Anyone who loves to cook knows the importance of keeping a kitchen clean. A clutter-free countertop allows for a spacious work surface to prepare ingredients. And a sink free of dirty dishes is a sight to behold.
But when it comes to kitchen cabinets, arranging their contents is often an afterthought. After all, cupboards keep everything out of sight, out of mind, so it’s easy to forget to clean them.
Organizing kitchen cabinets, however, is as important as cleaning the entire kitchen. How can you find a certain spatula within a cabinet in disarray? Or quickly reach for your go-to ingredient during a passion-fueled cooking session?
In this post, we’ll share with you a few steps for keeping your cupboards looking nice and tidy.
1. Empty and Clean Cabinets
Want to be more motivated to organize your kitchen? Start with a clean slate by removing everything from the cupboards.
After emptying your cabinets, use a damp cloth and cleaner to wipe down every surface, nook, and cranny. That way, you can make sure that no germs, gunk, and all sorts of nastiness can stick to whatever you put in your cabinets.
2. Throw Out Expired Goods or Broken Items
When it comes to storing things in cupboards, the most common problem is the lack of space. But the solution to this is easy: start decluttering.
By disposing of expired spices, broken plates, and malfunctioning appliances, you can free up a lot of space in your cabinets. The key here is to throw out whatever item that can no longer serve its purpose.
3. Line Each Shelf
If you want an easier time doing a kitchen cleanup next time, consider placing a heavy-duty liner on every shelf.
Shelf liners are designed to be easy to clean. That means there’s no need to wipe down every inch of your cabinets. All you have to do is remove the liners, wash and dry them, and place them back on the shelves.
4. Use Organizers
Ever experienced pulling something out from your cabinet and suddenly hearing the sound of crashing pots and pans? It’s pretty frustrating, and the cleanup afterward feels like a waste of time.
To prevent items from becoming a messy pile, you have to use the right organizers.
Here are a few tips for inspiration:
- Arrange small items in bins to avoid rummaging through the entire cabinet.
- Store utensils in drawer organizers or utensil holders to keep them organized and accessible.
- Use movable pegs or racks to store dishware and drinkware.
- Make the most of the vertical space in your cabinets by hanging up cutting boards and cookware.
5. Label Every Item
Ever mistaken sugar for salt? That will no longer be a problem once you label everything.
After organizing your items in bins or closed containers, make sure to label them. Labeling your containers can make it a whole lot easier to identify their contents.
6. Organize Consumables
Before you put the items back in your cupboards, you have to map out where every type of item should go. This involves dedicating a shelf or more to food and other consumables.
Place dried fruits, nuts, and other snacks on one side of the shelf or near your fridge. Then, put baking powder, sugar, and flour on the other side or on the shelf that’s nearest to your stove.
It’s all about sorting items into zones for the sake of accessibility and ensuring that they’re within easy reach whenever you need them.
7. Keep Your Kitchenware in Order
If you’re an avid home cook, you might find yourself taking out several pieces of cookware just to make one meal. That’s why you have to organize your kitchen items according to use.
For instance, you have to keep all of your food prep weapons (cutting boards, knives, and peelers) near each other. Group your measuring cups, whisks, and other baking tools. And place skillets, frying pans, tongs, and spatulas in one section of your cabinet.
8. Consider Arranging Items By Color
What if you have open shelves or cabinets with glass doors? You don’t need to place plants and other decorative pieces there just to maintain your aesthetics.
To keep your kitchen looking visually pleasing, try color-coordinating spice jars and other items. Doing so will make your cabinets more soothing to look at and give you an easier time arranging your things.
Oxford at The Ranch Apartments in Waller, TX