Top 4 Spaces to Clean Out this Month

The Pantry

As summer winds down, it’s the perfect time to sort through your kitchen cabinets. Pull everything out of your pantry and give the shelves a good wash (a favourite breeding grounding for house moths). Then, sort through the contents of your pantry. This is a great opportunity to do a food audit! Knowing what’s in your cupboards helps with meal prep and keeps pantry items fresh. If you find something you’re unlikely to eat, consider donating them to a local food bank – we’ve all had buyer’s remorse.

The Fridge

Much like the pantry, the fridge is worthy of a deep clean in September. Empty the fridge and give it a good wash. Food absorbs odour, so it’s best to use mild, unscented cleaners; which is why we prefer a DIY cleaning solution over store-bought. Try 1 tablespoon of baking soda to 2 cups of water to clean the inside of your fridge. Rinse with a damp microfibre cloth, then dry with a towel. Another quick food audit and you’re done!

The Closet

Next on the list are the clothes in your closet. A seasonal purge makes room for clothes you may have in storage, and for some new stuff! Approach this task with the One-Year Rule – if you haven’t worn it in the last year, it’s probably safe to donate it or sell it. Got kids? Pull out any clothes and/or shoes they’ve outgrown and add them to the pile.

The Storage Space

Come September, summer’s tools and toys get less and less use. Before packing up inflatables, outdoor furnishing, and sports gear, clean and organize your storage space (balcony, mud room, basement or garage). Clear clutter, sweep up dust, and determine what summer items are going into storage and what winter items are coming out. Do you have enough space? Do you need more storage boxes or hooks? You’ll find a little planning this month pays off in the months to come.

Photo by Heather McKean on Unsplash