tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post6123339153156273324..comments2024-03-29T21:11:37.724+10:00Comments on down to earth: Cleaning the pantryUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-48911738968122808612013-10-29T20:51:36.074+10:002013-10-29T20:51:36.074+10:00pantry moth is very annoying and always try to kee...<a href="http://www.acepestcontrolproducts.com/indian-meal-moth-control-products/" rel="nofollow">pantry moth</a> is very annoying and always try to keep them away from my house. They create dangerous allergic effect on my skin. I hate them very much. Limahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10360732439121371466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-62609177477210804392009-03-10T18:13:00.000+10:002009-03-10T18:13:00.000+10:00Hi Rhonda,First time reader and just wanted to say...Hi Rhonda,<BR/>First time reader and just wanted to say i love the way you write and share!<BR/>I *had* to clean out our pantry last month after an invasion of ants took over but it is much cleaner and better organised now. I like for everything to have a place in our house and have really enjoyed reading your posts on organisation and such.<BR/>Thanks again!<BR/>Lusi xlusihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13741397873957723386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-7220080752065747372009-03-01T23:00:00.000+10:002009-03-01T23:00:00.000+10:00I cleaned my pantry about a week ago and you are r...I cleaned my pantry about a week ago and you are right about the great feeling you have when you're done although my pantry always looks so much better when it is nearly empty.I have done my monthly shopping now and Im not so happy about the way it looks anymore which is crazy hey.I try to keep similar things together like all the pastas,the breakfast cereals,the spices,etc... but other little members of the house mess it all up in one week so I try to clean out once a month when it is most empty towards end of month.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-67978177590942893582009-02-25T23:52:00.000+10:002009-02-25T23:52:00.000+10:00Hi Rhonda, I was planning to clean out my pantry t...Hi Rhonda,<BR/> I was planning to clean out my pantry this week too, so your post is perfect timing!<BR/><BR/>Even though it's not spring here yet, I've started spring cleaning early, doing one room each day and tomorrow its the kitchen (this may take more than one day to be honest!)<BR/><BR/>I dread to think how many jars of herbs and spices that are past their sell-by date I've got lurking at the back of the shelves....bethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03595211344361097863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-85698329764119767362009-02-25T06:23:00.000+10:002009-02-25T06:23:00.000+10:00I forgot to add that my pantry and stockpile cupbo...I forgot to add that my pantry and stockpile cupboard are two separate cupboards.<BR/><BR/>Kimberly, I like that addition of lace on the edges of your shelves. I remember my grandma, and a lot of other ladies, used to add an edging of skillfully cut butchers paper to the edges of their shelves back in the 50s.<BR/><BR/>Vanessa, thank you so much for sending that information. I'll show it to Sarndra today.<BR/><BR/>Hi Sylvia, welcome. Good luck with your blog.<BR/><BR/>Cassandra, there are potatoes in one and onions in the other.<BR/><BR/>What a lovely kindness, Helen. Good luck with the jam making.<BR/><BR/>Hi Cindy, welcome. I try to grow all open pollinated (heirloom) seeds, and usually they're organic. I never grow hybrids now. I noticed you're in Washington, and while I know nothing about American seed companies, I'd be buying from a well established seed company like http://www.goodseedco.net/ Of course, when you harvest your crops, you'll save your own seeds, so a one-off large seed order, then much smaller ones will probably be how you'll go.<BR/><BR/>Carmell, join the crazy club. LOL! But you know what? We're crazy like the fox. You're doing well, girlie, keep it up.<BR/><BR/>Sharon, the dog food recipe is here: http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2007/06/homemade-dog-food.html<BR/><BR/>Hi Suegail, welcome. Small steps, love, and you'll make it happen.<BR/><BR/>Lichtlein, plant your potatoes at the base of the cage on a bed of compost and soil and whatever animal manure you can buy, add some straw to cover it. When you see the green shoots emerge, add more compost, soil and straw, just allowing the green tips to always stay above the straw. You keep building it up like that. Keep it moist, not wet and when the flowers come, make sure you give it a good watering and leave it for a couple of week without watering. When the tops go brown, it's time to harvest.<BR/><BR/>Hello lilygirl, welcome. Thanks for those tips.