Is your kitchen a place you enjoy being in or is a
place you go to because you have to be there to prepare meals? Because it
serves a variety of purposes it needs to be organized to meet the needs of
everyone in the family. A variety of storage solutions will help keep it
organized and save time and energy.
To aide in kitchen organization having the right kind of storage
solutions is important to keeping organized. Here are 9 organizing tips
using a variety of storage solutions to keep your kitchen organized.
1. When buying in bulk divide the items and only put the amount you can
use in a month in your kitchen. Store the remainder in another closet or
room. This will free up space for things you use regularly in your kitchen.
2. When storing mixes such as gravy mixes, dry sauces, gelatin, or
powdered seasonings place these in containers to keep them together and to
prevent them from sliding all over the cupboard. By having them in a
container they are easy to reach and can be placed on a higher shelf as it
can be easily removed.
3. Store like items together. Think in terms of zones in your kitchen.
Keep all baking supplies together, spices in the same place, bowls, pans,
cooking utensils, canned goods and packaged food together in their separate
and assigned places. By assigning everything a specific place it makes it
easier to know where to return them when you are someone else is finished
using them. Label the edge of the shelf to help train family members where
to return each item.
4. If you have a junk drawer in the kitchen or somewhere else in your
home start thinking of it as a resource drawer. Use containers in the drawer
to sort like items together. It doesn't matter how large or small the drawer
is by putting everything in containers things will be accessible when you
want something and it will save time by not needing to rummage around in the
drawer to find what you are looking for.
To organize these drawers first take everything out. Some common junk
drawer items include: expired coupons, unidentified keys, buttons, safety
pins, loose change, take out menus, camera film, photographs, recipe cards,
phone books, batteries, gum, candy, pushpins, paper clips, rubber bands,
pens and pencils, scotch tape, tools, tape, batteries, flashlights, matches
or lighters, light bulbs, twist ties, measuring tape, extension cords and
scissors.
Throw away anything that has expired or you no longer need. If the keys
are unidentifiable even toss those. Sort what is left into piles and using
storage containers put everything you are keeping back in the drawer. There
are many inexpensive storage solutions for this drawer and other places in
the kitchen. Some ideas are: ice cube trays, margarine tubs, Ziploc bags,
empty check boxes, small glass jars, or a cutlery tray. Before buying
containers look for containers you already have in your home. When you see
something is out of place or has been placed here that doesn't belong, take
care of it right then and this will help you to keep organized.
5. Consider mounting items to the wall. A wall-mounted or a ceiling-
mounted pot and pan rack will save considerable room within the kitchen
cabinets. Wire organizers, pegboards, or extra shelving can be used. There
are paper towel racks that either attach to the wall or under the counter or
are magnetic and connect to the fridge. There are hangers to hang utensils
from that can be mounted on the wall.
6. Dish racks can be used to store pan lids, trays, cookie sheets or
muffin trays.
7. Lazy Susan's can be used in corners to maximize space and make it
easier to reach the items in the corner.
8. Use a utility caddy to contain cleaning supplies. Or use a under the
sink storage shelf that is coated in plastic to double storage space.
9. Removable shelves can be used to double storage space in every
cupboard, many are expandable and come in white or stainless steel, and they
come in square, rectangle or fit in corners.
Once you have your kitchen organized, put everything away where it
belongs after using it so items don't end up as clutter all over the
kitchen.
Marilyn Bohn may be contacted at
