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In the kitchen we come and go many times a day, we keep clean or unclean dishes on the countertops, there is a lot of water work to clean those dishes too many times a day. We have food items or ingredients kept in bottles, on the shelves, and different spots. Because of these things, there is often a mess that keeps swaying there.

Along with keeping those countertops and dishes clean, organizing and arranging kitchen stuff also influences its structure. Here are some basic storage ideas you wish you’d known earlier to organize the entire space keeping your kitchen neat and clean.

A Towel Rack Against The Wall

As you need to do a lot of cleaning from the countertops and shelves now and then, a paper towel is a must-have thing in your kitchen. If you already have a paper towel rack on the counter, switch it to the wall. Use a rack that you can stick to the wall to have more counter space.

Holder For Cutlery, Cooking, And Eating Utensils

Leaving those old ladles and fainted forks and spoons, knives with slight dents on the shelves surely don’t give a fine look to the kitchen. Who would want to waste the whole effort of putting things in an organized way by leaving them free? Of course, no one. Keep utensil holders so all that stuff stays in one place and replace those old cutlery sets with a new one with modern style forks and spoons, really good knives, and burnt-free ladles.

Garbage Can Under The Sink

A garbage container laying in the corner with no lid is a step back from cleanliness. And if it has a lid, it looks unpleasant. Keep the garbage can hidden under the sink cabinet to save the corner space, keeping your kitchen clean and safe from filthy crumbs.

A Convenient Spot For Cutting Board

Almost everyone keeps their cutting boards on the top of counters or hangs them against the wall. What if there is another cool idea to manage this wooden slate in a more organized way? Pull-out trays will be a cool addition in this regard. Insert those trays inside the countertops and pull them out whenever you need to cut your veggies and meat stuff.

Tiny Compartments For Spice Bottles

If your spice containers on the top of counters are too many in numbers and are occupying a whole space, you might wish to shift them all away in the upper cabinets. But these little flakes are used more frequently and if you put them away it will be a little irritating for you to reach for them every time you are cooking or adding flavors to your meals. inserting small compartment racks behind the counters and against the wall that matches the backsplash will be a great solution.

Adjustable Plates And Cups Organizer

Although you have large cabinets inside the kitchen, still there are some tiny pots and plates that are used more after every hour, and taking them out and putting them back inside the cabinets, again and again, is a kind of pain. You can’t keep them on the counters either. So keep them in the adjustable organizers to free up space from that stack.

No Piles Inside The Cabinet

Some people like to keep their cooking pots hidden and insert them over one another inside the cabinet as a pile. Sometimes many platters inside a single cabinet with no proper arrangement won’t portray a good image if any guest sees it by any chance. If your kitchen is looking well organized from the outside, make sure you keep it organized from the inside too. If your pots are pretty, hang them on a hanging rack and keep expandable organizers in the cabinet to organize the sets of plates and saucers.

Hidden Spot For Cleaning Stuff

Instead of keeping the cleaning stuff like dirty sponges and dishwashers under the spotlight for everyone to see, make a hidden spot or keep them inside sneaky spots where you can reach them easily without displaying them. Keep other cleaning supplies such as swipers and mobs inside the empty cabinet for clean surroundings.

Photos By: Unsplash

However, if you set up a system that works, it can be a breeze to keep your kitchen in order. If you’re sorting things out because you plan on renovating, you can find many great kitchen cabinets online to help with keeping things tidy. Then, follow our fool-proof kitchen organization tips to begin 2021 off with a fresh start.

First Things First

Before you start organizing your kitchen, it’s crucial to keep some things in mind. For starters, consider how much time you have available to declutter, clean, and organize items. If you only have a few hours a day, break things up into smaller chunks. This way, you don’t have to deal with a cluttered mess when you run out of time. Instead of doing everything in one go, focus on a specific section at a time.

While you’re pulling everything out of your cupboards, you’ll probably notice a lot of dusty stuff. It might be a good idea to have some hot and soapy water in your kitchen sink to help you clean your cooking utensils as you go along. Additionally, when you empty each cabinet, make sure to give it a thorough scrubbing as well.

Step 1: Figure Out the Functions of Your Kitchen

Before you begin, you need to decide how you and your family use your kitchen. Naturally, there are obvious functions, like cooking and food storage, but you can also use the space for many other things. Here are some examples:

• Eating
• Cooking
• Food storage
• Recycling space
• Homework and office area
• Socializing area
• Family planner, calendar, and to-do lists
• A place to drop off things when you come home

You can use your kitchen for as many things as you like, provided you have space. Expert Nathan James says figure out your family’s needs, and plan the room around them. If there are functions you can move to another area of the house, consider doing that as well.

