Been thinking of putting your property on the market but still have a few jobs to do that are holding you back? With all the extra time on your (thoroughly washed and sanitised) hands from being housebound, there’s never been a better time to get stuck into some organising. This series of tips for the trouble areas around your home will get you over that psychological hump and market ready!
THE PANTRY
If, like most people, you’ve been desperately forced into the back corners of your larder lately just to find that spare tin of tomatoes, or dregs of the 30 packets of near-empty self-raising flour, then you’ve likely had a harsh realisation that this is another area of chaos that could use some attention prior to selling your home.
Leveraging the genius of Peter Walsh (peterwalshdesign.com), the recommendation to chunk tasks down into smaller steps is essential for making this achievable and not the monumental drama that you’re expecting it to be. Like so:
1: CLEAR OFF KITCHEN BENCH/DINING TABLE
This is going to be a dumping zone and work surface – put away any laptops, bills, homework and fruit bowl so you can begin clutter free.
2: UNLOAD EVERY ITEM IN THE PANTRY ON TO THE BENCH
As you’re unloading, check the expiration dates and dispatch what is past its due date. The things you’re keeping should be arranged on the bench, grouped together with similar products. This will be a voyage of discovery as you come across things with no recollection of ever buying them! If your pantry is bursting at the seams, it’s time for some tough love – chances are that if you haven’t got around to the gourmet cake decoration hobby you intended to start 3 years ago, the ship has sailed (and the icing decorations are ready for the bin)…time to take that precious shelf space back.
3: CLEAN THE SHELVES
Take an extra few minutes and vacuum the floor as well as the shelves. Wipe down everything with a soapy cloth and dry thoroughly. Some people like to line their shelves with wallpaper or waxed paper to ensure stains are kept at bay. Another option is to invest in a set of clear plastic trays. Trays are great for grouping things together, as well as keeping surfaces hygienic. Hooks inside doors are another clever option for shopping bag storage or hang-able items.
4: RESTOCK
This is where your organisational skills come into play! Firstly, keep like items together (spices with other spices, sauces all together, etc). Secondly, put essentials with the nearest expiry dates toward the front of these groups. Thirdly, staples such as pasta, rice, cereal, bread, crackers should be transferred to glass or plastic containers – this will keep the bugs away and help keep the produce fresh for longer. Fourthly, set yourself up to win – don’t overpack shelves so that you need to forage and set everything to disarray every time you need to use something. Keep labels facing outwards, stack by height, keep frequently used things at the front. *A sneaky pantry hack is to put the healthier options within arm’s reach (and the chippies where you need a step ladder to reach!).
5: TAKE A PHOTO
This is a helpful activity to keep you on the right path – it’s handy when you’re in the supermarket and can refer to what you have, and also a great way to keep order to your space by referring to what it ‘should’ look like. Just remember when you bring your pantry items home from the shop, store them behind the items already on the shelf 😉
Erynne Campbell 