<BR/><BR/>Oh dear, Rose. Ants are a terrible menace. It will take some doing to get rid of them, but I totally agree with you - don't let anyone spray. I'd rather live with ants than with poison. You'll have to find the nest, love. Follow the trail back to the nest, there may be several of them, and pour boiling water into every nest you find. You may have to do that a few times before you get rid of them. While you're doing the water treatment, wipe the ant trail every day with tea tree or eucalyptus oil. Ants follow the scent on a trail, that will remove it. Keep doing all those common sense things like not leaving food out, sweep the floor, all those things I'm sure you're already doing. If you have no pets or little children around, you could make up some borax baits too. Just get some jar lids, mix up 2 tablespoons of honey or syrup with one teaspoon of borax and place it in your jar lids. Put them where you see the ants walking, and as close to the nests as possible. Good luck!<BR/><BR/>Colleen, I agree, men + kitchen design = #!#!%^$! LOL I have deep kitchen drawers and I love them, but I also have a pantry and a stockpile cupboard just off the kitchen. I hope you can modify what you have to make it work for you.<BR/><BR/>Julia, when I bring home bags of flour, rice etc, they go straight into the freezer for a few days. Then they sit either in the stockpile cupboard, if they're small, or on the floor of the second bathroom, near the freezer, if they're big bags (20kg). I store most of my stuff in the stockpile cupboard, and when I open it and use it, that item is then put into a container, usually glass, and transferred to the pantry cupboard.Rhonda Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00175785349529109084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-41248414766558645882009-02-25T02:27:00.000+10:002009-02-25T02:27:00.000+10:00I'm just learning about this idea of freezing flou...I'm just learning about this idea of freezing flour and grains and am going to start doing it. Can't wait for the preserving post!!!<BR/>www.farmergalsmarket.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-68086073719794633682009-02-25T00:56:00.000+10:002009-02-25T00:56:00.000+10:00Ahh, there is great satisifaction in having a clea...Ahh, there is great satisifaction in having a clean and organized pantry. I took on that very same task just last week! I also took some time to inventory the freezers and tidy them up a bit. This time I made a freezer inventory list and hung it on the outside of the door. A great help already in meal planning! (I used a whiteboard for the inventory list--easy to update).<BR/>Looking forward to the upcoming canning post. I tried canning for the first time this past summer. Thanks Rhonda!<BR/><BR/>deb in PNWAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-20481879303567651152009-02-25T00:36:00.000+10:002009-02-25T00:36:00.000+10:00Hi RhondaI regularly read your blog and have learn...Hi Rhonda<BR/>I regularly read your blog and have learnt a lot from it. Could I just ask regarding the pantry, when you buy new items, flour, rice etc. do you tip them directly into the jars or do you store elsewhere until the older food from the jar has been used up or is there a way of rotating the food so that the older item is at the top of the jar ready to be used first?<BR/>Sorry such a long question.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-41246827284610754262009-02-24T22:03:00.000+10:002009-02-24T22:03:00.000+10:00I need so much to clean mine and I keep puting off...I need so much to clean mine and I keep puting off. You inspired me. It will be today.<BR/><BR/>AlfazemaP.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10713616744985615258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-9462464510595120592009-02-24T22:02:00.000+10:002009-02-24T22:02:00.000+10:00We don't have much in our pantry so it's pretty ea...We don't have much in our pantry so it's pretty easy to keep clean. I try to go through our fridge every couple weeks eat any leftovers and sort through what we have.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-17119617550102130732009-02-24T21:15:00.000+10:002009-02-24T21:15:00.000+10:00I so miss my pantry!!! We had our kitchen redone ...I so miss my pantry!!! We had our kitchen redone just over a year ago and the kitchen design guy and my hubby both talked me out of having a pantry, we have two deep drawers and the scattering of cupboards of course they they said "would be perfect and everything would be so neat and easy to find"....well needless to say it is the last time I ever let a man decide how a kitchen should be lol. I want a pantry!!! These drawers are just a neverending disaster zone and yes everything fits in my kitchen but there is stuff scattered throughout multiple cupboards, it drives me crazy!!!!,,,,,but I originally commented to say that you have inspired me to maybe do a pantry, make that kitchen clean out this weekend....I will try to post the results on my blog,,,,maybe even the before pics too aagghhhhh scary lol!!!<BR/>Cheers, ColleenOurGangof7https://www.blogger.com/profile/11112909755671690941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-11851088881888138772009-02-24T20:59:00.000+10:002009-02-24T20:59:00.000+10:00Rhonda, I was so glad to see this post this mornin...Rhonda, I was so glad to see this post this morning but did not have time to respond then.