The time spent in the kitchen can be far less enjoyable, however, if we're surrounded by junk. What follows are a few steps that should get you started in the process of decluttering your kitchen and opening up the space.
You know the old saying: it's not helpful to have too many cooks in the kitchen. But what about too many dishes,
or too many pots and pans? We spend a lot of time in our kitchens, from making meals for the family to fixing late-night snacks to baking for parties to mixing drinks for friends. And anyone who's ever been to a house party knows that the kitchen is the place to be, since that's where both the food and the best conversations are held. All of this time spent in the kitchen can be far less enjoyable, however, if we're surrounded by junk. What follows are a few steps that should get you started in the process of decluttering your kitchen and opening up the space.
Step 1: The FridgeIt's best to get the worst part over with first. You know what I'm talking about: the refrigerator. I know you don't want to look at the expiration dates on any of those bottles way in the back or open the Tupperware container filled with some unidentifiable leftovers, but it has to be done, either by you or your domestic cleaning company London, there isn't matter. First, grab a big trash bag and get rid of anything that's expired. It is tempting to hold on to certain things past the expiration date because they still look and smell ok – and they might be safe. If you are going to make over your kitchen, though, it is best to part with the old, and that means all of the old.The exceptions to this are the items in the freezer, but see if you can't rid of some of this clutter as well. If you haven't touched the food in weeks (or months), and you don't imagine that you ever will, then toss it. It's hard to throw out food, but letting it rot in the fridge isn't any better.Once you've thrown out everything old, empty out what is left, grab a kitchen cleaner, and wipe down all of the shelves in the fridge or freezer. If you don't want to waste electricity, you can unplug the refrigerator while you clean, but unless your fridge is really disgusting, it shouldn't take too long to wipe everything down. Then, of course, put everything back into the fridge. Voila! You've decuttered your first area! Congratulations. Now, for the heavy lifting.
Step 2: The Cupboard and CabinetsI know what your cabinets look like. The pots and pans are all smashed into one cupboard, in such a way that whenever you open up the cabinet, several saucepan lids clatter to the floor. There are some really, really old half-used boxes of pancake mix at the back of one cupboard. Don't even get started on the spice cabinet. I know this because this is what my kitchen cupboards have looked like many times in the past. Luckily, it is easier than you might think to clear them out.First of all, start with the cookware. Any reputable domestic cleaning London provider would tell you to make a list of all of the most essential items you use in the kitchen on a regular basis: frying pans, saucepan, measuring cups, etc. Once the list is ready, lay a big towel on your kichen floor an take all of the items that you've listed out of the cabinet and place them on the floor. Now, examine what is left, and ask yourself if these are items you really need. Anything that you don't ever use can be given away. If you have several unnecessary duplicates of the same item, give away the extras. Any pots and pans that are scratched, broken, or laden with buts of food that just will not scrub off can be thrown away.You can repeat this same process with the cabinets housing your dishes. Anything in disrepair can be tossed, and anything in excessive supply can be trimmed down and given away. We all collect lots of novelty glasses at various events, for example, and many of these can probably be gotten rid of. The same thing goes for the cupboards with boxed and canned food. Give away what you don't use, and throw away what's old. You will feel better for having a cleaner kitchen and for giving to charity.
Step 3: The CountersThis is the part of the kitchen that is most indicative of our cluttered lifestyle. While we all need to use some of our counter space for storage, we also need that space for the actual preparation of food. Look around at all of your counter space. What actually need to be there on a regular basis? The typical answer to that question should likely be: your toaster, microwave, and coffee maker. If you have a large cutting board, that can be placed on a counter as well. Everything else – miscellaneous cereal boxes, Tupperware, dishes – can be stored in a cabinet or on a self-constructed shelf hung from a wall in the kitchen.
