MY MEDALLION
Now that Spring is finally here, many of us find ourselves with some extra energy to burn. Why not harness that energy and put it to good use in your home by tackling a big organization project? If your kitchen could use a re-fresh and has become somewhat stale (or unruly) over the long winter months, a thorough Spring cleaning could be in order.
Here are our top five tips for organizing your kitchen this Spring.
Start With A Thorough Decluttering
There’s a reason why cleaning gurus always recommend a good decluttering before you embark on any big organization project. It gives you a cleaner slate to work from so you don’t get overwhelmed. When decluttering, always start at the top – in this case, your literal countertops – and clear everything off, only putting back the items you use on a daily basis. If there is room in your cupboards, tuck away certain items you don’t use very often.
Next, go through each of your cabinets and drawers one at a time. The best approach is to take every single item out and thoroughly clean the interior of the cabinets and drawers before you fill them back up again. Then, decide what you want to keep and what you want to throw out or donate.
Not sure what you should keep and what to get rid of? A good rule of thumb is to only keep items you use on a daily or weekly basis, and get rid of any food that has gone bad or kitchenware that is collecting dust.
Certain items can be donated to a local charity or given to a friend. If you live in or around Toronto, consult this list from blogTO of charities that will take your kitchen items.
Impose A Sorting System
Instead of placing everything back into your cupboards and drawers haphazardly, try to group similar items together and impose a grouping system that will keep your belongings better organized. For instance, stack boxed goods side by side and corral your canned goods into one specific section.
You can also try grouping your pantry items according to meal type, keeping breakfast items, lunch options, and dinner ingredients together, because it makes it easier to see what your choices are at a glance. To take this to the next level, within those categories, you can organize even further according to package size or expiry date. Some like to ensure that every label is facing out neatly, so you can see everything you have easily, and store their dry goods in glass containers.
Get Your Spice Rack In Order
Spices really do have a limited shelf life, with most ground spices only being usable for one to three years when stored properly. Go through what you have and get rid of any that have changed colour (many lose their vibrancy) or lost their scent.
Arrange them alphabetically, if that suits you, or by use, separating savoury from baking.
Some like to keep the spices they use everyday within arm’s reach of the stove and store the ones used less frequently in a separate location. The idea is that if your spices are easily accessible, you’re more likely to use them. Just remember to keep them away from the heat and store them in a cool, dark space. This will help keep them fresh for longer.
Looking to make your spice collection a bit more visually appealing? You can find stunning modern spice jars on Etsy that are made of glass and are very affordable.
Organize Your Food Storage Containers
If you’ve ever struggled to find the right sized container to put away dinner leftovers or pack lunches for the following day, you know how important it is to have a good supply of food storage containers.
Invest in a good set so you’ll have a range of storage sizes available and the containers and lids can nestle together, saving space. Eco-friendly food storage containers can be made of glass, stainless steel, or silicone.
However, it’s important to have some strategies in place to help keep things tidy, as this is one area that can get messy fast.
Here are some ideas for keeping your storage containers organized:
- Use drawer dividers
- Use cabinet organizers to keep lids and containers separate
- Stack containers
- Group similar sized containers together
- Use a plate rack to separate and organize lids
Tuck Seasonal Items Away
There’s no sense in sacrificing prime storage space for pieces you only use once or twice a year. Similar to your spice collection, keep those items you use daily close at hand and find an out-of-the-way spot to house the things you only use on special occasions or holidays.
By relegating these to another location, you can regain valuable space and increase efficiency in your kitchen. Follow these tips from thekitchn.com to learn how to create your own seasonal capsule kitchen.
Start off Spring with a big home organization project that will bring you great satisfaction in the months to come. Thanks for reading and don’t forget to follow the Medallion blog for more helpful cleaning and organizing tips.
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