Nine Tips for Keeping Your Kitchen Clean and Organized

Keeping an organized kitchen allows you to get dinner on the table faster and helps you prep better. However, with so many things to keep track of in this one room, it can be a struggle to stay tidy. If you feel like your space is starting to get the best of you, follow these tips for keeping your kitchen clean and organized at all times so that when company comes over, they won’t cringe at the sight of your messy cabinets or unwashed ceramic cookware!

For additional ideas on optimizing kitchen space, see more here.

One of the most important ways to keep your kitchen clean and organized is to tidy up as you go. This means that whenever you finish using a kitchen item, you put it away so that it doesn’t get lost in the mess. If you’re cleaning as you go, you can also save time by not having to do a large kitchen cleanup all at once. That makes for a manageable mess at the end so you’ll be less likely to procrastinate on washing your last ceramic pan or casserole dish.

One of the biggest obstacles to having an organized kitchen is having never created designated places for things. You can’t put something away or find it again when needed if you don’t know where it belongs. As a rule of thumb, store your most-used kitchen items near where you’ll use them. Cookware near the stove, baking goods near the stand mixer, and creating “kitchen zones” for items near where they’ll be used make cooking more efficient.

Use a cleaning caddy or portable organizer to keep your cleaning essentials together. This can be a bag, a bucket, or a container with compartments or pockets for transporting supplies from room to room and can help keep your workspace clean and organized. Keep a pair of disposable nitrile gloves close to your cleaning supplies to make it easier to put them on and take them off as needed, ensuring that you always have a clean and fresh pair on hand.

Countertops are often one of the first places in the kitchen to get cluttered. Make sure to keep them clean and clear by storing your knick-knacks in drawers or baskets. Putting things like cutting boards, spices, and other items on wall hooks or in magnetic containers on your fridge can help you keep the countertops free of clutter and your workspace free.

Some dishes can be a nightmare to clean if they sit for too long. Knives, strainers, and cheese graters should all be cleaned immediately after use. You can clean dishes used for prepping food while your meal cooks in the oven! Cleaning any kitchen messes immediately, or while food cooks, is a good strategy for preventing an overwhelming feeling after your meal. And, of course, give a quick wipe down to your appliances after use.

Put dirty pans in the sink to soak while you eat. If you have a dishwasher, don’t wait until it’s too full to take more dishes before running a load. Instead, try to run it at the end of each day, then you can put away clean dishes in the morning while your tea brews!

You’ve heard of inbox-zero, right? Well, a kitchen sink works the same way. One dirty skillet can become a sinkful in no time if you don’t keep up with the dishes. Make a clean, empty sink the standard in your home to keep messes from accumulating.

Set a time each week to wipe down your fridge, check for expired items, and clear out forgotten ingredients. This will reduce your likelihood of overbuying groceries, reduce food waste, and prevent mystery mold leftovers from accumulating in the back of your fridge.

It’s easy for your kitchen floor to become a dirty mess. Stray grains of rice, crumbs, or cereal can find their way onto your floor. If your floor isn’t maintained, your mess will soon be tracked around the house and lead pests back to your kitchen. Sweeping or vacuuming nightly makes for quick cleanup of any dry messes before they get out of hand.

Start tomorrow fresh by creating a nightly routine to clean your kitchen. Sweep the floor. Tidy your countertops. Run the dishwasher. Wipe down and disinfect your sink. And, of course, empty the trash so you won’t have a stinky house in the morning.

Nothing makes take-out more desirable than feeling like cooking will be a hassle, and when your pots and pans are difficult to access, who wants to deal with that? Kitchen organization tools, like freestanding shelves, help make the most efficient use of your space; they keep your cookware easy to access while protecting nonstick cookware surfaces.

Bon Appetit

Keeping a clean and tidy kitchen can be a challenge. With so many items to keep track of, it can be difficult to stay on top of things, but keeping things tidy and organized is key to staying happy in your home. If you feel like your space is starting to get the best of you, come back to these tips for keeping your kitchen clean, organized, and company-ready at all times.