Step 2: Declutter Your Kitchen Cabinets

The next step is to get rid of the things you don’t need to make room for the items you require. As mentioned earlier, it’s easier to focus on one cabinet at a time. The aim is to ensure your kitchen drawers open and close with ease and that you can quickly get what you need without having to look for too long. On the other hand, your drawers should be organized in a way that eliminates constant stacking and restacking to find the items you need.

Try to be ruthless and remove things you know you don’t use, and rehome items that belong elsewhere in your home. You can use the KonMari method for some inspiration. Here’s a brief list of the items you should get rid of in your kitchen:

• Broken and damaged items
• Duplicate pieces
• Things you no longer use
• Containers with missing lids

Step 3: Sort and Organize Your Kitchen Items

Now, you should sort the things you’ve decided to keep in your kitchen into three categories:

• Everyday use
• Regular use
• Rarely used

Since you only have a limited amount of space, it’s crucial to organize your items accordingly. Some of your drawers are easy to access, while others require a bit more maneuvering. As a general rule of thumb, you should put the things you use every day in places that are quick to reach, while the rarely used items can be kept in the least accessible spots. It’s also handy to sort your items according to different zones, like food preparation, cooking, dishes, eating, food storage, and kitchen junk. This way, you can place stuff in logical places that are easy to reach when you need them.

Closing Thoughts

If you want to maintain a harmonious household, you need to ensure your kitchen is functional and organized. By following these top tips, you can declutter and sort your kitchen items to suit your family’s needs.

One thing that most homeowners always deal with is a cluttered kitchen and not enough countertop space. There is always appliances, food, containers, you name it, littering the countertops and taking up valuable space. There are some simple ways you can easily free up more countertop space with the right organization and storage. Here are some ingenious storage ideas that are bound to make some more space on your countertops. Take a look:

Utensil and Spice Rack

Want to know an easy weekend cleaning hack that will save you half the time to clean your countertops? If you are like me and have a bunch of random utensils and spices that you use on the daily, make it convenient for yourself by arranging them into one practical basket. This shallow woven basket make a great tray to store a bunch of knick-knacks but have them at arms length. It’s also a wonderful solution to group clutter on your countertop, but make it look organized.

BETTER HOUSEKEEPER TIP: If you have a tiny countertop space, one of your ultimate goals is to keep it clear and keep things off of it. Sometimes it can actually be tricky and your countertops seem like a magnet for clutter. You should always try to sneak things away in convenient locations such as hanging paper towels underneath your cabinets on a towel rod, or keep sponges on caddies that hang inside your sink. Get creative, and you will soon realize that keeping your countertops clear, is easier than you think!

Photo: RemoveClutter.info

Food Produce Wood Stand

This cute wood produce stand will make it feel like you are picking fresh fruits and vegetables every single day! It’s also a really pretty home decorating idea that is also super practical. It’s so easy to make using two wooden crates and lining them with a potato sack. This is a great way to organize your kitchen and also add a little extra storage space for potatoes, onions, and fruit that otherwise may not fit into your fridge.

The only thing you may want to watch out for with this wood produce stand is filter through your stand at least once a week. It’s so easy to keep taking fruit from the top and forgetting about what’s on the bottom, which means a perfect breeding ground for mould and rotten produce. Before you re-stock it with fresh fruits and vegetables, do a quick once over to see if there is anything “old” left on the bottom.

Photo: Hative

Easy Knife Block

Knife blocks are great space savers in your drawers and are smart way to keep your knives sharp and in chef-ready condition. The purpose of knife blocks is to keep the blades dry and to prevent rusting. Many people have complained about wooden knife blocks actually dulling their blades, so a smart blogger has actually come up with a bean-filled glass vase that serves as a knife block. What an ingenious way to store knives and keep them at hand for a fun day of cooking! You can also use something like this to store special utensils such as a Buffalo Horn Handle Corkscrew that may not fit anywhere in your drawers.

BETTER HOUSEKEEPER TIP: Most professional knives already come with knife blocks, which is usually the preferred method of storage. If your knives currently do not have a knife block, create one on your own just like this one. It’s much better than to have your knives rattling around in the drawer with other metal objects leading to damage and dulling of the blade.

Photo: Migonis Home

Easy Schedule Planning Station

It may be hard keeping your life on track, especially if you have a house full of kids. It’s easy to get everything organized with your own little DIY schedule planning station. Some people call this their own home command center, whatever you may call it, it’s one of the best things i’ve implemented into my home. Instead of sticking appointments and notes all over your fridge, organize them conveniently into a filing box at the end of your countertop. You’ll thank yourself for staying organized and being on time once and for all!

