Keep your kitchen clutter free!! How to de-clutter your kitchen

Any posts on Your Modern Family may contain affiliate links.

Your kitchen is the heart of your home.  If our kitchen feels messy, it is hard to do anything else.  It seems to “spill” into other parts of the house, so we just need to get it cleaned and keep it clean.  It is easy to learn how to de-clutter your kitchen and keep it that way.  Plus, a clean kitchen seems to set the tone for the rest of the house.

Kick Clutter to the Curb

The first step towards reclaiming your kitchen and making it a space you’re proud for others to see is to get rid of clutter. For small items like cookie cutters, create a dedicated basket that’s in one of your higher cabinets or in your pantry.  We have a cookie cutter basket that we keep on a high shelf in our pantry, out of the reach of children’s hands.  Next, get a nice spice holder where you can put all the spices you actually use and get rid of the ones that have been sitting around for longer than you can remember, or put those “not used often” ones in a basket that is out of the way of your daily routines.  I keep mine in another basket in our pantry, on a top shelf because I don’t need them daily.
Here’s a great space saver for your spices from Pottery Barn:

If you feel like your kitchen doesn’t have enough organizational space, putting a shallow shelf underneath cabinets is ideal for holding wineglasses or dishes. You can also add a magnetic board so you’ll no longer have little notes all over your kitchen.  I love This one from Pottery Barn ~  it can easily be paired with a shelf.

The next thing to do is mount a paper towel holder on the wall. Even though this may seem like a minor change, you’ll likely be surprised by the impact of freeing up that space. I keep mine in the pantry.

Next, take a critical look at all of the accessories and gadgets in your kitchen. While it’s easy to tell yourself that you’re going to use them, if it’s been over a year since you actually did, give yourself permission to donate, sell or toss them.

The last two tips are ways to add more storage space. In addition to adding pocket organizers or risers inside cabinets, you can also put hooks and racks throughout other parts of your kitchen. What’s nice is it doesn’t take much time at all to get these accessories in place.

Solutions to Common Issues

If you’ve successfully purged your kitchen of clutter, give yourself a pat on the back. You’re now well on your way to getting this space in pristine shape. However, there may still be a few lingering issues. One is a lack of counter space. The best remedy is to see what other options you have for putting things on the wall.   (check out this pottery barn idea)

Another common problem is not being able to actually reach pots and pans.

Whether your cookware is stacked, stored in your oven or in cabinets that are hard to reach, it’s time to find the right storage solution. Depending on the layout of your kitchen, that may mean a small island or a holder located right next to your counter. Once you find the right option and start utilizing it, you’ll be able to eliminate a lot of stress from the process of cooking.

Now That You’re Organized, Stay That Way

If you’ve been following along, you’ve already put quite a bit of effort into getting your kitchen organized. So the last thing you want is for it to revert to its formerly chaotic state in a matter of months or even weeks. To prevent that from happening, there are five accessories you should strongly consider.

They are:
1-  drawer dividers:

2- Turntables

3- Helper shelves:

4- Pot Racks: 

5- Vertical Sorters (perfect for your command center for notes, etc…)

While not every option may be the right fit for your specific kitchen, at least explore each option to see if there’s any way it can help you.

SLIPPING BACK INTO A MESS?
The other thing you’ll want to do is create an action plan for any time you feel like your kitchen is starting to slip back into a clutter-filled area. Whenever that happens, set aside half an hour to tackle one or two of the items on the following list. The four actions you can take on are:

1-  Clearing off the countertop
2- Sorting out everything below your sink
3- Getting the clutter out of drawers
4- Re-organizing storage container
5- Clearing out your refrigerator.

By giving yourself significant tasks that can be accomplished in very little time, you’ll keep the momentum going needed to maintain the desirable condition of your kitchen.  (If you need to clean in a hurry, here are some tips to help)

Keep It Clean Going Forward

After you get your kitchen organized and take a weekend day to complete a deep clean, maintaining its cleanliness (here is a daily cleaning list) shouldn’t be hard. The main thing to do is consistently wipe the counters, mop the floor once a week, and make the most of your dishwasher. That means fully utilizing the dishwasher racks so you can keep your dishes clean instead of allowing them to pile up in your sink.