6 simple ways to de-clutter your kitchen
Do you find yourself buried under an avalanche of saucepan lids and mismatched Tupperware every time you open the kitchen cupboard? Then it’s time for a clean out.
Purge
It’s going to get worse before it gets better. Empty out those crowded cupboards and overstuffed drawers. Odds are you only use less than half of the stuff you have in there. Over the years you’ve probably accumulated at least a dozen wooden spoons, plenty of mismatched mugs and innumerable other pieces of plastic. This also applies to food cupboards – you’d probably be surprised how many items in there are well past their used by date. Give the inside of the cupboards a good clean and start repacking the things you want to keep.
Mix and match
Plastic containers aren’t much good without their lids, yet just about every kitchen has a huge set of mismatched ones. Organise them into their sets and ditch anything that doesn’t have a partner. This is also a good time to throw out anything that is overly stained or scratched – the plastic can be breaking down, meaning you’ll be absorbing it along with your leftovers.
Maximise space
There are plenty of storage spaces outside your regular cupboards. Large pots or containers you don’t use very often can live in the space between the top of the cupboards and the ceiling. Hanging shoe organisers can be put on the back of the pantry door to store small items that usually clutter your drawers. Same goes for aprons and tea towels on a hook.
Streamline your appliances
When was the last time you actually used that complicated juicer? Every kitchen has a few superfluous appliances hiding away in the cupboards. They are supposed to make our lives easier but very often they are complicated to assemble and tough to clean. Go through all your appliances and first throw out anything that’s broken, rusty or missing some parts. Then decide if you actually use the remaining items. If not, give it to a family member or donate it to a charity.
Make a plan
Kitchens often become such a mess because they aren’t laid out in a logical way. Put the things you use most frequently together and in a place that doesn’t require you to move other items around every time you want them. It makes sense to keep the tea and coffee near the kettle, but a lot of people don’t. If you make the kitchen flow better, you’ll also be less likely to feel as if its cramped or you’re on top of your partner every time you want a cup of tea.
Go all the way
Once the initial burst of enthusiasm for the de-cluttering process wears off, it’s often tempting to just shove all the leftover bits in ‘the drawer’. Every kitchen has one of those drawers. It’s the final resting place for all the bits and bobs that we can’t find another home for. Resist the temptation and finish the job – either throw out that half a box of tea light candles or find a permanent place for them. Knowing you don’t have a fallback junk drawer will help you stay organised in the long run.
Related links:
12 cleaning tricks for hard-to-clean areas around the home
Homemade laundry powder and fabric softener recipes
How to make your own cleaning wipes