BETTERHOUSEKEEPER TIP: Most people organize their planning stations right where their home phone is, making it a convenient place for taking notes, charging cellphones, organizing appointments and updating their home schedule.

Photo: Lovely craft Home

Want to organize your kitchen even more? You may want to read out last post on: How to Make Sure Your Kitchen Always Runs Smoothly

Spring is the perfect time for getting your kitchen organized and sparkling clean. Most people dread tackling the kitchen, but with some careful planning and a little bit of elbow grease you’ll have it looking spick and span in no time. With the help of kitchen specialist: Mayfair Granite we have put together the ultimate guide to cleaning and organizing your kitchen this spring!

Photo: Anthony Crissafulli

1. Get Your Supplies Together

It’s important to have your cleaning supplies ready before deep cleaning your kitchen, as it’s hard to get back into the zone if you have to go out and buy more supplies. Some of the supplies you will need are:

A good multi-surface cleaner or soapy water Dish cloths and spongesA broom and mop Floor cleaner A small bucket with a handleOven cleanerStepladderVacuum cleanerGarbage bags

Now that you have your supplies together you will need to do a quick pre-clean to create space to work in. Wash up and put away any dirty dishes, clear the worktops and remove any clutter that does not belong in the kitchen.

Photo: Dura Supreme Cabinetry

2. Let’s start!  Organizing and Cleaning the Pantry

Empty all of the food, condiments and spices out of the pantry and lay them on your worktop. Check each label and throw away anything that is out of date, stale or empty; it’s also a good idea to keep a list of the things you throw out so you can replenish them if need be.

For cooking staples such as flour, pasta and rice it is recommended that once opened that you put them into well-labeled airtight containers to keep them fresh and ready to use when needed.

Wipe down all shelves, sides and doors with soapy water or kitchen cleaner; once dry you can start to refill the pantry. Start by arranging like items together i.e. all condiments or spices in the same area so they are easier to find and always put the oldest items at the front if you have multiples of the same product.

3. Organizing the Fridge/freezer 

Put your fridge/freezer into defrost mode or turn it off at the plug, remove all of the produce and place them in a cool spot for organizing. Check all of the labels and throw out any expired food.

Remove any shelves and drawers and clean them really well with hot soapy water or kitchen cleaner. To eliminate tough odors, mix a combination of baking soda, water, and vinegar. Then, wipe down the inside of the fridge/freezer making sure to get into all the hard to reach areas. For stubborn ice build-up use plastic utensils to chip away at the ice until it’s been removed.

Once clean, replace all of the shelves and drawers and place your food back in an organized fashion making sure that produce such as vegetables and condiments and stored together.

4. Cleaning the Oven

Before using an oven cleaner make sure that the kitchen is well ventilated and follow all of the safety precautions on the manufacturer’s label. Remove all of the shelves from the oven, these can be washed separately. Use a spoon or blunt blade to remove excess food residue and apply oven cleaner to the interior as per the labels instructions.

Leave the solution to work for at least 30 minutes (longer the better) and use a medium bristled brush to scrub the interior. Wipe off excess cleaner with a washable cloth and some soapy water, rinsing your cloth regularly to avoid spreading dirt around. Replace the clean shelves and clean the exterior and hob with soapy water or multi-surface cleaner.

5. Clean Other Appliances 

Clean all other appliances one by one until they are done. Some appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines come with self-cleaning modes, which are ideal for cleaning the inside, but you will still have to clean the exterior with soapy water or multi-surface cleaners.

6. The Final Phase, Worktops and Floor

The majority of the kitchen should be nice and clean now, so it’s onto the final phase. Remove any remaining clutter from the worktops to get them as clear as possible and clean with multi-surface cleaner; for shiny surfaces such as granite or quartz, glass cleaner can bring back a shine to the surface. For wooden cabinets and doors, use furniture polish to brighten them up too.

For the floor, start by sweeping any dust and debris into a dustpan and discard. Spot clean any sticky or stained areas first then mop the whole floor with a heavy duty floor cleaner.

It may seem like a daunting task to clean and organize your kitchen, but breaking it down into sections really helps to keep you on track, and your kitchen looking great this spring.

Photo: Ellen Grasso & Sons, LLC

MORE KITCHEN IDEAS:

1) Smart Kitchen Makeover: These 7 Must-Have Ideas Will Save Your Life

2) 7 Cheap Ways to Update Your Kitchen Cabinets

3) IKEA Hack: Make Your Own Kitchen Island