A cluttered house makes life challenging in so many ways. It’s hard to find things and to get things done when things are in disarray. Which part of the house is often the messiest? Kitchen cabinets and their contents are among the most cluttered areas of a home. If you’re like most people, the cabinets in your kitchen are the heart of your cooking process. Yet over time, those cabinets can become a mess of random spice containers, mismatched dishes, and expired items.
When you open your kitchen cabinets, you might discover you’ve randomly crammed boxes, cans, and other supplies inside and shut the door. Out of sight, out of mind, until you need them! If you’re tired of disorganized kitchen cabinets cramping your style, commit to giving them a clean-up. Here’s a 4-step plan to declutter your kitchen cabinets you can put into action.
Empty Your Kitchen Cabinets
There’s no way around it; everything needs to come out of your cabinets for the big clean-up. Take all items out of your cupboards and set them on the counter or table. Sort through the items and throw away foods items that are spoiled, expired, or no longer used. Sort the remaining items into groups by like items. Keep non-food supplies together such as pots and pans, paper goods, or plastic storage containers.
For all items that aren’t clearly marked, attach a label so you know what’s inside. Throw away items that are broken or you no longer need. Discard items that are redundant too. Do you really need five plastic measuring cups when you have a more durable glass one? Make sure everything you place back in your cabinets are items you use. Don’t keep them because you don’t like tossing things. If they’re still in decent shape and you don’t use them, donate instead.
Clean-Up Time
Wipe down the inside surfaces of each cupboard with a cleaning product and place the like items in a box or bag marked with their name on it. Save space by investing in stackable containers you can store inside one another on shelves. These handy kitchen accessories will give you more space. Clean the outside of the cabinets too, to remove fingerprints and smudges. Look at the floors of your cabinets. If they have stains you can’t remove, now might be a good time to add a shelf liner before placing items back in your cabinets. The easiest ones come with adhesive on the back, so they readily stick to the base of your cabinets.
Reorganize Your Kitchen Items
You’ve removed all the items from your kitchen cabinets, cleaned the cabinets, thrown out items that are expired or unusable, and placed items together that are alike. Now it’s time to place kitchen supplies back into your newly cleaned cabinets in a logical manner that will best serve you.
Organize items by type and place them together. Smaller items that you have multiples of go in containers or baskets that are clearly labeled. Nothing worse than not knowing what’s in a container and having to open it only to find the item you’re looking for is in another container. Think about how often you use items when you store them. If it’s items you use often, store them within easy reach. Keep the items you use less often in the higher cabinets.
If you buy items from bulk bins invest in sturdy air-tight cannisters to hold these items. They’ll last longer and hold up better. Don’t forget to label each item.
Relocate Items You Use Only on Occasion
You probably have appliances you only use every few weeks, like an espresso maker or a juice extractor. These items take up a lot of room. Some people store them on the kitchen counter but that gives you less counter space. If possible, relocate them to a closet somewhere else. You’ll feel a sense of relief having the extra cabinet AND counter space.
The Bottom Line
Enjoy having less cluttered, more organized kitchen cabinets, but don’t let the clutter build up again. Put items back in its respective container, so it’s easy to find the next time. You’ll enjoy preparing meals more when your kitchen isn’t a disaster zone. Enjoy your newly organized kitchen space!