Kitchen is the most clutter-prone area of my house even when I go out of the way to keep it clean and organized. As someone who loves cooking, I always make sure that the kitchen floor is mopped at least twice a day. Besides that, I always make it a point to clear the countertops after every meal. But no matter what I do to keep my kitchen clutter-free, it somehow manages to attract all the clutter back in no time.
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Off late, as my mom started to recover from her illness, I happened to notice what she did on an every day basis to keep the kitchen clutter-free. She has always hated having a sink full of undone dishes and hence, doing the dishes is always the first thing on her radar. And because she loathes being distracted by unwanted items lying purposelessly on the kitchen counter, she has this habit of wiping and clearing the countertops of anything that doesn’t belong there.
Having a clutter-free kitchen isn’t as hard as it seems given that you have the determination to tidy it up every day. All it takes is a few minutes and a minimalistic approach. In simple words, you just have to figure out what bothers you the most and find ways to tackle it.
If you still believe that keeping your kitchen clutter-free is time-consuming, try incorporating these daily habits in your routine:
1. Do The Dishes After Every Meal
This was a life-changing tip that I got from my mom. I remember how anxious she would get to do the dishes after every meal. Initially, I didn’t understand the logic behind it because I was someone who would rather let the dishes pile up till the end of the day.
When I moved out, I realized that my mom’s traits had rubbed on to me. I wouldn’t leave for college before making sure that all my breakfast dishes were done. And no matter how tired I was at night, I wouldn’t go to sleep before ensuring that my kitchen sink was empty and clean.
2. Use The Right Storage Containers
Storage containers and jars constitute the most important part of a kitchen. But if you have too many varieties of storage containers lying haphazardly in every corner and cupboard, it will give way to visual clutter.
Rather than being tempted to pile up on a lot of containers, try to organize your kitchen with a few right ones. You can use stackable containers of varying sizes but make sure that they are neatly labelled. Use large Tupperware containers to store pulses, rice and nuts and have a separate cabinet for these items (if you don’t store them in your pantry). Use airtight freezer mates or Tupperware storage bowls to store leftovers in the fridge or on the kitchen shelf.
3. Get Rid Of Things That Don’t Belong In The Kitchen
It’s a common habit to let your kitchen be a hub for things that don’t belong there at the first place.
How often do you leave your cell phone on the kitchen counter?
Does the incoming mail often find its way to your kitchen without any reason?
Do you let small items like keys, wallets, receipts and menu cards sit inside your kitchen drawer for days on a go?
Well, maybe it’s time to make sure that your kitchen doesn’t end up becoming a storage room for anything that doesn’t belong there. Make it a daily habit to gather every item that doesn’t belong in your kitchen and return it to its rightful room.
4. Declutter As You Go
This is the most time-saving way to keep your kitchen clutter-free all day long. While the food is being cooked in the pan, utilize the downtime to put all the appliances back inside the cabinets and wipe the counter. If you have more time left until the food gets cooked, go do the dirty dishes in the sink or load them in the dishwasher. If you’ve used an appliance while cooking, put it away.
5. Clean Up After Every Meal
The kitchen gets used more often than any other room of your house. So make it a point to stay on top of the mess and deal with it as soon as possible. Put everything away once you’re done cooking. Wipe the kitchen counters and the kitchen table and don’t leave anything lying there purposelessly. Take out the trash and mop the floor at least once a day if you want your kitchen to look welcoming all day long.
6. Put The Groceries Away
How often do you leave the grocery bags laying around after coming back home from grocery shopping?
It’s important that you put the grocery items where they belong to prevent them from creating a mess. Don’t wait for even a minute to empty out those bags of fruits and vegetables or any other grocery item you’ve just bought. I use my grocery shopping days as an excuse to clean out my fridge as I wouldn’t do it otherwise. Works like a charm!
7. Keep A Catch-All Basket In Your Kitchen
In order to stop the clutter from piling up on the kitchen counters and table, use a basket where you can toss every random item that is being brought in the kitchen. Put the keys, wallets, mail, bills, cell phone, etc. and once you’re done for the day, pick this basket and return every item to its rightful home. I use a jute basket for this purpose as it’s sturdy enough to keep a lot of things. As someone whose family isn’t too good at putting things away, this tip works great for my home.
Being a place that attracts the maximum amount of clutter, your kitchen can leave you feeling at peace if you somehow manage to adopt these daily habits. Not only will it make you want to spend more time in the kitchen but will also ensure that you only have things that add value to your life.