Do you dread cooking dinner or inviting someone over for coffee because your kitchen is always in a state of chaos? You need to organize that kitchen once and for all. Believe it or not, you can get organized in just 10 minutes spurts! These time maximization hacks make kitchen organization a breeze and relatively painless.
An untidy, chaotic kitchen is a homeowner’s worst nightmare and is an easy deterrent to the most avid cook and hostess. If you’re pressed for time and lack the motivation to spend a whole day decluttering and organizing the pantry and kitchen cabinets, these 10 minute tasks will help you spruce up the kitchen, clear countertops and organize utensils in no time at all.
The next time you are waiting for the microwave to beep or the kettle to boil, choose one of the following hacks and get to work!
Here are simple, 10-minute, kitchen organization time hacks:
1. Organize the Spice Rack
Start by pulling out all of your spices and checking the expiration dates as you go. Toss the expired in the bin and arrange the rest by size, shape or kind on the counter. Put your spices back in the cupboard. In less than 10 minutes you have organized a spice rack!
2. Organize the Food Wraps
Collect all your rolls of aluminum foil, plastic wrap, sandwich baggies, and other food packaging material. Store them in the same drawer or a magazine holder attached to the inside of a cupboard. This easy-peasy tip will make your time in the kitchen more productive.
3. Organize Takeout Menus
You only need 10 minutes to sift through your pile of takeout menus and organize them. Keep the ones that you regularly use, discard the rest. I like to three hole punch my takeout menus and keep them in a skinny binder next to my cookbooks. You can also use a file folder to tuck inside a cupboard or drawer.
4. Organize Canned & Boxed Goods
Sometimes when I bring home groceries, I am so tired or in a rush that I just shove stuff away, anywhere it will fit. In 10 minutes, you can organize cans and boxes by type and size so that they are easier to find. Pull out the cans and boxes, check expiry dates and group like items together on the counter. When done, put them back in the cupboard.
5. Organize Cookbooks
Do you even use cookbooks anymore? I know I don’t. But I do have a few sentimental ones that I have inherited from my mother. Spend 10 minutes or less to organize your cookbooks and give away or donate the ones you no longer use.
6. Organize Coupons
Go through your coupons and throw out expired coupons. Keep them organized in a wallet or binder according to aisle or department. You can also sort them by expiry date so that you don’t miss out on any deals.
7. Organize Kitchen Countertops
Kitchen countertops can be clutter-magnets. Spend 10 minutes removing anything that doesn’t belong in the kitchen, returning kitchen items to their rightful place, and storing rarely used appliances on higher shelves or at the back of the cabinet. Leave only the most essential, frequently used items on the countertop.
8. Clean out The Fridge
You don’t have to do the whole thing at once. If you have a few minutes while you are waiting for your coffee to brew, pick a shelf or drawer and clean it out. Remove everything first. Check dates and discard expired. You may even find some empty containers that someone has put back in the fridge. Throw those out and be sure to add that item to your grocery list. Wipe down the shelf or drawer. Clean jars and items before returning to the fridge.
9. Organize Cooking Utensils
I have my most used utensils in a jar on my counter. But somehow other stuff always ends up getting in there. I hate that because then it makes it difficult to find what I am looking for, not to mention, hard to pull it out. Go through your kitchen utensils and make sure that the items that are used most often are the most easily accessible. Other things, like a rolling pin, can be stored at the back of drawers or cupboards.
10. Clean out the Junk Drawer
I know, I know. That could be a full-time job. But not if you choose to tackle one type of item that is stored within your junk drawer at a time. It could be batteries, elastics, pens, or anything. Choose your item. Throw out not needed or broken items. Organize what’s left either in an open container or elastic and put back in the drawer. In just 10 minutes a day, you can totally clean out your whole junk drawer in a week.
11. Clean out Glass & Tableware
I know you probably have a cupboard full of glasses, cups/mugs, a huge stack of plates and a drawer full of cutlery. We all do, especially if we use dishwashers. But when was the last time you went through what you have? Choose one category and pull out everything you have of it. Get rid of broken and stained items. And it may be time to let go some of those souvenir items too that are clogging up your space. You could also put the items you are going to keep through the dishwasher to freshen them up before you return them to their place.
More Quick Kitchen Organization Tips
Here are some more simple and quick tips to an organized kitchen in 10 minutes or less:
- Keep items used together close to each other. For example, So, store coffee mugs next to the coffeemaker or spices in a cabinet close to the oven.
- Empty the refrigerator or freezer every garbage day. Discard stale or unusable items. Neatly store the rest.
- Do a quick pantry purge. Discard items you’ve not used, are unlikely to ever use or those that are stale.
- Store kitchen cleaning supplies together under the sink. You can also store your trashcan liners in a box or basket under the sink as well.
- Prettify the kitchen. Add some pictures, a small vase with fresh flowers, or a pot with herbs.
Kitchen organization needn’t be tough and cumbersome. Spending 10-minutes or so every now and then can ensure that you have an organized kitchen, pantry, and refrigerator and can enjoy whipping up tasty, healthy meals for your loved ones.