Create a kitchen organization plan
‘When organizing your kitchen, the best place to start is by making a plan for the space,’ says Lisa Kron. ‘I like to open all the cabinet doors and take pictures for reference (and because a good before and after is very motivating!). Then, make a list of categories: dishware, glasses, food storage, pots and pans, utensils, etc. Then assign the categories to different areas in your kitchen,’ she says.
Are you having trouble staying on top of small daily tasks? Make a list and hang it up on the refrigerator or on the door of a prominent cabinet. If mobile devices are more your thing, download a “to-do list” app and create a list just for kitchen organization. Set reminders so that you never forget a task. It may seem tedious at first, but you’ll thank yourself every time you look around the kitchen.
Clean the kitchen regularly
You can’t properly clean around junk that doesn’t belong in your kitchen in the first place. Start in one corner of the kitchen, or one section of counter, and remove everything that doesn’t belong on your counters. It might be a good time to employ the laundry basket method. Don’t bog yourself down or raise the potential for distraction by putting items away one by one right now. Just clear them away from the counter. You can put things where they go after all the counters are clear or after the kitchen is completely clean.
Empty all of your kitchen cabinets and drawers of their contents. Start with the food cupboards, and throw away everything that is out of date or anything you have not used for six months or more. Then empty all of your kitchen possessions out onto an island, worktop or table.
Keep kitchen supplies on hand
Clear the pantry and sort out the jars and food items. Keep all the masalas required for making Indian dishes together. Keep honey and other sauces together. Make a separate section for breakfast cereals and snacks. Discard all items that have passed their expiry date.
If you’re not ready to get rid of some of the items you hardly use – like a sentimental gravy jug, or special Christmas plates – pack them into a box and store them away, either in a garage, loft, or at the back of the pantry. Make sure you label the box so you know what is inside!