This is a GREAT time of year to get your pantry closet or food storing room cleaned up and back in tip top shape. One of the first things you need to do is go through your pantry items and discard the items that have expired. The general rule for spices is they only have a shelf life of a year. However, I have found many spices (like cinnamon, red pepper flakes, etc) can last beyond that time. If you can't use it up within a year then you need to invest in smaller quantities. It is always a good idea to store bulk or excess in the freezer. This will allow the spice to not lose its potency. Sample test your spices to see if they are still effective!

After checking the expiration dates, you should make sure you make a note of the things you have so that you know what you need. I like to keep a clipboard with all of my pantry items listed (including cleaning supplies) and then I can pencil in what I have. If you know a certain baking/cooking type season is coming up then you can make a note of the items you will need. Also, the same goes for cleaning cycles. When you are aware of what you have on hand, you will know what you need coming up. This will absolutely save you money in the long run.

Another tip is to make a note of any items that have spilled or are otherwise not in pristine condition - discard them. Wipe up the residual mess. Vacuum or mop the floor after a thorough sweeping. This will insure that you aren't a bug zone waiting to happen. This is a good time to move refrigerators/freezers and clean up under them. A quick cleaning every quarter to 6 months will keep the bugs away, for sure.

Find ways to organize your pantry that works for you. You can use baskets, do it alphabetically, or even organize by type of cooking. You can organize the things the children use/need the most on lower shelves and things that aren't used as frequently up higher. Grouping things together that are used in 'like' ways is best for me.

Make the time to clean out your food storage/pantry area today!

Make it a great one!