantry for its current donation guidelines.
This is especially great for those impulse Costco purchases where you thought, Oh yeah, we'll definitely eat 36 of these.
Narrator: They did not.
4. Compost What You Can
Before you toss expired or stale food straight into the trash, check whether you can compost it.
Depending on your local composting rules, things like stale bread, grains, pasta, flour, coffee grounds, tea, and other food scraps may be able to go into your compost instead.
Always check your local guidelines because composting rules can vary.
And while we're talking about composting…
The Compost Setup I Actually Use
Listen, I don't need another household system that requires 14 steps to maintain.
If something is annoying to use, eventually we're going to stop using it.
This is my favorite compost bin
I love this thing because it's durable, easy to clean, and THE BAG DOESN'T FALL DOWN INSIDE.
If you've ever reached into a compost bin to rescue a disgusting bag from the bottom, you understand why this matters. 😂
I use it with:
Simple. Easy to replace. Easy to clean.
Done.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
5. Recycle What You Can
Don't automatically throw all the packaging away either.
Once you've emptied something, check whether the container can be recycled where you live.
Cardboard boxes, cans, glass jars, and certain plastics may be recyclable depending on your local program.
Food → compost if appropriate.
Container → recycling if accepted.
Actual garbage → trash.
Look at us saving the planet while simultaneously getting our shit together.
6. NOW We Organize
Okay.
This is the fun part.
You've gotten rid of what you don't need, cleaned the shelves, and figured out what you actually own.
Now—and only now—do we start organizing.
Create categories based on how your family actually lives.
Not how Pinterest tells you your family should live.
Maybe you need:
Kids' snacks
School lunch stuff
Breakfast
Baking
Pasta + grains
Canned goods
Dinner staples
Backstock
Grab-and-go snacks
Your pantry doesn't have to look like a Kardashian pantry.
It needs to work.
If your kids can't put something back where it belongs, or your husband has to ask you where something goes every damn time, the system is too complicated.
7. Stop Buying Shit You Already Have
This is one of the biggest benefits of an organized pantry.
You can actually see what you own.
No more standing in Target wondering:
Do we have pasta sauce?
And then buying two because you're not sure.
Meanwhile, seven jars are hiding in the pantry.
Put older products toward the front and newer backstock behind them so you're using things before they expire.
When you can see what you have, you buy less, waste less, and don't end up with 900 duplicates.
That's the kind of organizing I care about.
Not just making something look pretty.
Making your life easier.
8. Give Donations a Home
Here's a little trick I love.
Create a permanent donation spot somewhere in your home.
If you realize your family isn't going to eat something, don't shove it back into the pantry because you feel guilty.
Put it in the donation bin.
When the bin is full, donate it.
Same concept works for clothes, toys, household stuff—all of it.
It removes that constant decision of What do I do with this?
You already know.
Donation bin. Done.
Your Pantry Doesn't Need to Be Perfect
I want you to hear this part.
You don't need matching containers for every single thing.
You don't need handwritten labels worthy of Pinterest.
And you definitely don't need to spend $700 at The Container Store before you're “organized.”
You need a pantry where you can open the door and know what the hell is in there.
You need to stop buying duplicates.
You need your kids to be able to grab a snack without destroying the entire shelf.
And you need a system that's simple enough that your family can actually maintain it after you've spent all weekend organizing.
That's the difference between making something pretty and actually organizing it.
Want the Products I Actually Use?
I'm constantly trying organizing products—both in my own home and while organizing homes for my clients.
Some are great.
Some are absolutely not worth your money.
I've pulled together the products I actually use and recommend so you don't have to scroll through 4,000 Amazon reviews wondering which damn bin to buy.
[SHOP MY PANTRY FAVORITES → ADD LINK]
Or Maybe You're Thinking, “Alex, Just Come Do This For Me.”
Honestly? That's why I'm here.
If your pantry—or your whole damn house—has gotten to the point where you don't even know where to start, you don't have to spend your entire weekend figuring it out.
The Orderly Bliss helps busy Bay Area families declutter, organize, and create systems that actually work for the way they live.
No judgment.
No expectation that you cleaned up before I got there.
And no organizing your house like it's a museum you're afraid to touch afterward.
We make it functional. We make it beautiful. And most importantly, we make it easier to live in.
LET'S ORGANIZE YOUR HOME → BOOK YOUR CONSULTATION
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