The Crammed Kitchen.
Your kitchen is a food preparation area, not a storage space. The idea here is to weed out what you're not using, then put similar items together and in the best places.
Appliances: Machines that are broken or aren't used are just taking up space. If your Crock-Pot has a missing lid that you say you're going to replace someday, or you're keeping the bread maker just because it was a gift, get rid of it.
Food containers: All your plastic storage items should have corresponding lids. If you don't have one or the other, it's a recycling item. (Yeah .... I need to work on this one! My kids used to hate to open the dreaded "plastic top drawer"!!)
Pots and pans: If there isn't a lot of space in your kitchen, use a pot rack. If you have the space, hang them along the wall for fast access.
Knives: If you're short on counter space, consider the type of knife block that fits in a drawer.
Plastic bags: Everybody has a plastic bag full of other plastic bags. Use the ones you have for trash can liners, or take them back to the supermarket for recycling. (take them to your car NOW!!) Keep canvas shopping totes in the car so you don't accumulate more plastic bags (Just got to remember to take them into the store when you go!!) Mesh shopping bags roll up small enough to be kept in your handbag for unexpected trips to the market.
Cookbooks: Unless you're a collector or you have a lot of room, edit them. How often do you use the cookbook? If you've had it for years but it's never gotten a single stain or burn from use, donate it. (Another one of my "things to work on". I love cookbooks & have a bunch!)
This is an excerpt from Oprah Magazine by Andrew Mellow, a professional organizer. To learn more about Mr. Mellow visit VirgoMan.com
oh you're so bad! :-)
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