One of the worst places to clutter up is the kitchen. Any buildup in the area can make it difficult to pinpoint a place to start cleaning. Whether it’s the appliances scattered, the spills and food byproducts, or the dirty dishes, these can often stack up and cause issues over time. Leaving the kitchen messy attracts pests and can damage the way a home smells and looks.
Other people have a messy kitchen full of old appliances and other unused items resulting from living in the home for decades. If you are struggling to declutter the kitchen because of trash and equipment in cabinets, it’s time to remove unused items. Here’s a quick guide to drawing the excess mess found in one of the most important areas of your home:
How to Do a Quick Declutter of the Kitchen
While it might seem like a daunting task because of your kitchen’s size plus all the grime and dirt accumulated throughout the years, you’ll be on your way once you start. Choose a spot, preferably from one end of the kitchen, and begin clearing out individual cabinets. Grab a few materials to help you with your decluttering, such as a trash bag, a box for donations and your cleaning supplies to do a deep removal of dirt and grime.
When you see your kitchen spotless and looking clean again, it will motivate you to start spending more time in it than dreading the sight of a deteriorating space. Here are some steps to pull through with the process:
1. Take It One Cabinet at a Time
There’s no use pulling everything out all at once because this will just end up getting you stressed out. The best way is to do things methodically and work your way through each cabinet. Doing this method will allow you to segregate what is trash and what can still be donated and used by other people. You can even put other items in a box for a garage sale, such as old plates or serving platters that you won’t ever use. Once you’re done, wear gloves and clean up each cabinet to remove potential droppings of pests and other accumulated dirt.
2. Work In Increments
Tackling things in periods of around 30 minutes to an hour each time will help you get things done quicker. Set your alarm to notify you when to take breaks, and try to work without distractions. Focusing will help you sort items and find out what is garbage to be thrown. You can also work slowly and then do all the cleaning of the space at the end. Finding what style and periods work best for you will help.
3. Clear Out Your Fridge and Pantry
We all buy excess items on grocery trips, and annually, we accumulate so many food products that end up being forgotten. Take time to sort your pantry, throw out expired condiments and canned goods, or even donate the ones that are still good but you won’t ever eat. Your freezer will also likely have plenty of meats and other frozen goods that have been around for years, so take time to clear these out and throw them away to make room. Then, add a magnetic board to write all your fridge’s contents so that you remember what you have inside and can therefore plan your meals accordingly.
Taking time to declutter a kitchen is a very liberating experience, as this is a space in a home that develops plenty of mess throughout the years. You might find that you’ve stocked up on too many appliances, have been gifted various tools and dinnerware that you won’t use, or even loaded up on useless food items on sale. Organizing this area will open the doors to more options for cooking and spending time in the space, as there won’t be a badgering feeling of clutter omnipresent.
Rescue My Space offers solutions to organize spaces at home and in the office. We can assist with decluttering your spaces and even work with you to create interior functionality enhancements. Contact us to learn more about how we can help you declutter.