Today I would like to talk about the heart of your home, your kitchen. This is where the magic happens, where food is created and friends and family gather. Does this sound like your home?…mine neither! Ha!
My kitchen is where I wish the magic would happen! Dishes would magically wash themselves and the stove top would always be clean. That would be…sorry, my wandered off there for a minute.
ANYWAYS! Let’s talk about how we can make that “hub” of your home really work that magic we so want.
A couple of weeks ago, I sent out a cleaning printable that you can use to keep your home clean by only taking a couple of minutes each day. But first, you need to deep clean so you can keep it that way. Maybe clean a little each day. Start with your oven and go from there.
Now that your kitchen is sparkling clean or even somewhat clean, take a look around. What would you like to change the most? Do you have storage issues? Pull out all your drawers, are they full to the brim?
I know that in my kitchen I started out with one “junk” drawer and ended up with five! So, what I did was I dumped all the drawers out onto my kitchen table. Then I separated all the duplicates (anything I had more than one of). I guess I really don’t need seven potato peelers (just in case a potato peeling party was about to break out). I picked out the best of the duplicates and set the others aside.
Next, I pulled out all the things that were broken or had pieces missing. I seriously had a rubber spatula without a handle…just in case. Put these pieces in a pile by themselves. Lastly, I separated all the gadgets I have never used, even though the infomercial said that it would replace EVERYTHING in my kitchen, and set it on the pile with my duplicate items. Now take everything you have left and separate it into two piles. One for kitchen related items and the other for the “junk” drawer (rubber bands, flash lights, lighters, etc.)
Wipe down those beautiful empty drawers before refilling them. I put shelf liner paper in mine. You can get pretty options for this at the dollar store. While you are at the dollar store, look for storage containers to fit in your junk drawer for the rubber bands and such. Put all the things you separated out, away from your duplicates and infomercial items, into these drawers or hang them on the wall next to the stove. Put the rest of your pile into a bag and donate them to a local thrift store for others to buy. Throw away all the broken items. Do NOT second guess these items.
Next, let’s take a look at those pots and pans. Do you really need six cast iron skillets? How about the saucepan with the broken handle? If you have not used it in the last year, donate it. Clean out the cabinets and put down a pretty shelf liner.
How about that spice cupboard? Do you still have that container of bay leaves from 1975? It’s probably not any good. Go through all of your food items and check the expiration dates. Toss out anything that is expired. Now take a look at what’s left. If you have unopened food items you don’t intend to use, please donate them to a food pantry. There are many churches who donate food to the poor.
Lastly, and probably the hardest to organize is your dishes, glassware and silverware.
First of all, separate out anything that is chipped or broken, like that coffee cup with the broken handle, and toss it out.
Next, look at the things you never use. You love it, but it is taking up some serious real estate in your cabinets. Donate these items so someone else can love them too.
The hardest thing for me to get rid of was the thirty or so coffee cups I had collected. Not on purpose, but friends over the years have gifted them to me filled with my favorite candies or flowers. I love them, but I never use them. So, I took pictures of them and put them in my photo album along with a note stating memories I have attached to the piece. This photo album has many pictures I took of beloved items that I have donated due to de-cluttering. Having that little album has helped me tremendously to purge items that no longer serve me.
You need to own your possessions and not have your possessions own you. Hoarding is very real and can be a scary, unhealthy place to live
A clean, organized home is healthy for both mind and body. I love to come home to a clean house at the end of the day. Keeping it clean has been much easier when I take a few minutes each day to declutter and clean. I hope this helps you with your kitchen decluttering endeavor.
I would love to hear from you! I am excited to read your ideas on furnishing a beautiful home for the life you desire. I look forward to this journey with you! It has been a long time coming!
— Danielle
