I don’t know about you, but I spend a lot of time in my kitchen - it tends to be the hub of our homes where most of the action takes place. It makes good sense to me that we should return there today to focus this time on everything BUT the fridge and freezer (we conquered those two)!
Our kitchens take a beating and easily get messy and disorganized, but we need to keep in mind that kitchens are meant to be used. Sure, we all love it when our kitchens look like this picture above, and sometimes they do, but we have to remember that the more important thing isn’t to have a photo ready kitchen all the time, but rather, that we have an organized kitchen where there is a place for everything.
Everybody’s kitchen is different, so you will have to tailor this exercise for your own needs. The goal today is to clean and organize kitchen drawers, cabinets, food closets, and pantries. This is not a simple or quick job so be prepared for it to last more than one day.
If you have a food pantry I would start there as it will be a similar exercise to the fridge and freezer. You will need to work in sections essentially emptying out the pantry and then inspecting and getting rid of garbage or unwanted items (this includes non-food items as well which you may need to get rid of). Take the time to wipe down shelves when they are empty, and before you put stuff back in an organized way (grouping like items together) wipe down the outside of these food vessels. This activity can be delightful if you allow it to be - turn on some music or a podcast (Journey Into Yoga podcast perhaps??) and try and have some fun, knowing that you are going to end up with a pantry that you can find things in much more easily! You may want to consider some vessels for your pantry which can really help with decluttering too - baskets, hooks, glass jars of all sizes; you don’t need to break the bank to find these, the dollar stores can be excellent places to find organizational tools.
Next step is to tackle the drawers, and this is a one step at a time job. Choose any drawer to start with as it doesn’t really matter because we will be doing them all! Once you have emptied out the drawer, you then want to give it a good cleaning. With all the drawer’s contents on the counter, look through to see what is garbage and get rid of those items. As you proceed to put everything back, do so with an organizational bent in mind. Make sure to put like items together; wipe down containers and jars that need a good cleaning.
If some organizational tools like drawer inserts or organizers would be helpful, keep a pad of paper near by so you can make a list and then head to the store to purchase anything you need to keep your drawers more organized.
Next stop - cabinets (yes, even the high ones). One cabinet at a time will be our moto for this one; the only way to do it. There’s no easy way to do this other than just to dive in. Empty one cabinet at a time - usually we already have some kind of system in place for our cabinets such as glasses together, mugs together, plates, etc., so the job of sorting can be easier. If you don’t have this kind of system, now can be the time to put one into place. Once the cabinet is emptied, clean it and then item by item put things away. Don’t forget when you find things that need to be thrown out such as a chipped mug, or a broken plate - get rid of them! Maybe you have way too many coffee mugs, now might be a good time to sift through some that may be donated. This applies to all things that we no longer need; getting rid of excess things will give your cabinets some needed space too!
Crucial reminder! You will likely have a pile of giveaways - give them away! Don’t let them gather dust in your car for weeks. Make a point of taking them straight away to their new destination so that task is off your plate and doesn’t become a never ending job for you. Now, make yourself a tasty snack - you have earned it!
