- Use a piece of paper to make a map of your kitchen drawers and cabinets. Think about where you stand when you work in the kitchen and what types of utensils, pots, or plates you use in each place. Make a chart that lists what items would be the most convenient to have in each cabinet or drawer. Make another list of things that you would like to store in a kitchen drawer or cabinet but that you do not use very often.
- Pick a day to organize the kitchen drawers and cabinets. Empty them and put the items on a large table or on the counter. Then group the items into categories that match the lists on your chart. Wash the insides of the cabinets and drawers and, if you line the shelves, change the lining so everything is new and clean. If you find that you have items that you did not include on the lists on your chart, decide whether they belong in the kitchen. If not, move them to a more logical storage area. If they are things you never use or do not like, give them away or throw them out.
- Think about how often you use things so that you can put things away logically. Put what you use the most on the lower shelves of the cabinets or in the front of the drawers. Put what you use the least in the back of the drawers or on the highest, least accessible shelves. Buy organizer trays for the drawers where you keep silverware or utensils. This helps everyone in the family maintain the system once it is in place. Make sure to put sharp knives or slicing tools where small children cannot reach them and to store them in such a way that you will not grab the blade by accident.
