Blog

By Julie Murphree, Arizona Farm Bureau Director of Strategic Communications

Picture this: the sun’s shining, birds are chirping, and you’ve got that itch to tackle the beast known as “Spring Cleaning.” You’re armed with lemon-scented cleaner, ready to banish cobwebs and make your floors gleam. But then, you face the ultimate challenge: your kitchen cupboards. Who knows what ancient relics lurk in those dark, mysterious corners?

Fear not, brave cleaner! A tidy kitchen is the secret sauce to whipping up delicious, healthy meals without breaking the bank. Say goodbye to accidentally stockpiling salt like you’re preparing for the apocalypse while leaving poor pepper out in the cold. With our five-step plan, you’ll transform your cupboards from a chaotic mess into a culinary paradise. Let’s dive in!

Step 1: Unleash the Chaos Channel your inner tornado and yank everything out of those cupboards. If time’s tight, tackle one at a time—unless you fancy cooking dinner surrounded by a countertop jungle. As you excavate, play matchmaker: pasta with pasta, cans with cans, baking stuff with baking stuff. It’s like organizing a cupboard party! Once they’re empty, give those shelves a spa day with a thorough scrub. Bonus: you’ll finally see how much space you’re actually working with.

Step 2: Scrub-a-Dub-Dub With your cupboards bare, it’s time to get down and dirty—well, clean, actually. Wipe every nook and cranny, inside and out. Fancy some shelf paper? Slap it on, but only after everything’s dry. Oh, and those random recipes you’ve been hoarding? Toss ‘em! Fill Your Plate’s got your back with a treasure trove of online recipes. Search by ingredient, keep your grocery bill low, and never lose a recipe to the cupboard abyss again.

Step 3: The Great Purge Grab some counter space for your “KEEP” pile and snag two bins for “TOSS” and “DONATE.” Now, interrogate each item like a detective:

• Expired? Into the “TOSS” bin it goes—case closed!
• Use it all the time? “KEEP” it, your kitchen MVP.
• Might use it in the next six months? “KEEP” it, future you says, “Thanks.”
• Holiday special that’s still good? “KEEP” it for the festivities. Expired before then? “DONATE” it.
• None of the above? “DONATE” it to someone who’ll love it more.

Once the inquisition’s over, ditch the “TOSS” trash and focus on your “KEEP” treasures.

Step 4: Rebuild Your Kingdom With your keepers in sight, it’s time to play Tetris with your cupboards. Group like with like and slide ‘em back in. For those once-a-year specials, grab some bins or baskets and banish them to the top shelf—no more losing the pumpkin spice to the void! You’ll be finding stuff faster than you can say, “dinner’s ready!”

Step 5: Spread the Love Take that “DONATE” bin on a field trip to your local food shelter. Those unloved goodies will find a new home, and you’ll feel like a kitchen-cleaning superhero.

So, grab your cleaning cape and conquer those cupboards! Your wallet, your taste buds, and your sanity will thank you. Happy spring cleaning, you organizational rockstar!