If you’ve been considering hiring a professional pantry organization service and are still doing your research, you may be wondering what you can actually expect.
At My Professional Organizer, we help individuals and families organize their pantries by cleaning them out, organizing what they have, and creating better systems that make the pantry easier to use and maintain.
So, we wanted to put together a helpful guide explaining what you can expect when you hire a professional organizer to organize your pantry, from how the process works to what actually happens during your organizing session.
What To Expect During a Pantry Organizing Session
Every pantry is different. Pantries come in different sizes and layouts, and everyone has a different amount of food, appliances, and other items stored in them. Some pantries may only need a little organizing, while others may need quite a bit of work.
Because of that, the amount of time it takes and how we approach the project will be different for every pantry. Everyone also has different goals for what they want help with.
But generally, this is what you can expect when our professional organizers organize your pantry.
1. We Take Everything Out of Your Pantry
The first thing we typically do is remove everything from your pantry.
That means taking out your food, appliances, paper products, and anything else you have stored inside. If you have enough counter space nearby, we can use that to lay everything out. If not, we typically lay contractor bags on the floor so your belongings aren’t sitting directly on the floor.
Taking everything out gives us a chance to see exactly what you have and gives us an empty pantry to work with.
2. We Check Expiration Dates
Before the project, we typically ask whether you’d like us to check expiration dates. Some clients want us to do this and some don’t.
If you do, we’ll go through your pantry items and check the expiration dates. Most clients who choose this option want expired items thrown away, which can also help free up quite a bit of space before we begin organizing.
3. We Sort and Categorize Everything
Once everything is out, we begin sorting your pantry items into categories.
The categories will depend on what you keep in your pantry, but they may include snacks, breakfast foods, meals, rice and pasta, canned goods, baking items, drinks, paper products, plastic utensils, small appliances, and other pantry items.
This allows us to see what you have before deciding how everything should be organized and where it should go.
4. We Clean Out the Pantry
Before we start putting everything back, we typically give the empty pantry a basic wipe-down.
We can wipe down the shelves and, depending on the pantry, sweep or wipe out the floor. If you’re reusing existing bins or baskets, we’ll typically wipe those out as well.
This gives us a fresh, clean space before everything starts going back in.
5. We Organize and Put Everything Back
Once the pantry is cleaned out, we start putting everything back.
If you already have organizing products such as bins and baskets, we can typically work with what you have. If you’ve purchased new products that you’d like incorporated into the pantry, we can use those as well.
We organize items by category while also thinking about how you and your family actually use the pantry. We’ll ask about your preferences, including which items you want within easy reach, what can be stored higher up, and anything else that’s important to how you use the space.
Our goal isn’t just to make the pantry look organized. We want the setup to actually make sense for you and be easier to maintain.
6. We Add the Final Touches
Once everything is back in the pantry, we’ll go through and make final adjustments.
We’ll straighten everything, make sure food labels are easy to see, and make sure each category has a logical place. Depending on the products being used and your preferences, we may also label bins or baskets.
Labels can be especially helpful for clients who prefer being able to quickly see where everything belongs.
7. We Clean Up and Walk You Through Your Pantry
Once we’re finished, we’ll clean up the supplies and materials we used during the project.
If you’re home, we’ll also walk through the finished pantry with you to make sure you’re happy with how everything is organized and that the setup is going to work for you.
How Long Does It Take to Professionally Organize a Pantry?
How long it takes really depends on the pantry.
Some pantries are the size of a small closet, while others are closer to the size of a small room. The amount of items you have, the size and layout of the pantry, how much sorting is needed, and whether you’re using organizing products can all affect how long the project takes.
At My Professional Organizer, we typically work in five- or five-and-a-half-hour organizing sessions.
Many pantry organizing projects can be tackled within one session, although some may require more time. Depending on the project size, we may have one organizer or multiple organizers working on the pantry.
So there really isn’t one set amount of time that every pantry takes. It depends on your space, how much you have, and what you’re wanting help with.
Before & After Gallery: Pantry Organization Projects
Below are a few pantry organizing projects our professional organizers have completed for our clients.
As you’ll see, every pantry has a different size, layout, amount of items, and storage needs.
How we organize each one will look different, but our goal is always the same: to make the pantry easier to use, easier to maintain, and to work better for the family using it.
Pantry Organizing in Mandeville, Covington, & More
If you live on the Northshore and want professional help organizing your pantry, our team at My Professional Organizer would love to help.
We provide pantry organizing services in Mandeville, Covington, Madisonville, Hammond, Slidell, Ponchatoula, Lacombe, Folsom, Abita Springs, Bush, and surrounding areas.
No matter the size of your pantry or how disorganized it may be, our team takes a friendly, nonjudgmental approach. We’re there to take the physical work off your plate, save you time and energy, and create a pantry that works better for you and your family.
That might mean making it easier to pack lunches, cook dinner, meal prep, bake with your kids, find what you need, or simply see what you already have so you aren’t accidentally buying the same thing again.
If you’re ready to get your pantry organized, contact My Professional Organizer to get started.
