Last time I featured my friend, Sidney from “Need Organizing?”, she showed us how to combat clutter, once and for all. Today we are focusing on the epicenter of the home, the room where everything important takes place: the kitchen. Many of the newer houses are built with an open floor plan, emphasizing the importance of the kitchen as the heart of the house. Keeping it clean, organized and clutter-free becomes vital, as a majority of our family time is spent in the kitchen.
The kitchen is also the home to bulky appliances, gadgets, food and supplies. Use Sidney’s tried and true tips to keep your kitchen organized and reduce food prep and clean up times.
Smart Kitchen Organization Tips:
- Clearing out and organizing one cabinet or drawer at a time is key. The kitchen can be a huge project and can take up an entire day to get done. Start small, but the important part is that you START!
- Begin by purging the no brainers like chipped cups, plates and worn out Rubbermaid storage containers with no lids.
- Make sure to wipe clean all drawers, cabinets and counter space before returning items. When is the next time you will have all your silverware out at once?
- Once a year take stock of what you have in your kitchen. Ask yourself as you go through each item “when did I use this last?” If your answer is “never” or “hardly ever” it’s time to purge. Donate it or toss it if it’s in bad condition.
- Keep items near their place of use. Store pots and pans, cooking utensils, potholders, and spices near the oven or cooktop.
Dishes and silverware should be near the dishwasher or the table, for easy access. - Hooks can be attached to the inside of a cabinet door to hold items like measuring spoons/ cups and large utensils to help free up some extra space.
- Keep flour, sugar and baking soda on one shelf, cereal containers on another then canned goods and so on. All too often things get placed on shelves with no purpose or reason, you should be able to have anyone come in to your kitchen (even your mother-in-law) and find what they need!
- Spices can take up plenty of space, so make sure to toss old or unused spices they do have a shelf life. Use a cabinet shelf so that they can all be seen clearly.
- Cleaning supplies should be in a place for easy accessibility but away from the children. Keep the extras in another location with other bulk cleaning items.
- Use bins or baskets in your pantry to group items like snacks, dry soup mixes, baby food etc. they will look tidy and give that uncluttered look.
[bctt tweet=”#Declutter your #kitchen in no time. Have more time to enjoy your kids! @NeedOrganizing1″ username=”MamaintheNow”]
For more every-day organizing tips, please follow Sidney on Facebook.
What is your favorite organizing tip!?!
Sidney Young
Need Organzing? Phone: 561 401-1832
Member of (NAPO) National Association of Professional Organizers
Read Sidney’s other kitchen organization tips and hacks:
“Live Clutter-free – For Good!”
Get the Best Kitchen Command Center Ideas from a Professional
Great kitchen cleaning tips: “Declutter and Spring Clean the Kitchen for Good“
Can you tell Sidney to book it to my house please?! I need an organizer for my kitchen and my life!
Sidney is all the rage with the local moms here. She comes to your house, she’s a mom too – down to earth – AWESOME! You should consider having her swing by… I love her!
Great tips. Easier said than done. I’m okay once I get started. It’s the first step that’s tough because it’s an day job.
I definitely need to organize my kitchen a little bit more. I got most of the way done last year, but there were some good tips here that I wish I had known then! Thanks for the tips!
These are some big pointers. I always get overwhelmed when it comes to doing the whole kitchen thing. I will follow your lead. Thank you for sharing
For me the hardest part is always getting started… – after that I am so glad I did!
These are great tips, we moved into our house two years ago and while I have organized areas of the kitchen here and there, it could really use an overhaul. Thanks for the tips!
Love this, I’m working on my craft room now but think the kitchen is next. TFs.
Where is Sydney located??? lol I do need my kitchen organized. That is where everybody ends up congregating! And it is so cluttered. Thanks for the awesome tips.
Love the hooks inside cabinet idea! I struggle so much with kitchen organization! I swear some of my drawers are seemingly overflowing every time you open them! Thanks so much for these great ideas!
To make more room in the freezer we put our meat in freezer bags before storing them.I always date the bags and try to rotate items as they’re put away.
Great tips…thank you for sharing…
thank you for some great tips, i try to purge things i dont need or use, my 3 dogs’ things take up more room in my kitchen cabinets and drawers than i do though.
I love the idea of hooks inside cupboard doors. They are out of the way, and organized. Same thing with lids for tupperware. Hooks with be up this week! I have been organizing a little at a time. I sound some plastic bins with lids for odds and ends for $1, I bought 6 of them, they are great for seasoning packets too.