"Project: Organization" Day 3-Kitchen (Lower cabinets)

Here are some more tips when organizing your kitchen cabinets:

  Clean Your Cabinets

One great way to keep your kitchen cabinets organized is to clean them out every couple of months. That allows you to keep stock of what's in them and get rid of anything that is past its prime or has damaged packaging.

Organizing Your Cabinets

  After cleaning out your cabinets, put everything back in a well organized way. Items that  you

  don't use very often, put towards the back, while having frequently used items within reach.

· Try to group "like items" together. If you know where to reach for specific ingredients it

will save you time in the kitchen.

· Train everyone in your house to put items back where they got them.

· Limit yourself to one category of paraphernalia per area-ex: glasses on one shelf, dishes

on another, appliances separate.

· Avoid storing food and cookware together in the same cabinet.

· Unless you have ample cabinet space, store your seasonal items such as holiday plates

and serving pieces to make room for everyday items.

Kitchen Centers

Set up a "station" for each of the five basic kitchen activities, making it easier for you to perform kitchen duties. Keep your equipment nearest the appropriate center. The five centers include:

• cleaning (sink, dishwasher, trashcan, soap, rags, sponges, etc.)


• cooking (stove, pots, pans, microwave, toaster, etc.)


• food prep (countertop, mixing bowls, blender, measuring cups, etc.)


• food storage (refrigerator, Tupperware, canned foods, etc.)


• serving (dishes, linens, candles, flatware, glasses, etc.)

I organized my pans by what I used most. Those that I use daily are right by the stove. Next, those that I use weekly are in the next cabinet. And finally, my husband's specialty pans are in the furthest cabinet. I like to keep my appliances all together. Luckily, I have a large pantry that I can do this. For under the sink, I have two wire metal bins that I keep my cleaning supplies in. One is for the cleaning liquids, and the other is for extra sponges. Makes it very easy to just remove the two bins so I can wipe out the cabinet. And I can easily see what I'm out of also. I'm probably one of the few people that don't keep a trash can under the sink. Why? I guess I generate a lot of trash! I actually have two trash cans in my kitchen: one for recycling and one for other trash.This has really helped us to recycle and it makes me feel like I'm doing my "part" with the environment. (Nope, not a tree hugger, but every little bit helps)