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Living Together? Make Room in the Refrigerator

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(NewsUSA) - It doesn't matter if you're a newlywed, roommate or house guest -- sharing a life, home, drawer or appliance can be an adjustment. Sure, splitting use of a vacuum cleaner or an ironing board may cause little stress, but sharing the refrigerator? Now, that's a different story.

If you're used to having the kitchen to yourself, you may experience a bit of shock when you can't find room for your orange juice next to someone else's milk, coffee creamer and smoothie leftovers. But there are ways to divide refrigerator space peacefully. Here are some tips:

* Get rid of things you don't need. If you've merged the contents of both your previous refrigerators, there may be duplicate items, some of which have seen better days. No idea how long that mustard has been in the fridge? When in doubt, throw it out. Use the three "e" rules as your guidelines -- if it's expired, empty or makes you say, "Ew!" toss it.

* Look for a fridge that offers extra space. For example, the Maytag Ice2O Easy Access has a full-extension external pantry drawer. The drawer's counter level height provides easy access to snacks without the need to open the doors, delivering a surprising amount of space for groceries. Keeping the doors shut uses 80 percent less energy, too.

* Old habits die hard. If you notice your fridgemate searching for beverages more than anything else in the refrigerator, you're not alone. In a Whirlpool Corporation survey conducted online by Harris Interactive, 60 percent of respondents said that, when they visit the refrigerator, they are looking for a beverage half of the time or more.

If your fridge is cramped with drinks, consider putting a separate refrigerator in the garage. For example, the Gladiator Chillerator, an ENERGY STAR-qualified refrigerator, is designed to handle the extreme temperature and humidity of the garage environment. Installing a second refrigerator will help you get rid of the bulky six-packs in your kitchen fridge, while also saving money through reduced energy consumption.

For more information, visit http://www.instituteofkitchenscience.com.