How to organize the kitchen?
A cluttered kitchen can be a headache! Finding what you need quickly and easily will save you time and unnecessary stress. Before decluttering your kitchen, categorize appliances by purpose. Then tidy up the countertops, and tidy up the cabinets and drawers. Finally, you can create additional storage space if needed.
Get rid of everything you don’t need. Dirty closets make it hard to find what you need. Do not store items that only take up space. [1] When deciding if you need something, consider when you last used it, see if it’s in good condition and how much you have. If you don’t know how to use an item, release it.
Send unused items to a friend or donate to a local charity. If you have a lot of unwanted stuff, consider a garage sale.
You may have items like holiday dinnerware that you don’t use often but still want to keep. If you don’t have enough cabinet space to store them in your kitchen, it’s better to store them elsewhere. [3]
Clean your kitchen from top to bottom.
Dust the exterior of cabinets, appliances, and any decorative items. Wash and dry the inside and outside of cabinets and countertops with a soapy cloth and a clean dry cloth. Sweep and mop floors in the kitchen. Wash and dry any carpets and other fabrics in the kitchen.
You want to start from scratch! Since you’ll be removing everything from kitchen cabinets and drawers, now is the perfect time to put them away. Plus, you don’t want to put kitchen utensils and appliances in a layer of dust or grime!
Don’t leave the refrigerator! Organizing expert Donna Sumlin Cooper advises: “If you’re going to thoroughly clean your refrigerator, remove everything from the countertop. Also, remove any removable drawers. Start with the top shelf and remove Racks. Use cleaning spray and a microfiber cloth. Clean them up.” Wash the removable parts in warm soapy water, rinse well, dry and put them back in the freezer, then put the food back in its place.
Create activity areas based on how you use your kitchen.
Knowing how you will use your kitchen will make it easier to decide where to put your items. Here are some areas you can add:[4]
A place for coffee or tea: Keep a coffee maker or kettle within easy reach. Carry a cup and coffee or tea with you.
Cooking Station: Provides a place to prepare meals. Keep a cutting board, knife, measuring cup, and utensils near the place.
Kitchen Station: You will most likely place this area around the stove. Keep utensils and baking sheets close by.
Serving Station: If you have space, you can add a place to serve food. Choose an empty countertop and place a spoon nearby.
Choose easy-to-reach places for frequently used items.
These items should be easy to remove, use, clean and replace. Put them in the eye or waist next to the dishwasher, sink, or stove. Don’t stack items like pots and pans together if it means you have to dig to find what you need. [5]
This way, you can store your daily utensils in eye-level cabinets close to the stove.
Group similar items together.
For example, your categories might include cups, plates, plates, and storage boxes. Having these items in one place makes it easier to find and get what you need.
After sorting your projects into similar groups, make sure you don’t have too many projects. If you have more than you need, it’s a good idea to let go.
