Get Organized and Stay Clean
Here we go! Make sure you give yourself several hours or more to get this job done. You will make a big mess before it all comes together in the end. Gather the following items before you begin.
- boxes for things to donate
- garbage bags for trash or things that are broken, expired or too trashed to give away
- Towels or blankets to lay stuff on when you run out of space on your island or table
You are going to empty every drawer, cupboard and shelf in your kitchen. You will also need to clear off all the counters under the cabinets. Clean each drawer and cupboard as you empty it. As you pull things out you are going to first decide if it is garbage or if you haven’t used it in a year then put it in the donate box. Then put the things you are keeping into groups with similar items. Theses are some possible groups:
- dishes
- glasses
- eating utensils
- serving dishes
- baking tools
- cooking utensils
- Sharp items like knives, microplane, can opener, pizza cutter, cheese cutter etc.
- mixing bowls
- pots and pans
- baking pans like cookie sheets, muffin tins, cake and bread pans
- stoneware
- Casserole dishes 9×13, 8×9 etc.
- small appliances and gadgets
- cookbooks
- seasonal items
- dish towels, oven mitts, aprons, tablecloths
- water bottles
- Tupperware
- ziplock bags, tin foil etc.
- cleaning supplies
You get the idea. You will also put your food into categories as well. For example all your baking supplies together, all your pastas together, canned foods, snack food etc.
Remember how I told you to pay attention for a week in your kitchen. Now is the time you need to remember what you discovered about yourself and anyone else that lives with you.
First I want you to put the items on your counters that you want out. You can build zones from there. You may have a coffee making zone, baking zone, breakfast zone, cooking zone etc. Let me show you my kitchen so you can see what I mean by zones.
This is my “baking zone”. I used to keep my kitchen aid on the counter but right now I am storing it in the pantry. I tend to make treats way too often when it’s easily accessible on the counter top.
I know I am using an entire drawer for treats. My youngest was diagnosed with Diabetes in May of 2020. I used to keep treats up high in a container in the pantry but we moved it to a drawer so she could easily get a treat if her blood sugars are low. If I still had little kids at home I would put kids dishes, coloring books and some small toys in this drawer.
Cleaning out the “junk drawer”
Click on the links below to see my FB live videos where I cleaned out my junk drawer!
https://fb.watch/9kXBcStMti/ https://fb.watch/9kXGV3BI_y/
Your kitchen will look different from mine but the foundation of zones will help with the flow and function of your kitchen. You may have noticed some of the items I use in my organization. I will add links below. I don’t get anything from these companies for sharing this information. These are items I have personally purchased that I like.
VARIERA From IKEA
I use these everywhere in my house! Pantry, cupboards, drawers, closets, on desks and even in my fridge!
- Large size 13 1/4 x 9 1/2 $4.50ea
- Small size 9 1/2 x 6 3/4 $2.79ea
The Target shoe rack I used in my pantry
I was limited in this space by the height of my bottom shelf and the width and depth of space underneath. This is what I came up with. Sometimes we need to look for storage solutions in unexpected places!
https://www.target.com/p/two-tier-wire-mesh-shoe-rack-made-by-design/-/A-53308479Target Mesh containers in pantry
https://www.target.com/p/short-metal-sweater-bin-13-w-x-13-d-x-6-25-h-made-by-design-153/-/A-53222725?preselect=53177909#lnk=sametabAmazon canned food organizers
Wire Shelves
Mine are similar to these ones found on Amazon. I purchased mine at Homegoods.
That’s it! Take your trash out and load your vehicle with anything you are going to donate. Clean up any blankets or towels you used to put stuff on. This was a big project but it feels so good when it is finished. Maintaining organization in your kitchen is doable. Take everyone in your home on a tour of your newly organized space so they will be familiar with the new set up. I will be honest my family still ends up putting things away in the wrong places, but that is life and they are getting better all the time. If I were you I would order dinner out tonight so you can enjoy your perfectly organized and clean kitchen for at least half a day!
The following picture is my favorite thing in my kitchen. My sister Brita gave it to me. She won it at an auction. I keep it on the counter because I love it and I don’t have any walls in my kitchen to hang it on. It is autographed by Merl Streep!
If you have any questions regarding this project please comment and I will get back to you. Take care!
KIERSTA BAILEY 