Tips to Get Your Kitchen Organized

Your home is your first and last destination each and every day. This the place where you’re supposed to experience calm and relaxation – where you feel in control and peaceful. In most homes, the kitchen embodies the heart and soul of the family, and as a consequence, it gets lots of traffic. It’s a great idea to keep this area organized, so here are some tips you can use to help get your kitchen in good working order.

First, make an inventory. Really look at your kitchen and evaluate what you have in there. What is seldom used? What items are used most often? If there are utensils, tools, or appliances which are broken, which no longer work, or which you just don’t want, then sell them, give them away, or donate them if possible.

Once you decide what to keep and what to discard, everything that remains should serve a definite purpose. Tools or equipment you use every day are best kept close to hand so you can get to them easily. Cooking utensils, for example, can be stored in containers on the stove, rather than taking up valuable space in drawers or on the counter. The main thing to think about here is accessibility.

It’s sometimes useful to divide your kitchen into separate work areas. Each area can accommodate certain activities or functions, such as meal planning, food preparation, cooking, serving, or storage, although there can often be some overlap in the use of these areas. What are the elements used in each of these areas? Where can such items be kept within the areas? Always consider how you work and cook in the space, and place items accordingly so you can use them efficiently.

Next, empty out all the drawers and cupboards and group similar items together. For instance, glasses should be organized with other glasses, plastic containers with plastic containers, pots and pans with other pots and pans, etc. If you haven’t successfully removed old, broken, or unused items by this point, finish going through everything and complete the job. The same goes for items in your pantry, refrigerator, and freezer – now’s the time to get rid of food you’re never going to eat. (Don’t forget to donate properly-dated canned food to shelters or charities.)

Now that you’re down to only usable, useful items, it’s time to put things away. This is when you should take into account the preparation and cooking areas and the items used regularly in each designated space. If possible, place items close to the areas in which they’ll be used; for example, pots, pans, and whisks should be placed near the stove, while bowls, cups, and measuring equipment can be placed near – or even in – the oven.

Small appliances, sharp utensils, and cleaning chemicals must be placed where children can’t reach them. Rarely used tools and other items should be stored on shelves or in overhead cabinets. In the pantry, place your canned items together, then organize other foods according to type.

Make your life easier and less stressful by organizing your kitchen work space and assigning specific tasks to specific areas. Having a clean, organized, and efficient kitchen will make your work flow more smoothly, so you’ll be able to enjoy preparing and serving delicious and nutritious meals to your family and friends.

Author:
Joann Jameson