Kitchen Organization
Kitchen organization is crucial. This high-traffic area often becomes a multi-purpose room in which meal preparation no longer solely dominates the space. Cooking occurs along side the message center which is next to the homework headquarters that is adjacent to the mail station and so on. Very understandably, the hub of the house can quickly become chaotic and give the impression that restoring order is an unattainable goal. But not to worry, the kitchen has a distinct purpose and with the following kitchen organizing tips, you will be on track in no time! Search Our Site Keep that junk drawer!! Yes, you heard me correctly. :) I said it loud and proud - every kitchen must have a junk drawer! A professional organizer not only allowing but encouraging a junk drawer? How could this be? Actually, I think it's quite practical, useful and necessary for optimum kitchen organization. Just to be clear - ONE junk drawer is what I'm suggesting. Top 3 Reasons To Have A Junk Drawer 1. Remember, organization does not equal perfection. Putting everything away all the time is unrealistic, especially in the kitchen. 2. Clutter is usually the build up of stuff you don't know what to do with. Contain all of these things in the junk drawer and keep your counter tops clear. Also, the very existence of this "home" for random things will increase the likeliness that you'll put them away. 3. The junk drawer is for all those items you don't know what to do with. When you figure out what that little screw is for or what that little piece goes to, you'll know just where to find it. Kosher? Check out these awesome containers for effortless kosher kitchen organization. Fun Kitchen Tips - Do you have cooking utensils on the counter in a container? Every so often, change out the container with something from around the house for a little refreshment (i.e. vase, coffee can, flower pot, pitcher). - Tupperware is great for organizing kitchen items. For example, organize all those little packets of sugar in the pantry; contain your extra chip clips; separate the small items like wine stoppers from the rest of the utensils in that big drawer. - Cookbooks can be a fun way to decorate your kitchen. If you have a large collection, rotate the ones you have out. Display books on grilling in the summer and holiday meals in the winter. The Process Utilize the general organizing procedure of purge, sort and store, and apply it when organizing the kitchen... 
(This first little tip is crucial to successfully achieving kitchen organization. Remember, slow and steady wins the race.) Get rid of any items that are unwanted, never utilized, or no longer usable.• Pick up ONE item at a time, and decide if it is worth keeping. In order to accomplish this, ask yourself appropriate questions (Is it still usable? How often do I use it? Do I have more than one of this same item?). • As you make decisions, put the item in the corresponding pile/bag/box - Keep, Donate, Distribute, Trash. **Don't forget to record your donations for tax purposes.** • Take out the trash, and put the donations in your car. This hinders the possibility of undoing your hard kitchen organizing work. • Remember, kitchens often transform into multi-purpose rooms. For complete kitchen organization, don't forget to purge the junk drawers, office/message centers, and so on. Sort: • You have pared down, and now you can focus on what's left. Sort the remaining items by category/use (i.e. knives & cutting boards; pots, pans, baking sheets & oven mitts; tupperware, foil, saran wrap, & ziploc bags and so on). • Putting everything away usually calls for some rearranging. Specific tasks happen in specific areas of the kitchen, so store items where you use them for optimum kitchen organization... ⁃ Refrigerator: Utilize nearby drawers and cabinets for tupperware, tin foil, saran wrap and any other items that assist in leftover transport. ⁃ Dishwasher: Keep plates, bowls and glasses in above cabinets and silverware in nearby drawers. This cuts down on the time it takes to unload the dishwasher. **An organized kitchen is easier to clean.** ⁃ Coffee (if frequently consumed): Keep the coffee maker and grinder on the counter by an outlet. Store mugs in a nearby cabinet for easy access. ⁃ Counter Space: Usually counter space is limited. For optimal kitchen organization, reserve it for the items used on a regular basis. Everything else should be relocated to a kitchen cabinet with space or another appropriate storage area in the house (i.e. holiday platters can be stored with the other holiday items). ⁃ Office/Message Center: Since it's such a high-traffic room, it is highly beneficial to have some sort of message center. If you have a built-in desk area, set it up as the message center by stocking it with the appropriate office supplies and a telephone. This is also a good place for a computer to easily access online recipes. If your kitchen does not accommodate a small office, then a corner or area of the counter with a phone jack and outlet will suffice. Install a cordless phone to free up counter space, and use a nearby drawer for post-its, pens, and any other necessary office supplies. Mount a small corkboard on the wall for displaying messages and reminders to family members. Implement a rule that once the reminder or message has been taken care of that it must be removed from the board. • Do the same thing with the pantry; trash items that are no longer good. **Note** Designate sections of the pantry for certain items (i.e. snacks on one shelf, canned goods on another, etc.). This makes your biweekly declutter sessions quick and simple. • If you have a message center in your kitchen (recommended), once a week go through and make sure office supplies (and only office supplies) are in that area. You don't want to find a stapler in the utensil drawer and vice versa! **Do this for all the other random items that end up in this high-traffic room. This is a biggie for maintaining kitchen organization! 
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