Kitchen Decluttering Tips

Decluttering the kitchen (or any room!) doesn’t have to be a dreaded chore. In fact, if you dedicate 15 minutes a day to one room in your house, you will be:  more organized, more productive and will lessen your moving load when moving day comes around. So whether you are moving today, tomorrow or not for a while, grab your timer and start dedicating 15 minutes a day to keep the clutter away.

Here are some tips to declutter your kitchen in 15 minutes or less:

What you will need:

A bin or basket for collecting items, a shredder, a garbage bag/bin, a damp cloth to wipe down surfaces and a timer set for 15 minutes.

Steps:

• Grab a bin or a basket for collecting items that don’t belong in the kitchen. Make your way around the kitchen and place anything that doesn’t belong in the kitchen in the bin or basket of choice. Most likely the bulk of your items will be on the kitchen island and on the counter….if it doesn’t belong there toss it in the bin.
• Create three piles for mail and papers: Recycle, Shred, File
• Remove all unnecessary items hanging from magnets on the fridge. Coupons, children’s art, birthday cards….they all have a place in one of your three piles: Recycle, shred or file away.
• As you pick up, place all recyclables in recycling bin and wipe down all surfaces.
• Shred all sensitive mail items; when finished empty shredded papers into recycling bin.
• Put any appliances back into their proper storage spaces and neatly wrap their cords.
• Straighten each shelf one at a time in your refrigerator. Purge old food, move vegetables, fruits, cheeses back to their designated bins and recycle or combine any necessary condiments. Make sure items are on the shelves by height to maximize storage space. Wipe down interior and exterior.
• Open each cupboard and remove / move any items that are not in their designated area and place in their rightful place(s).
• Take your bin or basket of items that were collected with items that don’t belong in the kitchen and return them to their rightful places.

Congratulations. If you followed the Priority Decluttering Plan to the letter you just decluttered one of the most highly-trafficked areas in your home…and it only took you 15 minutes.  For those of you that fear your busy schedule don’t allow for a 15 minute break, simply split the above steps up into 5 minute increments. If you tackle a room a day for 15 minutes you will undoubtedly be enjoying the decluttered life by week’s end.
Ready for your next decluttering task?
Click here to find out how to declutter your bathroom in…you guessed it…in 15 minutes or less.