<BR/><BR/>For a year I've had a problem with ants in the house -- we live on the coast just south of Sydney. We have never used pest exterminators due to philosophical and ecological considerations but I'm soooo desperate I caused an argument here tonight.<BR/><BR/>I keep the house clean and, since the problem began, have been scrupulous about food areas. But just one bread crumb or piece of pet kibble means a black area within minutes.<BR/><BR/>Even a water droplet from a plant brings hordes. The kitchen and bathroom are reasonably well sealed. No water is standing other than in the tanks and in the (daily refreshed) pet bowls.<BR/><BR/>Yet armies of ants march over the swept wooden floors constantly. The crawl space under the house is less than 18 inches so it's hard to search there. Compost is in the tumbler and all rubbish is in bins.<BR/><BR/>I clean constantly and now spray with Mortein which I hate. Today the lid was not quite clipped over a plastic box of carrot cake I cooked yesterday and the lot was riddled with ants.<BR/><BR/>I tried to source borax in several shops today but couldn't. I am getting teary over it all.<BR/><BR/>Any ideas would be appreciated.Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14751315680374413649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-84270506533602425222009-02-24T20:06:00.000+10:002009-02-24T20:06:00.000+10:00Hi! I just found your blog and I can't wait to rea...Hi! I just found your blog and I can't wait to read your archives. I cleaned and reorganized my pantry awhile back when I found a pantry moth infestation ::gag:: Yes I ended up throwing out a lot (once the adult moths are present most is beyond saving). But I put everything into glass canning jars (easy to see contents, sturdy, inexpensive) and labeled everything. I love it now, the organization makes working in the kitchen so much more pleasant and should another bug issue arise it will be simple to isolate and deal with quickly.<BR/><BR/>I have a couple of suggestions for potatoes. First is to keep them separate from the allium family (i.e. onions) as they will cause each other to sprout and go bad much more quickly. Second, for space reasons it is much easier for me to store my potatoes in bags, not baskets. So I store them in brown paper bags. They breath well and don't hold moisture. It has been a great solution for storing the small number of potatoes I keep on hand.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for a great blog!Lily Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-54180383031797446822009-02-24T19:34:00.000+10:002009-02-24T19:34:00.000+10:00I always find cleaning the kitchen cupboards (no p...I always find cleaning the kitchen cupboards (no proper pantry here, unfortunately) to be quite satisfying when I get round to it. It's always nice when the jars don't stick to the shelves with leaked syrup and treacle! That said, it is something I tend to put off for as long as possible...<BR/><BR/>I'm looking forward to the canning / preserving Biggest Kitchen Table. It's something that fascinates me, although I don't know a vast deal about it. I've only done jams/chutneys so far - things that don't have to be "canned" as such. But it's one of my goals for the year to learn to do water bath processing, so I shall read with interest.<BR/><BR/>Best wishes,<BR/>JoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-79229672152275235572009-02-24T17:07:00.000+10:002009-02-24T17:07:00.000+10:00It all looks so beautiful when put back into place...It all looks so beautiful when put back into place. I clean my pantry every few months or so when things start to get too disorganized or messy. As for pantry moths, my mom swears that putting bay leaves in the container will keep them away. It seems to be working for her. I use different kinds of flours for gluten free cooking and haven't had to deal with weavels/moths for a while. :0)Strawberry Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03395571842364752995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-83587680384829110192009-02-24T16:55:00.000+10:002009-02-24T16:55:00.000+10:00Hello Rhonda,I have nominated your blog for the Le...Hello Rhonda,<BR/><BR/>I have nominated your blog for the Lemonade Award!<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your inspirational blog!Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08585956094647636047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-75202103694515427462009-02-24T15:33:00.000+10:002009-02-24T15:33:00.000+10:00Hello Rhonda,I'm looking forward to the preserving...Hello Rhonda,<BR/>I'm looking forward to the preserving articles at the Kitchen Table! I've canned before, but I've always failed. Hopefully there's an easy way to get into it without having to buy a whole canning setup.<BR/>Could you please tell me/us how to manage with the potatoes in a cage? Sorry, I didn't understand the "put-the-straw-bit. Although I had thought about it, I promise I won't use tyres!