Welcome to Day 12 of the 30 Days to Less of a Hot Mess Challenge! We're decluttering, reorganizing and getting some fresh air to make a home we love. If this is your first time joining, you may want to start here at the beginning. Affiliate links used for your convenience.
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Today we're going to tackle the kitchen!
I've been pretty consistent over the years about decluttering and cleaning out my kitchen. When I realize there's an appliance or gadget that's been sitting in the back of a cabinet or drawer for a long time, I just put it in my ongoing donation box.
I've done the entire room declutter before, and it has worked to keep things to a minimum. I've given away whole sets of glasses we received for our wedding, and sets of dishes too. Because truly? How many cups and plates does a family of four actually need?
I also threw out pretty much everything under my kitchen sink. I posted about that, and about organizing my spice cabinet and foil and plastic wrap, a few years ago. (click here) It's still in good, decluttered condition. I did end up getting rid of the organizing system I had under the sink, though. It just wasn't working for me.
So I bought one of these tiered organizers for the few cleaners I do keep under there, and it works like a charm!
I can see everything at once, and as long as nothing falls down behind it, it keeps everything in order.
Since the kitchen is the hub of the home, my biggest struggle is keeping the counters clear of every kind of randomness under the sun: random toys, homework papers, whatever my husband unloads from his pockets, random appliance boxes. Pretty much anything without a home ends up on my countertops.
This year I've committed to keeping the counters cleared off for good. I've added it to my daily list of home cleaning chores. Every night before bed I load the dishwasher, run it and wipe down the counters. Now I also clear off the top of the counter and wipe it down too. I cleared mine off last night in less than 15 minutes, and the difference is amazing! I don't know why I haven't made this a priority before!
5 Smart Kitchen Organizational Tips
Create a functional kitchen that works for you!
Here are some things I do in my kitchen to keep it tidy and running smoothly.
1. Store cups and plates nearest the dishwasher, or where you'll be serving with them.
Ideally I'd have a huge island in my kitchen with large drawers next to the dishwasher so I could unload in a hot second. But I don't.
I have an old-fashioned kitchen with upper cabinets. LOL
The space near my dishwasher is pretty small, since it's sandwiched between the fridge and the sink. But the one cabinet above the dishwasher holds all of our cups. It makes the most sense, because they have to be unloaded one at a time, and it's right next to the fridge, perfect for getting drinks. My dishes are above and to the right of the stove. This makes sense because they can be stacked straight out of the dishwasher, and this is where we serve dinner plates.
2. Keep a magnetic notepad on the side of the fridge to write down items as you run out of them.
It's easy to tear off the page and take it with you when you're making your grocery list. This has been a lifesaver for my sanity and my marriage. Ha! I found my notepads on Amazon (here).
3. Decant your most-used baking ingredients and label them clearly!
A few years back I put my sugar, flour and brown sugar in glass containers on the counter and labeled them with chalkboard labels. I wrote about them in this post about the importance of labels.
It has made cooking so much easier, since I can reach them quickly. I also think they look kind of cute!
Similar Glass Containers – here, here, here and here
Chalkboard Labels – here, or make your own with the Silhouette Cameo, like I did (post here)
4. Set aside one day of the week to clean out your fridge. No excuses!
I grocery shop on Monday mornings, so I always clean out my fridge on Sunday evenings. This keeps old food from turning into a science experiment in the back of the fridge. And it makes room for my new groceries coming home the next morning.
I *try* to wipe down the shelves when I clean it out, but I probably do that every other time.
This one tip has really changed my fridge organization over the past year. I'm ramping it up right now with some storage bins I'll be sharing soon, so stay tuned for more fridge, freezer and pantry organization!
RELATED: Tips on Refrigerator Organization
5. Buy stackable containers with easy-find lids, and your cabinets will thank you!
Also, you won't risk an avalanche of containers and lids every time you open the cabinet! I've used plastic containers for years and have been switching over to glass in the past year. I love these things!
So donate your old mismatched containers and get a set of the stackable kind. You'll thank me later, I promise!
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I hope you can use one of these tips, because they help me run a more organized home and kitchen!
Like I said, I'll be going into more depth on fridge and pantry organization very soon! It's a beast all by itself!
I'll also be sharing my meal planning tips and tricks. I've been perfecting my system for the past couple of years, and it works, so I can't wait to share it tomorrow!
The Messy Work: Tackle a decluttering project today! First, take a box and remove everything from your kitchen counters that doesn't belong there. Then carry the box around the house and put these things where they do belong (or donate or toss them)! THEN, find your worst cabinet or drawer and declutter & organize it! Remove everything in it, decide what you love or use, put it back in an organized way, and donate or toss the rest! Ahhhh, so much better!!
In the mess with you, Laura
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