Kitchen Organization Tips
Keep the hub of your home cooking!
Kitchen organization! -- We want it and it centers around the greatest room in the house and keeps it running smoothly.
The kitchen rallies people together for laughter, meaningful conversation, delicious eats, and tom-foolery -- it's the place to be! :)
Some of the greatest conversations I've had with my kids, family and friends have taken place in the kitchen. For many, the kitchen is the deciding factor in choosing a home -- I know it's huge for me.
It's the hub of the home.
But with all that use, comes the need for kitchen organization or it will all come tumbling down. I just had to burst the bubble, didn't I? :)
Kitchen organization can be simple when broken down into bite-sized pieces. (That's just a terrible pun -- Sorry!)
All home organization
becomes do-able in smaller quantities.
Always break your kitchen organization tasks into do-able segments of time.
15 minutes before dinner -- finish a task.
10 minutes before your favorite show comes on -- start or finish a task.
Get up 30 minutes early Saturday morning before the activities get going and you guessed it -- start or finish a kitchen organization task! :)
You will find some very useful organizational products in my store.
Click this link. You will find them under Home & Kitchen Organization.
Julie's Keep Your Home Cooking Store
Write each area of the kitchen (pantry, kitchen cupboards, etc.)
and the tasks for that area on a separate sheet of paper.
Whichever area is on deck at the time; post it on the refrigerator for easy reference.
Work from your sheet in small, do-able steps.
Look for great organizational tools in Home and Kitchen Organization.
SOME GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR KITCHEN ORGANIZATION:
1. Clean as you go.
I explain this in-depth in
home organization.
You will find additional tips for the kitchen there too :)
How clean as you go plays out in kitchen organization:
**When you are cooking or baking, put everything away as you finish using it. For instance, put supplies away in the cupboard or refrigerator and load the dishwasher with utensils immediately after use.
Then, when your preparations are done; all that remains is the actual mixing bowl -- everything else has been put away.
It's a snap and a boon for kitchen organization!
**Put groceries away when you get home from shopping.
**Wipe out any spills in the microwave, refrigerator or oven
when they happen. If the oven is too hot, remember to schedule a cleaning soon -- put it on your list :)
I have a major bug-a-boo with dirty microwaves!
If you simply wipe them out when anything splatters or spills,
They will be clean at all times. Totally do-able! :)
No one wants other people's food guts to drop into their food or coffee -- it's just wrong!
**Appliances: Wipe them clean as you go.
After loading the dishwasher: Wipe the front of it.
Stove: Wipe after each use if possible or as soon as reasonable before it cakes on.
Refrigerator: When putting food away -- wipe the shelves clean first, and the door fronts; especially, the handle which can get grimy.
You will probably need to add "cleaning top of fridge" to your kitchen organization tasks sheet, since that takes longer.
Cabinets: Wipe finger prints off them and wipe the shelves as you put plates and cups away.
Counter tops: Wipe up before leaving the kitchen.
My recommendation is to always pick up the kitchen before leaving the house or going to bed.
No one wants to be greeted by a dirty kitchen.
So, do yourself a favor and clean up before you go.
You don't have to do this alone -- Get your hubby and the kids involved!
Chores for Kids
2. Think and plan ahead.
We ladies always have to be thinking ahead in order to keep-your-home-cooking; and frankly, that can get exhausting!
In the morning: Think about dinner.
At dinner: Think about the next day's plans and tasks.
Plan ahead.
Use a calendar placed in the kitchen as a reminder of important activities.
Meal planning is a must!
Write out your menu each week, and post your menu on the fridge for the family to see and as a reminder to you.
You may benefit by checking out the great recipe software I use to organize my recipes, menus & grocery lists.
Big Oven Recipe Software
3. De-clutter
Every organizational task, including the kitchen, involves downsizing and de-cluttering.
By nature, we gather and store stuffs, may I boldly say, "junk."
I must confess I moved a "junk" drawer from one house to the next without cleaning it; AND I have clothes in my closet that will never fit me again even in my wildest dreams -- we can all tend to store "stuff."
Seriously, we are professionals at this craziness! :)
It's hard to let go of that seldom used bowl or platter or... plastic container with no lid or... shwah, shwah, blah, blah... whatever it is, which "may come in handy someday."
We want to spare ourselves from ever having to say,
"See, I should have kept that!"
WRONG! Don't believe the lie! You will probably never use it again.
Now, please don't give away your grandmother's or mother's heirloom piece.
I love, love, love those beautiful hand-me-downs. :)
Additional help with how to go about de-cluttering can be found at
frugal living now.
I'm going to break down each area in the kitchen and we'll de-clutter, downsize and organize :)
Click on the links below to get started.
Kitchen organization is within your grasp!
You will also find great organizational products in my store.
Browse & get organized :)
Julie
Julie's Keep Your Home Cooking Store
Get personalized labels through the banner below & make your kitchen organization super classy. :)
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keep-your-home-cooking from Girly Aprons.
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Go to Kitchen Supplies
Go to Kitchen Cupboards
Go to Kitchen Drawers
Go to Pantry Organization
Go to Refrigerator Cleaning
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Go to How to Clean
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