We all open our fridges every day, if not multiple times a day, but did you know? A well-organized fridge not only looks good, but it can also save you money by preventing food from going bad. The refrigerator is an area that hardly makes it to the weekly cleaning routine which can be the reason we have expired groceries, forgotten leftovers, and casually crammed items that can add up, leaving you with a fridge that’s tough to navigate.

A well-organized refrigerator is essential to keeping your food fresh, saving you time when it comes to planning meals, and also helping you reduce your grocery bill and wasting food.

Get your fridge back in tip-top shape in no time at all with the following fridge organization tips:

Clean It Well
Before you can organize and declutter your fridge, have a checklist of the food items in your fridge, take everything out of the fridge so that you can easily wipe away dirt, stains, or hardened spills, and disinfect every surface on the inside of your fridge to begin. Clean the drawers and shelves by letting them sit and soak in hot, soapy water. Carefully wipe the entire interior down by using non-abrasive cleaning methods so you don’t harm the plastic. Store a box of baking soda to help reduce future fridge odors.

Check Expiration Dates
Make a note of all your food items’ expiration dates when packing the food back in the fridge. Go through delicate foods such as jams, jellies, and sauces you haven’t used in ages and decide on when you’re going to use them or throw them out – This will make it much easier to find what you need when you’re not sifting through endless jars of stuff you’ll never touch again.

Sort Your Shelves
Food storage containers are great for keeping your fridge neat and tidy. Get the best out of your shelves by storing leftovers items, dividing your grocery, and keeping a good look by using the different shelf sections in their right

The Top Shelf
Avoid keeping any fresh meat or raw meat and veggies up here because of the warm temperatures around this area. The best things to store on the top shelves are your leftovers, drinks, and ready-to-eat foods like yogurt, cheese, and deli meats.

The Middle Shelf
This is the right place for storing dairy products or produce that can be left uncovered (such as berries). You also probably have the most vertical space here, so taller containers can be stored on this shelf as well.

The Bottom Shelf
This is the coolest spot in your fridge with less risk of spoilage or food rotting. Use this space for your meat or fish. Placing raw food on the bottom shelf also minimizes the risk of cross-contamination. You can also use food storage containers like Pyrex Cook and Store in your freezer to keep your food fresh and healthy.

The Drawers
Try to fit all of your vegetables, salads, and fruit should be stored in their original packaging in the salad drawer where they will be enclosed. This is also a good place to store herbs.

The Door
This is the warmest area of the fridge and is most susceptible to temperature fluctuations. Store foods such as condiments, jams, and juice here because they have natural preservatives.

Use Clear Containers
Invest in a few Clear Orgamix Organizers or White Orgamix Organizers which are easy to remove and clean compared to shelves. Organizers are helpful in sorting your food into categories, putting fruits in one group, veggies in another, condiments in another—and so on to make it easier to see what you have and what you need to stock up on.

Check out these top fridge organization picks: