The Tidiest Kitchen in the Land
Expired food items, overflowing spice racks, and far too many mugs—these and many other problems haunt the common kitchen. You might have missed the spring clean but it’s never too late for a thorough declutter.
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1. Clear Off Counters
Though counters are best kept clean, they’re often a dumping ground for house keys or purses. Go through your countertops to see what can and should be removed. Remember that unused appliances or outdated spice racks can also get the boot.
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2. Purge Your Pantry
Ah, the pantry—a wasteland of expired items. As tedious as it is, any kitchen refresh calls for a thorough scrub. If you know you won’t get to any non-perishable food items, donate them instead.
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3. Donate or Sell Items
Speaking of which, people in need benefit from items you don’t. Heaven knows our kitchens overflow with duplicate items or unopened appliances, all of which can go to someone in need. On the other hand, if you aren’t comfortable donating used items, you can also try and profit off of them.
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4. Chuck Ancient Spices
We’d all love a pristine spice rack but ours usually looks like a landfill. From empty spice jars and half-opened bags, it’s high time to comb through your collection and pitch any flavorless ones.
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5. Reconsider Rarely Used Appliances
We all tell ourselves we’ll use that waffle iron…but we never do. Those unused appliances are just begging for a new home. Donate them, sell them, or finally leave them by the curb. You can also relocate seasonal appliances to storage spaces in your house.
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6. Get Rid of Gifted Items
Though kitschy items are cute, you don’t need a Nessie ladle or garlic mincers shaped like Dracula. We’re hesitant to pitch gifted items but those are often the biggest clutter culprits. Unless something has legitimate sentimental value, it’s okay to get rid of it.
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7. Invest in Storage
Between drawer organizers and plastic containers, every kitchen thrives with proper storage. Head to your local home goods store or get creative about at-home solutions—either way, your kitchen will thank you.
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8. Go Through Tupperware
Oh no, the kitchen cabinets ate your lids! Don’t worry, ours too. But the sad fact is they aren’t coming back and it’s time to get rid of those divorced plastic containers. After you deep-clean your kitchen, you can restart with a fresh set.
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9. Refresh the Refrigerator
Takeout menus, children’s art, and funky magnets plague refrigerator doors. While you don’t want to scrap everything entirely, you do want to toss anything you don’t need. Those expired Subway coupons from last year? Get rid of ‘em.
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10. Examine Cleaning Products
Ironically enough, cleaning products take up far too much space. You really only need a few items, especially when it comes to the kitchen, so go through those cabinets and ditch the empty Lysol bottles.
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11. Stow Away Holiday Items
Halloween mugs and Christmas tablecloths are fun, but they don’t belong in our everyday kitchen. Store them until it’s time to use them.
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12. Revisit the Junk Drawer
The junk drawer isn’t a one-and-done deal. This poor drawer deserves just as much attention as countertops and cabinets, so make sure you go through it. You’d be surprised how much junk actually collects in there—and how much better you’ll feel getting rid of it.
13. Go Through Spare Items
Let’s face it, couples don’t need an onslaught of cutlery or two sets of cast iron pans. Be practical about what you use, not what you think you’ll use. Decluttering means sacrifice!
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14. Try Out Hooks
Wall hooks help move some items off your countertops. They also make for a cute display of pans or more unruly cookware. If you have the space, convert empty walls into a hands-on storage solution.
15. Deep Clean Drawers
The junk drawer is one thing, but don’t forget about the others. Remove any organizers to sweep out crumbs and finally clean those inexplicable spills. It’s also a good opportunity to identify items you don’t need.
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16. Go Through Cookbooks
You haven’t even cracked the spine of Gordon Ramsay’s book, have you? That’s okay! Now’s the perfect time to peruse your cookbook stash and donate ones you haven’t touched.
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17. Ditch the Duplicates
Kitchen duplicates are usually unnecessary. You don’t need two air fryers or multiple baking sheet sets—take stock of what you have and make practical decisions from there.
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18. Toss Broken Appliances
That poor crock pot is still buried in the hall closet, broken and dusty. To declutter is to be honest with yourself. If you aren’t going to get that thing fixed, say your final words and neatly lay it by the curb.
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19. Decorate Practically
Decor thrives in other spaces, like the living room or our bedrooms. The kitchen, however, is for functionality. The last thing you want is countertops cluttered with decor, so save knick-knacks for the mantle.
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20. Reorganize What You Have
Decluttering doesn’t have to mean pitching anything in sight. Sometimes decluttering means better organization! Take stock of what you have and plan out better ways to store items. Trust us, reorganizing is far easier after a good clean.
