The ‘–ber’ months are, without fail, my busiest months of the year. Not only is it the peak holiday hosting season, but there are countless annual social events and birthdays for me to juggle as well. As a result, my home can quickly descend into chaos.
That’s why I am depending on the FIFO (First-In, First-Out) Method to keep my hectic home storage flowing without adding to my already overwhelming mental load.
It’s the easiest home organizing idea I have ever tried, and it’s saved me time, money, and unnecessary stress – plus, the experts love it too. Here’s why.
I Tried the FIFO Method and Loved It
The First-In, First-Out Method is somewhat self-explanatory – the items you put into storage should be the first items out. It is a simple dual organizing and decluttering method that works perfectly for any items in your home that have an expiration date, says Sharon Lowenheim, certified professional organizer and owner of Organizing Goddess.
It is perfect for organizing pantry shelves, keeping a fridge neat, or organizing a bathroom during the busy hosting period of November and December.
Sharon explains, ‘For example, if you have four jars of tomato sauce, line them up in the cabinet with the oldest one in the front, and the rest of them in a column behind it, with the newest one in the back. When you unpack your groceries, make sure you are putting new items behind older items.
'People tend to unpack the new groceries and stick them in the vacated space in front of the cabinet or the refrigerator. Older items get buried in the back and eventually expire or become unusable.’
Shelf stackers, from Walmart, or an acrylic three-tier organizer from The Container Store can make this trick easier, preventing those items pushed to the back from getting forgotten about completely.
The FIFO Method is perfect for hectic kitchens in hosting season.
When I am super busy, organizing my home storage ideas in this way makes using my home seamless. When I tried the FIFO Method in my home, I found it to be easy to adopt permanently and so effective.
For instance, by restocking the fridge and my small pantry with new items at the back when I bring them home, I don't have to hunt for expiration dates on packaging when I am in a rush to make breakfast and lunch, saving time without any extra effort. Plus, it is a handy food storage idea to reduce food waste.
In the bathroom, the FIFO Method is a simple solution to organizing a medicine cabinet and skincare when I have to add extra products to my routine to combat seasonal dryness, irritation, and condition flare-ups.
It is also a great cleaning tip, adds Danica Carson, professional organizer and owner of The Uncluttered Life. She adds, ‘Cleaning supplies expire and lose their efficacy after a certain point, and it’s a lot shorter than you think. Things like bleach and disinfectants start to degrade after about six months.
'So, if you have a backstock of cleaning supplies, which I see in almost every house I organize, you should use them in the order you purchased them.’
It is certainly another quick trick to organize cleaning supplies that I will be implementing when I find some free time.
For items without obvious expiration dates, consider using a label maker such as the DYMO handheld label maker to make them clearer. Otherwise, if you don’t care for perfect aesthetics, use a Sharpie (both from Walmart).
It's so much easier to avoid a clutter backlog in bathrooms with the FIFO Method, especially when also juggling guest essentials.
So far as time-saving tips go, the FIFO Method might seem too simple, but it drastically cuts down time searching through products, and by reducing waste, saves countless additional trips to the grocery store to replace items that have expired before I could use them.
Not to mention it can also help you to save money at home, which is another massive benefit during the costly holiday season.
Having tried and kept the FIFO Method in my arsenal at home for several months, I no longer feel like I am losing control of clutter and know I will return to this trick time and again through the upcoming winter weeks of busy hosting and socialising.
What to Shop
Using stacking organizers makes it easy to see everything on a shelf without having to dig, put new items away at the back, and graduate older items to the front.
For very tall shelving, these stacking organizers make great use of vertical height while making it harder for items to hide at the back and expire quietly.
For long shelving, adding dividers can help to create zones that prevent items from being mixed, improving organization and access for the FIFO Method.
Make better use of vertical storage to save space on shelves by using stacking drawers in pantries to store snacks and packet goods. Using clear organizers makes it easier to find everything you need at a glance.
Labeling containers and shelving, or adding clearer expiry dates to items, can make it easier to prevent food waste and keep your kitchen organized over the holidays.
This bestselling book packs so much information into a mere 200 pages, in a readable and digestible format that's accessible to all readers of all ages, to help you find balance when organizing and decluttering your home.
Meet the Experts
Sharon Lowenheim is the founder of Organizing Goddess, Inc., and is the only Certified Professional Organizer® in New York City specializing in apartments and small spaces. She is also a proud member of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO), and is currently on the NAPO Board of Directors, serving as Treasurer of the association.
Danica blends her experiences from fine art classes with organizing interior spaces, creating interiors that are simple to maintain. She is also the creator and designer of The Uncluttered Life’s Declutter Deck and our newly launched Life Hack Decks, which help alleviate decision fatigue. These card prompt decks streamline routines and lessen the stress and anxiety many experience in daily life.
Pairing the FIFO Method with additional chore and time management tips is the best way to ensure a smooth-running home in the busy season. We love the White Space Method to help reduce stress, alongside clearing visual clutter in living rooms that see a lot of guests in winter.
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