In the September Issue:

Time to declutter.

Let’s start with clutter. We all know your kitchen should be a relaxing haven, but the reality is that it’s easy to let clutter build up. 

Just like having an organized desk and office helps reduce the frustrations of looking for the memo that needed immediate attention, let’s eliminate the “where the heck did I put the minced garlic” frustration when it comes to finding things in your kitchen. 

 Here’s how:

Start With One Area At A Time. 

Trying to declutter the entire kitchen can quickly become overwhelming. So, to make it easier, start by sorting out just one area at a time. 

You could start with the cabinets, drawers, or even the refrigerator. Splitting it down into more manageable tasks, can actually help you get it done quicker. You won’t find it as overwhelming, and you’ll feel great as you tick off different tasks along the way. You could even spread it out over a few days to make it easier – it doesn’t have to be done all at the same time. 

Organize Items By Frequency Of Use. 

It’s really useful to organize items in terms of how frequently they’re used. The things you use on a daily basis, such as cooking utensils, for example, should be easy to reach.

Store plates and cutlery that you use regularly, on lower shelves in a cabinet, moving special occasion dining ware to an upper shelf. 

You’ll also find it easier to group similar items together. Set storage areas for specific purposes, such as all bakeware is kept in one area, and pots and pans are kept in another. Speaking of pots and pans, be sure to keep them as close to the stove as you can.

Organize Your Kitchen Counters.

Time to assess exactly what needs to stay and go. Throw away any rubbish you come across, and organize what’s left into groups of items. Do you have any appliances on the counters which you rarely use? If so, free up space and store the appliances away. If you don’t have any suitable cabinet space, store them in your laundry room or garage. Try to only keep appliances on the countertop which you use at least several times a week. 

Organize Your Utensils. 

We tend to gather too many utensils and gadgets over the years. This makes it difficult to find what you’re looking for, when they’re all thrown in together. Place your daily utensils into their own drawer. You can easily pick up cutlery and utensil dividers, which can help to keep them nice and neat in the drawer. Once you’ve sorted out the essentials, it’s time to separate and store away the non-essentials. They can either be kept in a separate drawer or cabinet, or in a jug or container on the countertop, if there’s no other room available. 

Organize Your Pantry, Fridge, and Freezer. 

This can be an entire course in itself! For the purposes of this article, here are the basics. First, toss any food that is expired. Next, look for food items that have been open for a while and may be stale. Open cereals and spices lose flavor over time. Just say goodbye to them. Arrange what’s left in categories (e.g. baking, canned food, grains, spices, marinades, etc.). Have all bottles and containers upright with their labels visible.

Of course, this is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. We all know it takes more than an organized office to be a successful entrepreneur. Oh, if it were that easy! Likewise, starting with an organized kitchen is just the first step to regaining your dinnertime sanity. Stay tuned for more of the secret in the series…