How To Clean and Organize a Kitchen Pantry

To clean and organize a pantry, empty the shelves, toss expired food, wipe everything down with an all-purpose cleaner, and reline the shelves before restocking. Group similar foods together, keep what you use most at eye level, store opened items in airtight containers, and rotate stock so the oldest food gets used first. Doing this every month or so cuts food waste, deters pests, and makes cooking easier.

Pantries are having a renaissance — they keep dry goods organized without eating up cupboard space. A little regular upkeep keeps yours neat, protects your food, and makes the kitchen easier to live in. Here’s how to clean it, organize it for any shelf type, and deal with pests if they show up.

Why does cleaning your pantry matter?

You might think your pantry doesn’t need cleaning, but a good clear-out every month or so is worth it. Here’s why we recommend it.

• Approximately 30-40% of all food in the United States is wasted, and some of that is spoilage from food not being used before it expires.
• A clean pantry is a less hospitable environment for common pests like weevils and mice.
• Good organization pays off in other ways too, including saving space when storage is limited.

A well-organized pantry helps you eat healthier and spend less on groceries — something everyone can benefit from.

How do you clean a pantry?

Cleaning a pantry is simple. Just follow these Pro steps.

Step 1: Sort through everything and throw away any expired food.

Step 2: Donate anything you know you won’t use.

Step 3: Empty all the shelves and clean them with an all-purpose cleaner.

Step 4: Line the shelves with liners, parchment paper, contact paper, or old wallpaper.

Step 5: Replace the food on the shelves.

Step 6: Vacuum or mop the pantry floor.

That’s all there is to it. For the most out of your pantry, though, it pays to keep the contents organized as well as clean.

How do you organize a kitchen pantry?

Organizing is the best way to keep a pantry tidy and make the most of your food. There’s nothing more annoying than finding an expensive ingredient gone stale at the back of a shelf, or buying more of something you already had. These Pro tips will get you organized fast.

• Position food based on how you use it. Keep the items you reach for most on the most accessible shelves, so you’re not constantly moving things out of the way.
• Keep similar foods together. Group cereals, tinned fruit and veg, flours, snacks, and spices. Even if you don’t know exactly where something is, you’ll know where to look.
• Use transparent canisters for open foods. Air-tight containers keep opened food fresh, let you see the contents and what’s running low, and help keep bugs out.
• Add door shelves to maximize space. A cheap wire rack over the pantry door is great for condiments, spices, and small jars.
• Add a hamper with grabbable snacks. If you’ve got kids, a snack bin or box at eye height keeps the rest of the pantry tidy.
• Keep fresher food at the back. When restocking, put items with the longest shelf life at the back so you grab the oldest food first.
• Rethink how you label foods. You don’t need a label to find the pasta you can see — instead, use labels to note expiration dates. Washi tape works as well as a fancy label maker and won’t leave annoying sticker residue.
• Consider how you’ll use your food. Cute mason jars are useless if your measuring cup won’t fit inside. Think about access before spending on accessories, and change anything that isn’t working.

Pro Tip: Keep organizing! Learn how to declutter your house now.

How do you organize a small pantry?

A small pantry is still worth having — you just have to get inventive with storage. Here are some quick tips.

• Use every inch with storage extenders for under shelves and the back of the door
• Choose stackable bins over space-hogging canisters
• Add pull-out shelves under your bottom drawer
• Lazy Susans are great for condiments and jars
• Use stackable can racks to keep canned goods in order

Make a small pantry your own. Storage solutions built for closets, offices, and utility rooms work well here too — cheap rolling shelves, folder organizers, and shelf dividers all help.

How do you organize a pantry with deep shelves?

Deep shelves give you more storage, but products easily get pushed to the back and forgotten. These Pro tips keep everything accessible.

• Use tiered stands to keep products visible
• Organize by product height, tallest at the back
• Use can dispensers to bring canned goods to the front
• Install pull-out shelves to reach goods at the back easily
• Use baskets or bins to corral items
• Leave gaps so you can reach the back without moving the front

Too much storage is a nice problem to have — these tips keep a deep pantry from turning into a black hole for forgotten food.

How do you organize a pantry with wire shelves?

Wire shelves are cheap and easy to install — great for a budget pantry — but they can bend, leading to unstable storage and falling food. Here’s how to make them work.

• Cut plexiglass to size and lay it over the wire for stable shelf surfaces
• Use baskets or bins rather than placing items directly on the wire
• Add under-shelf racks to create more space between shelves
• Keep heavier items near the bottom for stability

Wire shelves come with quirks, but a little planning around how you’ll use the space solves most of them.

How do you clean a pantry after mice?

Even a clean, organized pantry can get pests. Mice are a biohazard and can be destructive. To get your pantry back in order after them, follow these steps.

Step 1: Get rid of the mice and seal up entry points so they can’t return.

Step 2: Wear gloves and a mask to avoid touching or breathing in droppings.

Step 3: Take everything out of the pantry and discard the food.

Step 4: Make a mixture of 1.5 cups of bleach to 1 gallon of water and spray everything down.

Step 5: Use paper towels to remove debris like chewed cardboard and droppings.

Step 6: Sponge and mop every surface again with more bleach solution.

Step 7: Dry the walls and shelves with paper towels.

Step 8: Disinfect or throw away your cleaning supplies (mop head, sponge, cloths, etc.).

Step 9: Wash your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds.

Remember, rodents walk through their own urine, so even a box of spaghetti that looks untouched can’t be properly sanitized. For sealed cans and jars, use your judgment — disinfect them with the bleach solution, or throw them away.

How do you get rid of pantry moths?

Pantry moths often hitch a ride home in bags of dry goods like flour and rice. Decanting goods into containers helps you spot and isolate outbreaks. If you find moths or larvae, here’s what to do.

Step 1: Throw away any affected food in the outside trash can.

Step 2: Inspect other foods for signs of infestation — if in doubt, throw it out.

Step 3: Check cardboard packages and cans for larvae that have crawled away.

Step 4: Disinfect everything with undiluted white vinegar.

Step 5: Replace shelf liners, then vacuum and clean the whole pantry.

Step 6: Hang muslin bags of fresh bay leaves, lavender, cedar, or mint to help repel moths in future.

Pantry moths are annoying but generally not dangerous. Still, tackle an infestation immediately to stop them taking over your dry goods.

How do you get rid of bugs in a pantry?

Moths aren’t the only unwelcome visitors. Gnats, flies, and others can all be a problem, but the steps above will treat them. To keep more bugs out, store food in airtight containers and clean up crumbs and spills right away.