How to declutter your kitchen and keep it clean and tidy
Are you tired of having a messy, cluttered kitchen? Has your dining table or kitchen counters turned into a drop zone? Now is the best time to declutter your kitchen to create a space you enjoy. A clean and tidy kitchen will make cooking homemade meals and spending quality time with your family around a dining table enjoyable. The kitchen will be ready for your following meals, making avoiding takeout or fast food easier.
Even if you do not spend much time in the kitchen, having a clean and tidy kitchen will create a calm space in your home. Below are a few steps to help you declutter your kitchen and keep it clean and tidy.
Items you need
-
- Trash bags for trash
- Boxes for donating
- Box for maybe items
Easy steps to declutter the kitchen and keep it clean and tidy
1. Start in the storage areas
It would be best to start in storage areas like drawers and cabinets. Beginning in these areas, you can create space to store items that were on your kitchen counters, like knives or spatulas. This way, you can avoid cluttered counters, making cleaning easier. Start with the junk drawer—we all have a junk drawer—then the top cabinets, followed by the bottom cabinets.
2. One area at a time
Start by working on one area at a time to make this process easier and more productive. Depending on the size of your kitchen and the number of items you have, you may need more than one day. So, working on one area at a time will help make this process less daunting.
Remove all the items in the space, go through all the items, and throw away any trash you may have in drawers. Also, you can throw away items that are broken or cannot be donated. Now, you have all the items out of the storage areas, and it is easy to see what you have.
3. Clean the space
Take the time to clean this space since who knows how long it has been since it was cleaned. Giving this space a good wipe-down that removes dirt, dust, or any little critters will make the space ready for you to organize your items back neatly. While cleaning the inside of drawers and cabinets, clean the outside of the drawers and cabinets and the top of the cabinets, where you will probably find more dust.
4. Declutter
This is one of the most critical steps to keep your kitchen clean and tidy. Avoid having duplicates; items that have not been used in six months can be donated. Chances are that the item will not be used later in the future. If you have an item that is less than $20 and you are debating whether to get rid of it, feel free to donate it. Especially if it is an item you haven’t used or a duplicate.
If you realize you made the mistake of decluttering the item, at least it was less than $20. Again, chances are you will not need to replace the item. I have not decluttered an item and later regretted decluttering cause I needed the item.
You can store items in the maybe box and put a date one month later. If you do not need those items within that month, quickly take the box to the donation center to avoid clutter. When I declutter, I like to imagine that I will be moving to a new, smaller place. Does this item have value in this smaller space? Thinking this way will make decisions easier.
You can find my 21-day decluttering challenge to help declutter your home.
5. Put like items together
When you are ready to place items back into storage areas, put like items together. For example, you might have a drawer of office supplies, a drawer with batteries, and small tools. You can have a spice drawer. Place settings all go in one area, and coffee mugs in another.
6. Make it functional for your family
Now that you have decluttered your kitchen, you must make it functional for your family. Keep items that you use and need during this time. Be realistic when you keep items. For example, if you have a family of four, keep the plate setting for four people and maybe a few extra.
Same with silverware, coffee mugs, and water bottles. If someone in the house drinks coffee, make a space on the counter with the coffee maker and store the ingredients within reach.
All spices should be near reach and near where you season your food. Your cookware should also be close by and ready to use.
7. Fewer items, less clutter
The fewer items you have, the less clutter you will have. Fewer dishes lead to fewer dishes to wash. Fewer items will give you space in the cabinets to store the items you do not use daily or use for less than five minutes. For example, a toaster oven, blender, or knife set can all be items you can store away to avoid visual clutter.
8. Keep counters clear
Keeping your counters clear with minimal items will make it easy to give them a quick wipe down daily, making it very easy to keep your kitchen clean and tidy. Even though you may use a toaster every morning, think about how long you have it out versus how long it can be in the cabinet.
The same goes with a blender. If you make a smoothie daily, it only takes a few minutes to make a smoothie, so store it once you are done using and washing it. The only thing I keep on the counter is an appliance, which is the coffee maker. After use, I store everything else in the cabinets.
If you like displaying seasonal decorations, keep them minimal to avoid cluttering the area.
9. Avoid buying kitchen items
When making a purchase, consider if you need an item. You already decluttered, cleaned the space, and stored things back in. Do you want to add more items to your kitchen? Avoid buying items just because you think you need them. See if there is something you already have that is similar or can do the same thing before you make a purchase.
If you buy an item, see what you can remove to avoid creating a cluttered kitchen and practicing the one-in-one-out rule. Anytime you bring one item in, you should remove one item.
10. Maintain
While making dinner, clean the utensils you used and return any ingredients you used. By cleaning as you cook, you avoid taking longer when you are done eating dinner and are too full and tired.
When bringing items into the kitchen, put them away instead of on the kitchen counter. Do a quick, less than five-minute kitchen reset before your nighttime routine so you wake up with a clean kitchen.
Get your family involved in maintaining the kitchen. If one cooks, the other can wash the dishes, dry them, and put them away. Depending on the kids’ ages, they can help clean their silverware and dishware, which will take them little time.
Read my 15 Easy Habits for a Clean and Tidy Home.
Final thoughts
There is a unique satisfaction in having a clean and tidy kitchen. By decluttering items you do not use or have duplicates of and keeping only those you use, you create a space you can truly enjoy. The feeling of accomplishment that comes with a decluttered kitchen is unparalleled.
Everything else should be donated to help keep your kitchen functional. Keeping a kitchen functional will make your meals easier to prepare and fill you with a sense of pride for maintaining such a clean and organized space.
Comment below and let me know what you do to keep a clean and tidy home.