Including one we may not be prepared for just yet.
Not all Grandmas and Mamas are organization mavens, but there’s certainly a select crew who have this household skill down to an art form. They have a knack for keeping a home perfectly organized with a no-fuss approach that still works today. While you might have to say goodbye to your dreams of a pantry full of coordinated storage bins if you really want to follow in Grandma’s footsteps, we venture to guess you’ll find that her way sure beats the pricey and lofty storage goals many of us have found a tad out of reach. We’re taking it back to basics with the best organizational tips and tricks directly from our mothers and grandmothers.
Skipping the Fancy Storage Containers
If there’s one thing that defines our mothers and grandmothers, it’s their sense of craftiness. They know how to pinch a penny, which means you can bet they didn’t spend $30 a pop for little acrylic storage containers They took a look around and gathered all the bins and containers required—without needing to visit Target or sign up for Amazon Prime. This included lazy Susans, baskets, and even repurposed old margarine containers; these formed the basis of our family elder’s organization system. organizational systems Although they may lack the same level of social media allure as the attractive planners that currently fill our newsfeeds, these alternatives got the job done without emptying their wallets. Definitely a win-win situation.
Related: The Weekly 5-Minute Routine for Keeping My Kitchen Neat
Going Minimal
Before diving into the details, it's crucial to keep in mind one of the main aspects of maintaining an orderly household: managing with less Not every grandmother excels at this, since many find it hard to part with things that hold even a little sentimentality (understood, she's the keeper of memories). However, there are those who've mastered the skill of decluttering, keeping only what they deem essential or deeply cherished. Though not everyone may adopt this approach, the idea of filling your space solely with objects you adore resonates universally. Consequently, this mindset might result in a tidier living environment due to reduced clutter.
Decanting Pantry Items
What once was old has become trendy anew, and repackaging our pantry staples is definitely part of this resurgence. Whenever our mothers and grandmothers returned from grocery shopping with newly purchased goods, one of their initial tasks was to transfer these items into proper storage. They avoided using flimsy pasta boxes or crushed cereal cartons that could spoil food rapidly after being opened. By transferring everything into sealed containers upon unpacking at home, they achieved both an orderly appearance in the pantry and extended shelf life for most products. Don’t overlook adding labels though; clear identification will help distinguish between quick-cooking oats versus traditional rolled ones—especially when visibility isn’t great in your kitchen light.
Related: 7 Things You’d Only Find In A Southern Grandmother’s Kitchen
Keeping Items Within Reach
If you haven’t already, it’s time to invest in a step stool. While the kitchens of today might have loftier headspace, there’s no reason why you can’t still implore one of Grandma’s top organizational tricks of keeping everything well within reach. When everything is easily accessible, it makes it that much easier to put things back in place directly after using them—a key component in keeping countertops and other areas clear of clutter. Store your less frequently used items in those harder-to-reach spots, making sure you plan your storage spaces with grab-and-go accessibility in mind when it comes to those more frequently used items.
Making It a Habit
Okay, now here’s where we might have to depart from the organizational process of our matriarchs for just a minute. But not out of disagreeing with it, rather simply because many of us might not have quite reached this status yet. Mama and Grandma weren’t ones to pass over a mess. Closing the kitchen for the night with a countertop mess left behind? No way. Stepping over something on the floor? They would never dream of it. Even their tasks of decluttering and organizing were just daily pieces of the puzzle. They made a habit of putting things away, right away. We can still hear their pleas to “make haste” and they did just that when it came to keeping their homes tidy. They were always company-ready because they stayed on top of the chores. While that can certainly be an ideal we strive for, simply making the bed is a good place to start—and we know that would make them proud enough.
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