In order for a kitchen to function well, it must be well organized.
Organizing is not a one-and-one activity. It needs to be repeated at least once a year.
Follow the steps below to organize your kitchen.
photo courtesy of AtlantaScott http://www.flickr.com/photos/atlantascott/3388086143/Get Rid of Clutter
You must first get rid of all of the cliutter in your kitchen for it to be organized.
Remove newspapers, mail, toys, cell phone cords, backpacks, and other items that tend to get dumped there.
Find another spot to start putting these items in the future.
Remove Duplicates and Unused Items
Do you need 2 toasters, 2 wisks, a salad spinner, or a fondue set?
Get rid of what you have not used in 1 year and duplicates that are unnecessary.
If you use something only once per year, such as a large holiday bowl, consider putting it into a storage closet instead of having it take up room in your newly organized kitchen.
Near Where You Need It
Before moving items around, come up with an organizing plan of where everything will go.
Kitchen items should be near where they will be used. Cookie sheets should be near the oven. Pots should be near the cooktop. Dish soap should be near the sink. Silverware and plates should be near your breakfast room or dining room (wherever you eat most often).
Write everything down on paper before proceeding so you don't forget about items.
Children
If you have children, consider their ages and abilities when deciding what to put where in your kitchen.
If you have preschool aged children, sharp objects should be put out of their reach.
If you have school aged children, you may want to put their plates and cups at a lower level so they can start to help themselves.
Organizational Supplies
Visit the organizational section of your local big box store, hardware store, or organization store to see what types of gizmos and gadgets they have for the kitchen.
You can add drawer dividers, pull out drawers, wire shelves, hooks for the inside of cabinet doors, or other organizing items to make your kitchen more efficient and organized.
Remove Everything and Clean
Starting with one cabinet, remove everything from that cabinet and clean the inside very well.
Even if everything will remain inside that cabinet, use this opportunity to discover items lost in the back and dust hidden in interesting places.
After it is clean, you can load up that cabinet with any organizational products that you purchased for that cabinet and the items that belong in that space.
Clean Countertop
Many people like to decorate their kitchen with items that are decorative but not at all functional.
Avoid adding items that get in the way and add cluitter to your kitchen.
This includes fake ivy on top of the cabinets, decorative platters that collect dust, and fancy oil bottles that will never get opened.
If you feel the need to decorate, consider adding clear glass jars filled with items you will actualy use - such as flour, brown sugar, pasta, rice, and beans.
Instead of using easel picture frames that take up counter space, use wall mounted picture frames.
Ditch the plastic soap container for a decorative one or one that is built in.
Consider using a paper towel dispenser that is mounted under your cabinets instead of freestanding on the countertop.
Avoid putting all of your appliances on top of your countertop. Only put appliances out if they are used every day - such as a coffee pot.
If an appliance is left on your countertop, make sure it is an attractive appliance, not a cheap discolored one from 20 years ago.
