A clean and organised kitchen is much easier to cook in, but keeping it that way can sometimes feel like a never-ending job. The trick is creating simple systems that prevent mess and clutter from building up in the first place.
These 15 tips for a clean and organised kitchen will help you keep benches clearer, cupboards under control and everyday cleaning more manageable.
Keep Kitchen Clutter Under Control
- Keep your kitchen benches as clear as possible. Only leave out appliances and items you use regularly. Clearer benches give you more preparation space and are much quicker to wipe down.
- Give everything a designated home. Decide where utensils, appliances, food containers and other kitchen essentials belong so they don’t gradually spread across cupboards and benches.
- Store things close to where you use them. Keep cooking utensils near the stove, mugs near the kettle or coffee machine and food-preparation tools close to your main work area.
- Use drawer dividers for small utensils. Dividers stop cutlery, measuring spoons, clips and other small kitchen tools becoming one tangled drawer.
- Use containers to group similar cupboard items. Baskets or containers can keep baking supplies, snacks, spices or other categories together and make cupboards easier to navigate.
Simple Kitchen Cleaning Habits
- Clean as you cook. Put ingredients away when you’re finished with them and wash or load utensils during natural pauses in cooking.
- Wipe spills while they’re fresh. Deal with splashes and spills before they dry onto benches, cooktops or cupboard doors.
- Start cooking with an empty dishwasher. Unload it before preparing a meal so dirty dishes can go straight in rather than accumulating beside the sink.
- Reset the kitchen after dinner. Load the dishwasher, wash remaining dishes, wipe the benches and put stray items away before finishing for the night.
- Don’t forget high-touch areas. Regularly wipe handles, switches, taps and frequently touched appliance controls as part of your kitchen cleaning routine.
Organise Your Kitchen for Everyday Life
- Keep frequently used items easiest to reach. Everyday plates, glasses, cookware and ingredients should occupy your most convenient storage spaces.
- Use awkward storage for occasional items. High shelves and difficult corners are better suited to appliances, serving dishes and equipment you rarely use.
- Match food containers with their lids. Store containers and lids using a consistent system so you’re not searching through a cupboard every time you need one.
- Do a quick fridge check before grocery shopping. Look for ingredients that need using and check what you already have before buying more.
- Give your kitchen a five-minute reset. When things start looking untidy, set aside five minutes to clear benches, put items away and deal with anything that’s out of place.
A Cleaner Kitchen Starts With Simple Systems
Keeping your kitchen clean and organised doesn’t require constantly cleaning it. Small habits that make things easier to put away, clean up and find can prevent much of the mess from accumulating in the first place.
Start with the areas that cause you the most frustration and introduce a few simple systems that fit naturally into your routine.
Looking for more clever ways to make everyday life easier? Explore more Life Hacks from The Thought Hive.
