Having Trouble Cleaning Out Your Fridge? Here’s What We Do.

Cleaning out the fridge can feel like one of those jobs you keep putting off because you already know it’s going to turn into a whole thing.

At Saturday Morning Reset, we like to make it simple: empty it, clean it, edit it, then put everything back intentionally.

Here’s our process.

1. Start with a completely empty fridge.

Take everything out. Yes, everything.

You need a clean slate before you can actually see what you’re working with. Put everything on the counter or another clean surface while you work.

2. Take out the removable pieces.

Remove shelves, drawers, bins, and anything else that can safely come out.

Wash those pieces with Dawn dishwashing liquid or your preferred dish soap and let them dry while you clean the inside of the fridge.

Then use your preferred kitchen-safe cleaner to wipe down the walls, ceiling, bottom, doors, and any areas where crumbs, spills, or mystery stickiness have accumulated.

Don’t forget the door shelves. They get a surprising amount of use.

3. Now look at everything sitting on the counter.

This is where the real reset happens.

Check expiration dates and toss anything that is expired, spoiled, or clearly past its prime.

But don't stop at the expiration date. Ask yourself: Are we actually going to eat this?

That half-used sauce you've had for months? Trash it.

The leftovers nobody remembers making? Trash them.

The three nearly identical bottles of dressing? Maybe it's time to consolidate.

Wipe down sticky bottles, sauce containers, jars, and anything else that has accumulated a little grime on the outside.

4. Put things back based on how your household actually uses them.

There isn't one perfect way to organize a refrigerator. The goal is to create a system that makes sense for you.

For some families, we put easily forgotten foods, like leftovers, toward the top where they're impossible to miss. If you can see them, you're more likely to eat them.

Everyday staples, like milk and butter, can go in places that are easy to access because you already know you'll look for them.

Keep similar items together when it makes sense. Group drinks, condiments, snacks, produce, meal ingredients, and leftovers so you aren't searching through the entire fridge every time you need something.

And if you have a lot of loose items, consider adding a few refrigerator organization bins. They can help keep smaller items contained and make it much easier to pull out an entire category at once.

5. If everything doesn't fit, that's useful information.

Sometimes the problem isn't the refrigerator. There's just too much food. This is your cue to start using what you already have.

Before your next grocery trip, check the fridge and pantry first. What needs to be eaten? What can you build a meal around? What can you freeze?

And before ordering takeout, take a look in the fridge. You might already have dinner.

This small habit can make a big difference in food waste and grocery spending.

6. Ask what can be shared.

If you have food that your household isn't going to eat but is still perfectly good, consider whether someone else could use it. A neighbor, friend, family member, or community organization may be able to give it a home.

A reset isn't always just about trashing items. Sometimes it's about making sure they get used.

The Saturday Morning Reset

A clean refrigerator feels good, but the real goal is creating a system that stays manageable.

Empty it. Clean it. Check what you have. Put things back where you'll actually look for them.

Then make it a habit to shop your fridge and pantry before you shop the grocery store.

Your future self — and your grocery bill — may thank you.