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How to Organize Your Kitchen

Contributor
By eHow Contributing Writer
(34 Ratings)

You've got three half-full bottles of vinegar in your cupboard and your utensil drawer is a minefield of knife tips and mangled wire whisks. Time to get organized!

Difficulty: Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  1. Step 1

    Go through your kitchen and discard anything you don't use, along with any food, spices or medicines that are beyond their expiration dates.

  2. Step 2

    Take everything out of your cupboards and drawers, and wash the insides with warm soapy water. Rinse, let dry and replace cupboard and drawer liners.

  3. Step 3

    Store pots, pans and cooking utensils near the stove, nesting the pots and pans together to conserve space.

  4. Step 4

    Store dishes and silverware near your eating area and/or dishwasher. Use racks and silverware holders to maximize use of space.

  5. Step 5

    Be sure that children are able to reach items they use. Put things they should not use - such as sharp tools, alcohol and cleaning chemicals - well out of reach.

  6. Step 6

    Alphabetize your spices and keep them near the stove on a spice rack or in a nearby cupboard on a revolving rack.

  7. Step 7

    Remove large and seldom-used items from countertops and store them in a cupboard. For appliances that you use often, consider adding an 'appliance barn,' which can store toasters, blenders, juicers and other appliances on the countertop without clutter.

  8. Step 8

    Store food items that you use on a daily basis in accessible spots, and store all like food items together - for example, tea and sugar.

  9. Step 9

    Put food that may become infested with insects into sturdy plastic containers and seal them.

  10. Step 10

    Use drawer dividers to organize utensils.

Tips & Warnings
  • Hiring a professional kitchen organizer may be helpful. Contact one through the National Association of Professional Organizers.
  • If children are part of your family, be sure they are able to reach items they use.
  • Do not store sharp knives, household cleaning products or medicines within the reach of children.

Comments  

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how2lady said

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on 7/29/2009 Good advise, you can't be too organized when it comes to the kitchen.

callylilly said

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on 3/27/2009 Good motivation article! I have already done a few of these suggestions. I stack all my plastic storage containers inside each other, makes them easier to get to. They serve double duty, also use as mixing bowls. I got rid of a lot of clutter and unecessary items by doing this. The lids are stored neatly in a basket placed inside a base cabinet.

dzagotti said

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on 3/5/2009 Great ideas and article!

edenfairy said

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on 3/5/2009 Great article, thanks!

goldiec said

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on 2/27/2009 great tips

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