We have all seen them—the well-organized kitchens with no counter clutter or dirty dishes in the sink.
How do they do it?
It’s not magic that keeps those places organized and clutter-free all the time but habits to maintain a warm, clean, and inviting kitchen. Decluttering has long been the key to keep the kitchen clutter in check, couple that with a routine to keep it sanitized and clean.
There are also benefits in organizing your kitchen and keeping it that way:
- It makes you feel less stressed and overwhelmed
- It is easier to clean
- It saves you money by preventing you from buying duplicates
- It gives you more energy to prepare meals
- It frees up space where you can gather family and friends.
If a clutter-free kitchen sounds like a great idea to you, continue reading to discover the habits that will fix your problem—for good.
How to Organize Your Kitchen and Keep It Clutter-Free
- Invest in storage
At the core of many kitchen ideas is the advice to get creative in how you would store your kitchen appliances, utensils, and other essentials. It’s almost always necessary to invest in storage solutions to keep small items from cluttering your countertops and keep your everyday items handy. Baskets, bins, trolleys, and hanging organizers are some of the favorite storage solutions today.
- Clean up after every meal
If you don’t feel like cleaning up the kitchen tonight, you will not feel like doing it anymore tomorrow morning. So, clean the kitchen anyway, even when you’re tired, at least every end of the day. Better yet, clean up after every meal. The same is true for the dirty dishes—don’t let them sit on the sink overnight with the leftover food dried up on their surface. Trust us, there’s no better feeling than to start each day with a clean kitchen.
- Clean as you go
Instead of cleaning up after you finish cooking, clean up as you go. It means washing the dishes and utensils as soon as you’re finished with them. Load them into the dishwasher or keep a sink full of soapy water and clean them as you work. It will save you from the big mess you usually deal with after you’re done preparing meals or eating.
- Clean out your pantry every week
Every week, take a look through your fridge, freezer, and pantry. Get rid of anything that has gone bad or is past its expiry date. Take an inventory of everything you have and plan your meals around it. You can also do this every time you go out for groceries—this should keep you from buying things that you already have and save you from spoiling precious food. More importantly, it will keep everything clean and organized.
- Create a meal plan
Wondering how a meal plan can help in your move to keep a clutter-free kitchen? For starters, meal planning keeps you from buying excess amounts of food that can clutter your kitchen. It can also help you waste less food, spend less money, and eat healthier. Above all, it can also make cooking easier as it makes sure that you have all the ingredients you will need.
- Transfer food items into containers
Transfering food items into air-tight containers saves you space by getting rid of the bulky packaging. Plus, it allows you to stack items neatly in the pantry without worrying about losing their freshness—a bonus if you use clear containers, making it easier for you to see what you have on hand.
- Use a catch-all basket
To keep your counters clutter-free, you can use a catch-all basket to put all the random items that could otherwise end up all over the place. At some point every day, sort through the basket, putting things away where they belong. You may also want to dedicate an area to keep all the paperwork, other household items, and office supplies you use often. Besides keeping clutter at bay, it makes sure that you find these items whenever you need them.
- Clear your counters every day
The flat surfaces in your kitchen should be reserved for items that you use daily—cooking utensils, dish rack, fruit basket, coffee maker, and any other appliances that keep your household running every day. However, your counters and tables can become clutter magnets where out-of-place items can pile up, too. Make it a habit to clear them off at the end of the day. A clear countertop makes it easier and more enjoyable to cook. It makes your kitchen look more inviting, too.
- Purge regularly
There are many benefits in keeping fewer things in the kitchen: it’s easier to find what you need, clean the kitchen, and keep it organized. Getting rid of the duplicates and items that are broken or you no longer need is the first step to decluttering. But, this isn’t some kind of a one-time project, so, you’ll have to schedule decluttering sessions every so often. The good news is, once you’ve done a major decluttering, the succeeding ones will be faster and easier.
- Take one step at a time
It can be pretty overwhelming to try to form new habits. So, remember to take baby steps—even a small step is better than doing nothing. Adopt one or two new habits at a time and gradually add another one or two. This way, you’ll be more likely to stick to the routine without stressing yourself out.
Takeaway
No kitchen is perfect and a perfect kitchen is not your goal here. A little clutter here and there from time to time is completely fine. It takes practice to adapt to new systems. Be patient with yourself and you’ll soon realize that the time you spend cleaning things up will become less and less.
Do you have any other habits that help you keep your kitchen organized and clutter-free? We’d love to hear about them. Share your story by leaving a comment below!
