Hey there! Is your kitchen a disaster zone filled with piles of mail, kids’ backpacks, and more dirty dishes than you can handle? As a professional organizer who has helped hundreds of women tackle their kitchen clutter, I feel your pain. The kitchen can quickly become the most overwhelming room in the house if you don’t stay on top of organization.
The good news is that it doesn’t have to be this way! In this post, I’ll share my tried-and-true tips for tackling the most common kitchen clutter zones, so you can reclaim your kitchen and actually enjoy spending time in this space. Trust me, an organized kitchen is life-changing.
Disclosure: There may be some affiliate links in the post below which means I may receive commission for purchases made through links in this post. These are all products I highly recommend. I won’t put anything on this page that I haven’t verified and/or personally used.
The Mail Station
For many of us, the kitchen table or counter becomes a dumping ground for mail, papers, school notices, and more. This paper pile seems to multiply when we aren’t looking! To get this under control:
- Set up a mail station near the entrance to your kitchen. Use a small filing system, wall files, or even just a cute basket to corral papers.
- Sort through your paper pile and only keep current papers and action items here.
- Deal with mail and papers as soon as they come in. Don’t let them accumulate!
- Schedule 15 minutes each week to sort through your mail station and keep it neat.
The Kitchen Table
Kitchen tables quickly become covered in school supplies, electronics, bags, and other random stuff that seems to migrate from other rooms. Reclaim your kitchen table by:
- Giving every item a “home” outside of the kitchen. Set limits on what can live on your kitchen table.
- Clearing the table completely each night before bed, so you start with a clean slate daily.
- Using baskets, trays, or a buffet table nearby to neatly store items off the kitchen table.
- Enlisting the kids to help clear the table and reset it nicely each day. Give them ownership.
The Sink and Counters
Dirty dishes, spilled food, mail, and kids’ art projects tend to take over the sink and counters. Ugh. Try these tips:
- Always put dirty dishes directly in the dishwasher or wash them after each meal, don’t let them accumulate in the sink.
- Clean counters off completely each night.
- Use trays and baskets to contain small appliances, cookbooks, etc.
- Set a timer and spend 10 focused minutes tidying the sink and counters periodically.
The Pantry
An organized pantry is a beautiful thing. But so often, pantries become chaotic free-for-alls packed with random expired food and old snacks.
- Take everything out of the pantry, get rid of expired/unwanted items, wipe down shelves, and start fresh.
- Organize food by type and use clear containers and labels to make everything visible.
- Store snacks and kid-friendly items at their eye level.
- Purge expired foods monthly and keep an organized list on the pantry door.
- Want more helpful pantry tips for organizing? I recommend this article: ORGANIZE YOUR KITCHEN LIKE A PRO: DECLUTTERING TIPS & STORAGE SOLUTIONS FOR A CLUTTER-FREE COOKING SPACE AND PANTRY
The Fridge
Like pantries, fridges easily become overstuffed catchalls for condiments, leftovers, and mystery science experiments growing in Tupperware containers.
- Toss expired, rotten, or unidentifiable foods and give the fridge a deep clean.
- Organize fridge contents using bins, baskets, and organizers to contain like items.
- Use clear bins to make leftovers visible. Label and date everything.
- Try to purge leftovers weekly and store fresh produce properly to maximize longevity.
- Want more helpful fridge tips? I recommend this article: FRIDGE MAKEOVER: HOW TO ORGANIZE YOUR REFRIGERATOR FOR HEALTHIER EATING
Whew, I know that was a lot of tips, but they really do work! Just tackle one kitchen clutter zone at a time, maintain it regularly, and soon you’ll have an Insta-worthy and Pinterest-proud organized kitchen. I promise! Let me know if you have any other kitchen organization struggles. I’m here to help you conquer the clutter once and for all. Now, go get organized!
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