Organizing kitchen space reduces clutter and frustration.
In the kitchen, where everything from eating to meeting takes place, organization keeps chaos in check. Whether you're cooking for one or 10, keeping cabinets organized reduces preparation, cooking and cleanup time, clutter and frustration. The preparation, cooking and sink areas form the "kitchen triangle," where the majority of cooking takes place, according to the Texas AgriLife Extension Service. With some planning and the use of storage solutions, it's easy to find a place for everything and use every bit of available space to create an efficient, enjoyable kitchen. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Empty out all the cabinets and drawers within the kitchen and keep things separated (dishes, cooking utensils, spices, canned goods, etc.). While this can be a big task, it gives you the opportunity to see exactly what you have, so that you can plan for a more efficient storage solution.
2. Wipe down all the shelves, doors and drawers while everything is empty to give yourself a fresh perspective. Add shelf liners or contact paper at this point to brighten up cabinets and drawers.
3. Sort through food items and discard any spices, oils and boxed or canned goods that have expired. Take a moment to wipe down any remaining bottles and containers before you place them back in the cabinets.
4. Sort through glasses, dishes, storage containers, cooking utensils and silverware to determine which items you will keep and which can be given away, sold or discarded. Throw away items in the "garbage" pile and place other items in a box (or boxes) to deal with at a later time.
5. Wash any china, glassware, utensils or storage containers that may have accumulated dust during storage.
6. Place rarely used items, such as good china, flatware and crystal in a higher area of the cabinets so it doesn't get in the way of your work flow.
7. Put everyday china, cups and glasses above or near the sink area for easy access during cleanup. Silverware, including serving spoons and steak knives should be placed in drawers near the sink area. If you have limited cabinet space, consider mug trees or hooks to store coffee mugs under the cabinets or on the counter top.
8. Place often-used pots, pans, mixing bowls and baking dishes in lower cabinets near the oven. Store lesser-used items in the back of cabinets.
9. Store cooking utensils such as spatulas, whisks and ladles in a drawer next to the stove. If drawer space is limited, use a crock or other wide-mouthed container to store cooking utensils on the counter top. Keep knives in a separate drawer, a wooden knife storage block or on a wall-mounted magnetized knife holder to save space and keep fingers intact.
10. Store herbs, spices and baking ingredients in an upper cabinet close to the cooking area. If space allows, use a tiered shelf organizer or cabinet lazy susan to keep these items visible and easily organized. When cabinet space is limited, try a revolving or wall-mounted spice rack for counter top storage.
11. Store cleaning supplies in cabinets beneath the sink. Make certain to install childproof latches on any cabinets containing toxic chemicals.
12. Place miscellaneous tools, such as small hammers, screwdrivers, staplers and tape and small appliance cords in a drawer for easy access. Drawer organizers, in a variety of shapes and sizes, help keep these types of items from turning into the infamous "junk drawer."
13. Place kitchen linens, such as dish towels, cloth napkins, sponges and rags in a drawer close to the sink. If space is limited, use a decorative box or basket for counter top storage.
Tags: cooking utensils, space limited, back cabinets, cabinet space, cabinets drawers
