Easy Fridge Organization Fixes

No matter what your household eats, refrigerator frustration is universal. From awkward shelf setups to forgotten leftovers hiding in the back, most fridges could use a little rethinking.

Let’s talk about some common refrigerator problems, and the easy fridge organization fixes that can solve them.

Common Problems

1. Short items on tall shelves This wastes valuable space above your food and often leads to precarious stacks or items getting buried.

2. Small, loose items scattered everywhere When everything’s floating around on its own, it’s hard to see (or reach) what’s in the back. That’s how things get lost and forgotten, doomed to go bad before they're rediscovered.

3. Cheese drawer not full enough Okay, this one might be personal—but who among us wouldn’t prefer a well-stocked cheese drawer?

Easy Fixes

1. Adjust your shelves If short items are sitting on tall shelves, move a shelf down/up! Create one area for shorter items (like jars or condiments) and another for taller bottles. If you have a small gap under a drawer (like the cheese drawer), use it for flat items like tortillas or deli meat.

You can also make the most of extra space by adding clip-on pull-out drawers that attach under a fridge shelf. These make that “dead space” usable storage.

2. Contain the chaos Use clear bins to group smaller items—snacks, sauces, yogurt cups, whatever tends to scatter. Choose bins that fit the full depth of your shelf so you’re not wasting space. A lazy Susan (turntable) also works wonders in back corners—just pick one with a higher lip so things don’t tumble off when you spin it.

3. Fill that cheese drawer Sometimes organization is about function. Sometimes it’s about joy. Buy more cheese.

Decluttering and organizing your fridge doesn’t take long—but it pays off every time you open that door. You’ll see what you have, waste less food, and maybe even feel a little happier about having to make dinner (again).