<BR/>Thank you!Lichtleinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04074140967912783918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-18345258516189440212009-02-24T15:16:00.000+10:002009-02-24T15:16:00.000+10:00after reading this post i tried to remember the la...after reading this post i tried to remember the last time i cleaned out and wiped down my pantry. i came up blank so while dinner was in the over i got started. i found 3 boxes of cornstarch, 2 bottles of molasses and 6 containers of oatmeal that i didnt know were in there! now i can see what i have, most everything is in glass jars and open baskets. thanks for the inspiration :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-71423400317805131852009-02-24T14:21:00.000+10:002009-02-24T14:21:00.000+10:00Hello! I have been reading your blog for about 2 w...Hello! I have been reading your blog for about 2 weeks and have found much inspiration in it. Thank you for all the great ideas. We live in the USA/Midwest and are trying to simplify our lives. I plan to keep reading! Suegailsuegailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12263269365386482060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-91235339603089588762009-02-24T14:18:00.000+10:002009-02-24T14:18:00.000+10:00I cleaned my walk in pantry last month. We built ...I cleaned my walk in pantry last month. We built our home with mostly white wire shelving so the clean up is easier ... no shelf paper to fuss with. Just a quick wipe and of course a good sweeping of the floor. Stuff falls through the wire and ends up on the floor ;). I found your site when searching for home laundry soap recipes ... I love the heavy duty recipe. The liquid one does separate but is fine for darks an color loads. We have eliminated the fabric softeners and use balls made from aluminum foil to discharge static electricity in the dryer. BTW ... we switched from drying for 50 minutes down to 5-10 and hanging to air dry after fluffing clothes for a few minutes. It's winter here ... so we have to dry in the basement. Summer is coming and a clothesline will be used.Mrs. Machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06644129213141875138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-48868593868166246972009-02-24T13:58:00.000+10:002009-02-24T13:58:00.000+10:00ugghh! guess this is a wake up call that i need to...ugghh! guess this is a wake up call that i need to clean out my pantry too. thanks for the suggestion about putting grains and rice in the freezer to kill the moth larvae. we fight that problem a lot here. so, i'll give it a try.lisa winterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12129532260480644836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-41439030731455685032009-02-24T13:41:00.000+10:002009-02-24T13:41:00.000+10:00Perfect timing! I was just planning to clean out t...Perfect timing! I was just planning to clean out the pantry tomorrow morning. :) Thanks for the pointers.Green Beanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03133847111288382381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-68640241240293225642009-02-24T13:11:00.000+10:002009-02-24T13:11:00.000+10:00Hi RhondaI've been reading your blog for a few mon...Hi Rhonda<BR/><BR/>I've been reading your blog for a few months now and have started making a few changes as a result. One of the best has been a complete overhaul of our pantry - your tips were great! Our pantry was an utter mess and was regularly visited by those horrible pantry moths but since I've started freezing flour, nuts etc for a couple of days before they make it into the pantry I have not had a problem.<BR/><BR/>On another note, I would really like to start making some "wet" food for my dog to stretch her very expensive kibble a bit further. I know that you once posted a recipe but after a very pleasant hour searching though old posts I still can't find it. Could you possibly send me a link? <BR/><BR/>Many thanks - SharonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-73684274562779343012009-02-24T12:43:00.000+10:002009-02-24T12:43:00.000+10:00Hi Rhonda, I was just reading where you mentioned ...Hi Rhonda, I was just reading where you mentioned weevils. I have had them for a while and it's quite difficult to get rid of them. They were not in my main pantry but one cupboard next to the fridge, even though I had thrown everything out they still came back. I have to do my big pantry soon. Just realised you are not too far form where i live, I'm in Bli Bli. DebDebbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10467409337243757008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-68176613547186136102009-02-24T12:39:00.000+10:002009-02-24T12:39:00.000+10:00I just cleaned out my pantry also. I am trying to...I just cleaned out my pantry also. I am trying to convert to jars on my shelves also. I have a bag of flour sitting on a shelf right now. It will be going in the freezer tomorrow for a day or 2. I joined your swap and I am so excited. This is something I have never done. I am trying to do more things with my sewing this year.Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10594313154015365616noreply@blogger.com